Beyond the Meaning in my World of Controversy — BMWC
The price we pay for swapping our jerseys with others
When you always remain anonymous, you lose your value in the society. Stand up to be counted.
It was yet another JHS inter-schools football tournament when just about the time the two teams were to be ushered to the field, was when our center-forward requested I swap my jersey with him. He was so sober, emotional and passionate about it explaining that my jersey number was his favorite and lucky number so, he begged me in the name of God to do him that favor. Initially, I was confused and reluctant in doing it but on the hindsight, I did it for him at the blind side of our coach all in the name of teamwork and more importantly, just to make him motivated and confident on the field.
I was a merciless defender at the time, playing the traditional number four position, responsible for all the dirty works for the libero. I had a lot of fans and praises during and after the match. Some people even touted me as the best in the team but unfortunately, something happened in the aftermath of the whole tournament. As the norm, a zonal team composed of the best players from each team was selected to represent the zone but my name was missing in the list. Many people were surprised when they realised that I did not make it into the final zonal squad yet our center-forward made it. I was even surprised myself when the final list was announced at the closing ceremony, because I knew I gave my all in the tournament. Some also argued that although I did well, it could be that the defenders selected from the other schools performed better than me; the reason I was not selected. In fact, it has been a puzzle I could not answer for the past 27 years until only yesterday 20th January 2022, the answer dawned on me; the very time I made the mistake of swapping jerseys with my teammate.
This is what happened. Before every match, each school team presented a team list which the match commissioners and those responsible for selecting players for the zonal team used. Our coach made the selection and presented our list as well. But on that list, my jersey number was 4 and that of my teammate with whom I swapped jerseys was 15. By exchanging jerseys, my number became 15 on the field but it remained 4 on the team list, also implying that his name on the list became mine and mine, his name. In that regard, anyone watching the match and looking on the team list could easily mistake me for my teammate and vice versa. In short, as the match commissioners and those responsible for the selection of the zonal team thought they were selecting me per the jersey number on the field, they were rather selecting my teammate by name on the team list. That was how I lost the opportunity to play for the zonal team in that year.
Lesson: Sometimes we take things for granted in the name of teamwork and in our commitment to pleasing others just to make them feel happy but I tell you, it most often leads us into losing sight of many things in plain sight and therefore, end up either exchanging our destiny or delaying the manifestation of the good things it holds, while we continue to blame the aged in the society.
Similarly, you may be doing a lot of good things for the society yet, by your personality, you want to remain anonymous which is fine but life lessons suggest otherwise. I may be a culprit of this but trust me, it is better to make the public know what you are doing for the society so that they can hail you when necessary than to always remain anonymous. Sometimes, you need both their prayers and the blessings of God to maneuver this life. Let them announce your name when you donate to the church so that the congregation can appreciate your efforts. But when they always say your donation is from a Christian Brother or Sister without mentioning your name, many people in the church will not know your value to the church.
Evans J. Taurus
