How money, indiscipline is ruining ‘football career’

Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur once said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” By this, Rohn means that without discipline, it’s almost impossible to achieve one’s goals.

A critical view at the life and career of some gifted football players whose careers could have been better but for character-issues.

In Nigeria, wonderful football players could not make the best of their career playing the round-leather game because of indiscipline.

Etim Esin, was known as Nigerian ‘Maradona’, a wonderful and gifted footballer but he watched his career plummet due to indiscipline.

Tarila Okorowanta was another outstanding footballer who did not reach his peak due to discipline issues. He was the first Nigerian football player to score at the FIFA-organised tournament in Mexico FIFA U20 World Youth Championship in 1983.

He was a very talented and highly skillful footballer but indiscipline and stubbornness killed his career.

The issue of character and discipline among footballers is not limited to Nigerians alone.

Paul Gascoigne, an English midfielder was known for his exceptional talent but struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues, which greatly affected his career and personal life.

Adrian Mutu, a Romanian forward was once a promising talent but had his career marred by drug use, leading to multiple suspensions and eventual termination of contracts.

Diego Maradona was one of the greatest footballers who ever faced numerous issues with substance abuse that affected his career and health, especially in his later years.

Joey Barton, the English midfielder was known for his talent but had a riotous career marked by disciplinary issues, including multiple arrests and a controversial reputation.

Of recent, football players such as Jordan Sancho, and Marcus Rashford both of Manchester United were seen having issues with discipline, as their coaches at various times voiced out against their undisciplined attitudes in training.

According to The Athletic, Ruben Amorim, the coach of Manchester United learned that Rashford had gone out in Manchester on the Friday before the Everton game and spoke to him about it.

Amorim, logically, does not believe his players should be going out so close to a match and Rashford’s lifestyle was clearly on his mind when he said after dropping him for the derby:

“I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything, sometimes you see and you understand that for so long, for example with Rash, we try a thing. With Rash, it doesn’t work. Let’s continue to do the same thing or try something different. It’s as simple as that.”

Indiscipline in football, like in any other sport, can stem from a variety of factors, which can be psychological, social, cultural, or situational.

Many football enthusiasts believe that focusing on financial gain is overshadowing the sport’s traditional values.

“Indiscipline, both on and off the pitch, such as poor behaviour, corruption, and lack of respect for the game, further tarnishes the sport’s reputation,” they say.

Research has shown that in football, individual talent often takes centre stage; however, greatness requires more than skill, character, and discipline play pivotal roles in distinguishing good players from legendary ones.

Chima Nwosu, a football enthusiast said the problem is with players and not the money nor the game itself.

“My observation is that the game itself keeps getting better in terms of technicalities.

“It’s the attitude and lifestyle of some players that are questionable as they live ostentatiously, arrogant and the reason is not far-fetched. They earn so much but some still are level-headed,” he noted.

Similarly, Friday Erhabor, a football fan blames the non-discipline players for their approach to life and career.

“It is the responsibility of a coach to instill discipline in the boys. Is any of those boys richer than Ronaldo or Messi? Are they not disciplined? The coach should be allowed to do his work,” he said.

Joel Abdulahi does not see money as the issue, for according to him, “Money influence has always been an issue in football and it helped expand the game.”

Abdulahi reiterated that money is not ruining the game; rather it is helping to improve the game. As for indiscipline players, he said it has been there for years.

“You have players working on diet forbidding alcohol and doing a lot of gym sessions, just to remain healthier and to elongate their footballing career.

“In every career, you would see one or two bad examples of indiscipline and football is no different. The players of this generation although less talented are locked in to give their maximum best,” he said.