Lessons from the Qatar Word Cup

First, some disclosures!

1. I think this was the best world cup final ever - at least in my life time.
2. There should be no doubt by now, that Lionel Messi is indeed the GOAT.
3. Football, and sport generally have unimaginable power for societal transformation. If only we really tried to harness it.
4. Qatar were excellent hosts.

Now, some reflections about the word cup generally.

Racism and football are borderless

Remember the debate that surrounded Morroco every time they played at the world cup? For our friends in the West, this debate was intense on the African continent where almost half of the fans were NOT supporting Morroco, citing that they were Arab and not African. This debate was amplified in the French Morroco semifinal where almost the entire French team was "African". Visually, and reading the names of the folks in the French team, one could understand why African fans were conflicted. Suffice to say, the issues of race and identify are borderless. Africans should stop crying foul of racism if we are the ones dishing it out to fellow Africans,?particularly Arab Africans in the north. They are on the continent, deal with it.

And while on the subject of racism, it was embarrassing to see how many ignorant western commentators and fans struggled to wrap their heads around Messi receiving the traditional Arab bisht from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. #EducateYourself

It is not how you start, but how you finish

Remember how Saudi Arabia embarrassed the World Champions Argentina in their first match? The Saudi King even declared a National Holiday following their win over Argentina. Argentina later recovered from their shock defeat with back-to-back wins over Mexico and Poland to finish as winners of Group C, and ultimately went on to win the World Cup.?It is not how you start, but how you finish.

Hold the vision, trust the process!

Winning the group stages is one thing. It is the?knockout stages that defines champions. Argentina still had a tough path to the finals that included potential meet ups with heavy weights such as Netherlands, England, France, Brazil and Croatia. Argentina went through one match at a time and several penalty shootouts to become world champions. Your path to success, however hard it appears, is the only true path meant for you. Just focus on the next right move.

Your best may not always be enough, but failure is not fatal

How do you?score four goals in a world cup final, and still come out on the losing side? What more could you ask of your star player? That was Mpappe's night in a nutshell. It was sad seeing him sulking at the end. His President even tried on several occasions to console him, but he wouldn't even make eye contact. He's only 23. He’ll no doubt realise that sometimes your best is just not enough - and that that's okay. You go again next time. In fact, failure can actually set you up to return hungrier, wiser and bigger.

Remember how France?knocked?out Argentina in the second round at the last word cup in Russia? Probably only Messi's wife genuinely understands the heartache he has endured over the many years he has come short, particularly in the World Cup. But he never gave up. Each time, he stepped up and gave his best to his team and country, and his team and country reciprocated with teamwork and adoration respectively. He has earned his place as a "GOAT, not necessarily because of his brilliance - although I must say I've never seen anyone dribble as well as Messi - but also because of how he has handled himself especially in moments when he has been down and almost out. Unlike Ronaldo, Messi seems to be able to divert his failure, disappointment and anger into good hunger for the next phase of his life, which brings me to the next lesson.?

Don't ever give up. Always?keep hope alive.

I watched the match in a full house with family and friends. It was a proper football atmosphere, with nyama-choma, drinks, nice Ugandan weather, etc. But only myself and my friend's colleague were supporting Argentina (... actually Messi). The rest of the crew, about 12 adults and countless kids were supporting France. At 2-0 down, we switched to discussing other things including the state of the roads and the economy. That's not to say we weren't paying attention at the match as it was breathtaking, and befitting of a final. But the discussions were becoming awkward as the French supporters had all, but given up any hope of a comeback. I kept reminding them that the match is 90 minutes, and that Mbappe is still on the pitch, and that he just needs a few seconds with the ball. My consolations fell on deaf ears.

Then…?#Boom! #Penalty! Step up Mbappe. #Goal.

Now everyone started to believe. Even I was happy for them. At last, we could have a discussion about football. I even decide to pour myself a drink just so we can crack on with the match, which i was confident Argentina was going to win, judging by how they were playing before France scored. As I stand up, Mbappe shows exactly why, in a few year's time, he too could be spoken about as a GOAT. In a matter of seconds from scoring, he receives the ball and with power and superb technic sends it in the bottom right corner of the net.

#Noise! #Ululation! #Pandemonium! #2ndGoal

Now we have a proper final on our hands. In just two minutes, fans that had pretty much given up, started believing, and recounting stories of Man United, Real Madrid and Liverpool that had scored last minute goals to win key trophies. Which got me wondering, where was your faith at 2-nil, especially as you still had time and talent on the pitch? How many times have you given up before the final whistle? It is never over, until it is over.

Naysayers will always exist, how you channel and respond to their energy matters

Understandably, everyone is focused on Messi. But few people are talking about Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni - the real mastermind behind Argentina's success. Apparently, Scaloni has never managed at club level before, which got the likes of Maradona to say, of Scaloni;

“He’s a great lad but he can’t even direct traffic. How can you give the national team to Scaloni? Are we all mad? Eat an asado, fine, but coach a national team?! It’s way too big for you.” (Maradona, 2018).

This, coming from a country’s legend and previous coach, must have hurt Scaloni. But it certainly didn't faze him. He embarked on building HIS team and style of play, and somehow managed to to guide Argentina to winning the Copa America, and delivered a winning streak of 36 unbeaten games by the time they arrived in Qatar for the World Cup. Not only was he the #youngest #coach at the world cup, but he managed to guide Argentina to World Cup victory, something his naysayer, Maradona, had failed to achieve, save for that "hand of God".

England may never win a major tournament until we master penalties

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2023

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