Celebrations are phenomenal among sportsmen. Athletes celebrate at the end of a race, but in soccer, celebrations are more often tied to scoring a goal rather than the final whistle. When a player scores, they may hit their chest, remove their jersey, or even slide on their knees across the field in joy.
In 1993, at the Bochum Stadium, the Black Stars found themselves celebrating against Germany. In the 44th minute, Prince Polley scored from a deflected pass by the Maestro Abedi Pele. The players celebrated, lying on the field and on top of each other. But the game still had the second half to go. Ghana had scored one goal in the first half, but within just 27 minutes in the second half, they conceded six goals.
Some victories begin with defeat, while some defeats start with victory. Sometimes you score not because you are better, but because your opponent is worse. What happens when the opponent corrects their mistakes?
This experience has since been named the “Bochum Disaster.” Similarly, some celebrate the winning of a contract by spending ten percent of the money before the real work begins. But such contracts may never be completed.
Many soccer teams have lost because they scored first and became complacent. It beats my imagination when players celebrate in the opponent’s half instead of focusing on the next phase of the game. They often go to greet spectators — but why not save that for the end of the game?
Similarly, a political victory is only the beginning of the game. The real victory will be at the end of four years. As the Bible says, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.” Politicians should see their win as the equivalent of scoring a goal in a four-year game. The true measure of success will come at the end of those four years. Some politicians, by their manner of celebrating alone, can set the stage for disaster.
Go to the home of your opponent and appreciate them. If possible, include them in developing projects. Remember, when you walk alone, you can go fast, but when you walk with others, you can go far.
Do not tease your opponent. Do not increase your enemies.