Code of Coduct - What It Really Means to Wear the Green-White-Green Shirt of Nigeria National Team

Often we say, especially when the players are lackluster, displaying non-challant or selfish behaviors, we say "Did they really understand what it means to wear the Green-White-Green shirt of the Nigeria national team?"

Never mind our shirt are sometimes designed with lemon, black and white or other shade of green related colors, but we all know the Nigeria national color is Green-White-Green, right?

So what is the implication of putting on the green-white-green Shirt?

When Fans Wear The National Color
When Nigerians or fans purchase and wear the green-white-green shirt, they are actually saying "We love Nigeria" or "We support the National team." In a way, it is an act of patriotism. We don't expect any right thinking Nigerian to wear the national color and do something wrong. Especially those living abroad, they won't wear the green-white-green and do something that will undermine the integrity of our dear country Nigeria.

The green-white-green is our national brand identity, that clearly differentiate us from people of other nationals. And we should be proud of putting it on and protecting it jealously.

When Athletes or Players Wear the National Color
But when you are selected as an athlete, player or coach to officially represent the country, the green-white-green means much more.

In a football crazy country like Nigeria, wearing green-white-green to play for the country is like carrying 190 million people on your shoulders.

Imagine, how many people you will make their day by just winning a match. Over 100 million football lovers will wake up the next day happy with themselves and with the country. We may criticize the players or coaches, but when the team eventually wins all that melt into unexplainable joy in the people's  heart.

Feeling Proudly Nigerian
I can vividly remember the day Nigeria's Deam team defeated Brazil in Atlanta 96 Olympic semi finals soccer event. The country went wild in celebration that night with burn fires, drinking and dancing all night long.

My brother who live in London said the next morning,  with open face he greeted his white colleague who never say anything good about Nigeria, " good morning, Mr. Holgate, did you see the Nigeria - Brazil game last-night?"  He smiled back at him and pat his back, "you guys really tried."

For a month or so, after the Dream team won the olympic gold medal, Nigerians walked on the streets of England with their shoulders high and received a lot of positive responses from people of other nationals.

Here in Nigeria , when any of our national teams win a major tournament, the tribal, religion and social- class dichotomy suddenly melts down. The people are more united and more acceptable of one another. There seems to be a sudden realisation of strength in the country's diversity.

The Danger of Being Complacent While Playing for Nigeria
Nigerians pride themselves as a footballing nation, one of the greatest to come from Africa. So when Super Eagles loss a crucial match, the whole country go into some kind of mourning.

A case to mention is when the Green Eagles fail to qualify for Fifa World cup in 1982. All that Nigeria needed to qualify was a draw against Tunisia. Nigeria was playing at home, at the National stadium Surulere Lagos with over 50, 000 supporters rooting for their qualification. Everything was going their way until the 76 minute of the match, when Godwin Odiey mistakenly flip a header into the back of the net. An own goal against Nigeria and that was all. We couldn't score back till the final whistle. The whole nation went into mourning.

It was reported that a man committed suicide that night. Another man beat her wife to stupor and threw her over the balcony for making jest of him. This is the implication of making a costly mistake or being complacent while putting on the green-white-white shirt. The passion and emotion of over 190 million people is in your hands and you can't afford to toy with it.

You stab the heart of Nigerians when the team lacklustre loss a crucial match. People may develop hypertension (high blood pressure) or even suffer heart attack or stroke. Some out of emotional outburst may attack others, just because of players non-challant attitude towards the game.

We have heard it happen in Columbia, when Escoba was shot dead by an emotional fan, after he mistakenly scored an own goal that ousted Columbia in the 1990 Fifa World Cup. So the dangers can be so fatal.

We cannot afford to vote in NFF officials who do not understand these implications. We cannot afford to employ a mediocre coach who cannot deliver a high performing team or select players who are not ready to give their all.

The National Pledge
It's not all about the thousands of Dollars you will receive as allowances or bonuses, it's all about fulfilling the national pledge:

I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And up hold her honor and glory
So help me God!

You must be concious that the national team is funded with our collective resources and tax payers money, which has crucial opportunity cost. It is a clarion call to stake your life for the collective interest of our country Nigeria. It is a rare privilege to be selected to wear the green-white-green shirt.