This piece is the product of reflection on my experience of Saturday, January 14, 2023 at a football viewing centre. On that day, it was the 189th iteration of the Manchester Derby; and as a Manchester United fan, I sat there hoping very much that my team would take revenge on Manchester City for the 6-3 defeat of the first leg.
As the game got under way, fans of the opposing teams reacted differently to its ebb and flow. The most expression of frustration came from the Red side of Manchester. Though with a fewer possession of the ball, the Red Devils actually outplayed the Citizens in the first half, with many chances to get ahead not converted. Marcus Rashford came close twice. Fernandes shot wide what would have been a sitter. It was an edgy 45-minute of football.
It was a spirited Manchester City that resumed play in the second half, and when they took the lead in the 60th minute, it felt like de ja vu for most Manchester United fans at the viewing centre. We had been there before, and it seemed like Guardiola’s boys were going to roll over us once again. Then, at the 78th minute, the tide turned.
Casemiro made a splitting pass. Rashford wisely decided not to touch the ball. Fernandes hit it with precision. It was 1-1. Four minutes later, Rashford sharply converted the deft cross of live-wire Garnacho to make it 2-1. The jubilation that rent the air was so resounding that even the deaf would hear.
Now, this is where it comes close to home. As I leapt for joy and triumphantly shouted ‘United!’, a fellow supporter joined me in celebration. He wrapped his hands around my shoulder and urged me to shout it again. Together, we both shouted ‘United.’ Other supporters joined us in the shout, men giving themselves high-fives and hugging each other. It was pure joy!
When calm returned, I then realised that the guy who had come to me in celebration was a manifestly Obidient Nigerian. In the frustrating moments of the game, before the breakthroughs, he was one of those who had sought momentary relief in pillorying the Buhari administration and taking swipes at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress. As a BATist Nigerian, I quietly disagreed with him, but resolved never to get into argument.
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