Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Dropouts Became Rich...And Changed Everything

Barely 10 years ago, professional sports were for directionless dropouts ... or was it? It was embarrassingly evident when our sports heroes (and villains) tickled the pretentious press with unintended meanings and cremated clichés. Michael Essien (not quite a dropout) et al sneaked away to play, as maladroit mercenaries, and rode back, as rich royalty. Now parents dole dollars to school soccer coaches to start kick-abouts for their kids after class. Nobody frowns on a young man spending all daylight moulding muscle and sharpening skill.

17 comments:

  1. LOL, exactly the same happened in Nigeria.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Isn't there a red bull soccer camp/school somewhere in Ghana?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I didn't get to play much "gotta to gotta". I could've gone pro by now. (in my dreams of course).
    I applaud people who recognize their talents and make the most of it positively.

    ReplyDelete
  4. that's true...very interesting... sports were for the kobolo people. Now it is a full fledged multi-billion dollar industry. The richest people are all found in this industry. In boxing, football, athletics et al.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kwame Mensa-Bonsu04 November, 2009

    lol!My dad must have been very progressive bcos he bought me a football to play back in the '80s. Ya footballers were down and outs back then. It's best to have the requisite education in addition to the game because without it one won't succeed at the top of the game in Europe.Moreover it is a gamble so one should have a fall back position. On Essien, he finished SSS3, so no drop out in the true sense of the word but he lacks confidence when speaking to the media.He doesn't do official press conferences. Back to my story: i had no talent whatsoever!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Part of me thinks it may be a good thing for other talents to be appreciated. Too many of us are obsessed with the whole Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer trifecta and after all, variety is the spice of life!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You're so right! Even beyond sports, a lot of drop outs end up making it big! Take Bill Gates for example. Maybe they are onto something: following your passion.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mmmm The problem with professional footballers (as I see it) is that unless you are a Ryan Giggs or a Paul Scholes or some goalkeeper, by 30 years you are past your prime. Having dropped out of school your post football career options are pretty limited. Also do sportspeople invest all their massive earnings in their future or just blow cash in the present? Most likely they live for the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes, Myne, I would have known that. Similar cultures (generally), no?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, Raine, there's such a soccer camp, among many others.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hmmm Nana Yaw, you've said it O. You don't know how many lashes we received because we went to play soccer when our studies teacher (a pawper by every standard) was waiting to share his hard-earned, valuable knowledge with us. So yes... I went to school and got a degree but in my heart, I am still a kobolo.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I agree Mike. The true path to happiness.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well described, NFA. Now people with higher formal education are looking to get cream in sports.

    ReplyDelete
  14. That, Kwame is probably the most important factor. The Plan B in case Plan A (professional sports) fails because you're simply not skilled enough or you get injured or something like that.

    ReplyDelete
  15. It is very good for other talents to be appreciated, Sankofa, true. I, for example, would not have been a lawyer in a world that appreciated my two real passions.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, Jemila, it's all about following your dream/passion. It just appears the dream with the cream (for young Ghanaians) is now football. But who is to say if it won't shunt to music or dance or movies?

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think, your great comment, Abena Serwaa ties in with Kwame's fall-back plan.

    ReplyDelete

After writing your comment, please select the Name/URL box below, and write your name in the box, before submitting your comment.