Why Dont Our Sportmen And Official Sing The National Anthem?

Friday, November 06, 2009               

'Silence of the lambs'
By Levi Obijiofor

"HERE is an assignment for you. The next time Nigeria's representatives in the current Under-17 world soccer tournament line up to honour the national anthem ahead of a match, watch closely to check how many of the players would be silent and how many would be reciting the anthem. The task is not difficult. Just follow the television camera as it gives a close-up of the face of each player. Extend the same scrutiny to Nigerian officials standing alongside the players.

I don't know whether I am the only person who has noticed that Nigerian sportsmen, sportswomen and officials hardly recite the national anthem when it is being played before a sporting event. Look into their faces and you will find them gazing blankly into space. You get the impression that these representatives are either indifferent to the national anthem or they do not know the lyrics of the anthem. How do we interpret such behaviour? Does that empty stare suggest that our sports representatives and officials are contemptuous of the national anthem - that symbol of national praise? Does the silence of the soccer players, athletes and other categories of sports representatives signal a more serious problem - general ignorance of the words that constitute the national anthem? Either way, we have a fundamental problem. "

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article04//indexn2_html?pdate=061109&ptitle='Silence%20of%20the%20lambs'

Really before we decide, ask yourself do you know the exact wordings of the anthem?

Its so easy to abuse Senator Mark or football player but what about you,

Is it that we don't care or we all went to glorified night school?