By Timothy Nwobodo

The Federation International Football Association (FIFA) as the regulating body of football across the world and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) regulating the famous sport in Nigeria are yet to recognize some of the basic rules /codes that introduces every Nigerian kid to the game.

The game of football is one that knows no bound, as even children at their infant stage, develop interest in the beautiful game. When a child starts walking, he starts kicking every little thing he sees without undergoing training sessions with any coach. This graduates to the stage where the child owns a ball which he could play with his friends.

These children play football not because of the prospect of becoming a professional footballer, but because of the love for the game. However, there are some Unwritten Codes and rules that guide this exercise among the children. They are Unwritten because these rules are not discussed before the game but that does negate its existence.

The First code of the game is that the owner of the ball is automatically both the best player and the referee of the game. He must not be dribbled past, he must not be fouled, when any of these is done, that’s the end of the game because he’ll take his ball and go. Again, the owner of the ball is the one to determine if a play should be foul or not and if you’re fouled but he’s not in good terms with you, it’s no foul.

The next code is that you must be bare footed. Wearing anything on your foot makes you a threat to your fellow players and the common type of injury sustained at this level is kicking of stone instead of the ball, and it is called “Lighting of Matches” which does not stop the victim from continuing with the game.

In addition to this, there’s no time frame for the game to end, it’s either  the owner of the ball is summoned by his parents or light fades. Interestingly, the children play for hours without getting tired, and they make sure they’re done with their daily chores before the game begins.

In a case where the owner of the ball has not done his chores, the whole players will match to his house to help wash the dishes, sweep the compound or even do laundry, just to make sure his parents or older siblings do not interrupt the game.

Before the game starts, the team selection must be done by the owner of the ball, knowing that the owner of the ball is usually not a good player, he must be the one to do the team selection where the best players must be in his team, woe betide you if you had done something to upset him before the game or even days before, what it means is that you’ve become a spectator for that game until he forgives you.

The venue for the game must be at a junction (usually three corners) and whenever a vehicle is passing or an elderly person is passing, the game must be paused. Football at this stage is not seen just as a medium of entertainment but also a good avenue for recreation and bonding of children with their peers. This is seen when the ball enters into someone’s compound, all the players must line up on their knees begging for the ball to be released and might even offer to perform some house chores for the person, to appease him or her to release the ball.

The game of football is most beautiful at this stage because of its free and down to earth nature, the children engage each other in the game not because they’re receiving  10 pounds a week salary, but because of the love for the game and the fulfilment that comes from playing the game. So, besides the UEFA Champions league, English Premier League and even the Nigeria Premier Football league (NPFL) there is the street football league where most of the famous footballers of today kicked the ball for the first time and it should not be side-lined or undermined.