Southgate’s soccer sons shone through the dark clouds of racism and stand as beacons of a greater tomorrow, not just for football, sports or for any public sympathies but as the last shot at last relics of systemic racism for a country that once said “No Irish, No blacks, no dogs”. The country must now hang a new sign “ALL ARE WELCOME” designed and proclaimed by Saint Southgate
By Professor Chris Imafidon – For a historic event in the sporting calendar of England, and in fact the UK, nobody expected that racism would be the final theme of the footballing genius of Southgate’s “sons”. These sporting “children” of Gareth Southgate saw themselves as ONE FAMILY under Southgate their sense of unity in diversity brought so much inclusivity, pure joy and national elation to everyone including non-sporting enthusiasts.
SAKA – A SAVIOUR
Wembley stadium saw a very festive and carnival atmosphere. There was royalty, there were people from all backgrounds. It was like the Notting Hill festival. White people wore the football memorabilia of black players such as Bukayo Ayoyinka T. M. Saka.
The 19-year old British-Nigerian, Bukayo Saka grew up in modest circumstances in London, Greenford, just five miles from Wembley where he lived with his parents and siblings. The teetotal hero and straight-A student. His white fans know that his father Yomi, and mother Adeniki Saka are Nigerians but that does not stop them from spending their hard-earned money buying up every merchandise labelled “SAKA” and proudly wearing his shirts etc or celebrating him as a true hero of football, the beautiful game and a national treasure unearth by Arsenal and Gareth Southgate.
But the racist abuse that followed has been depressing – particularly those who had fallen in love with the team for the first time.
MEDIA SPIN OF ITALY SUCCESS
Italy’s luck has been mistaken for victory and overhyped by the biased media’s headlines who were not physically present in Wembley but only watched the extremely limited version of events selectively aired on TV.
Unseen footage tells a totally different story of Southgate sons’ success) Even the Italian Manager, Roberto Mancini admits that, “The (England team) guys were amazing. I have no words for them; this is a wonderful squad. This game was always going to be difficult, and after their early goal even more so, but we dominated from then on. You have to have a little luck on penalties and I’m a little sorry for England because they also played a great tournament.” They were the better side but missed penalties.
In the field of play, It was Mancini, though, who tried to change the game with his substitutions, the introduction of Domenico Berardi for Ciro Immobile finally allowing Italy to achieve the width required to stretch England’s defence. As he hugged the right touchline, Lorenzo Insigne, operating now as a false nine, started to find space to operate inside. Bonucci’s goal arrived from a corner, but only after Italy had begun to build a head of steam.
ENGLAND SQUAD SUCCESS
At Wembley, it seemed as though that system might not work. England’s early goal, coupled with Gareth Southgate’s switch to a back three, initially posed a question Italy could not solve. They could have all the ball they wanted in the middle of the pitch but nowhere to go with it, England’s wing-backs denying them their usual width by dropping to form a back five”.
SOUTHGATE GENIUS SUCCESS REVEALED
Gareth Southgate’s ENGLAND TEAM more diverse and inclusive than the cabinet, parliament, Russell group universities, or any other British institution, because only 4 Players in the entire Euro 2020 Have Parents Born In England
ONLY four players in the starting line-up of Sunday’s final Euro 2020 against Italy have parents and grandparents who were all born in the UK.
As England football manager Gareth Southgate believes that his Euro 2020 team sparked a sense of national pride and unity that runs deeper than the temporary heartbreak caused by Sunday’s failed penalty shootout.
“The team come from so many backgrounds and a lot are people of colour, like Raheem Sterling with roots in Jamaica.
More than half of the 26 players in the Euro 2020 squad have at least one parent or grandparent born outside the UK, according to the Migration Museum.
That includes Bukayo Saka, whose parents are Nigerian, Jadon Sancho, whose mum and dad are from Trinidad and Tobago – and Marcus Rashford, whose grandma lived on the Caribbean island of St Kitts.
All three players received racist abuse on social media after not scoring their penalties in the shootout on Sunday. It’s just embarrassing as a country that fans behave in that way. Most Wembley fans say the “disgusting” abuse of Saka, Sancho and Rashford shows there is “still a very long way to go” to tackle racism in football.
The most ticketed and Covid-19 tested fans at the stadium believe that the fact many of Southgate’s men are from similar neighbourhoods and ethnic minorities makes cheering on the nation a real pleasure.
As I was quoted by the publication – Personnel Today, “ if we want more successes in sports or life, then we must over-celebrate until we duplicate it… we must mark this unique and extraordinary achievements of these young people! The event in Wembley is more than a football match, it’s an Inspirational manifestation of the spirit of unity, perseverance, persistence and patience in the midst of a pandemic.
SOCIETAL SUCCESS
Racism in football – and society, is nothing new. But it’s a particularly sad end to the tournament given how vocal the team have been in their fight for equality – as shown by their joint decision to take the knee at the beginning of every game. Despite some critics, including misguided government ministers, the team never wavered in their gesture, which has had Southgate’s full support.
As if to anticipate the disgraceful racist abuse, in a public letter written earlier to the nation published by the Players’ Tribune in June, Gareth Southgate said his players have a “duty” to speak up on issues such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice “while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate” emphasizing that the pride each of his players have in representing their country “cannot be questioned”.
COMMENTS TO MEDIA POST MARCH
Professor Chris Imafidon “Delighted at the heart warming and extraordinary stories of unity from Wembley before, during and after the match. I led kids from our inner city and diverse community to the absolutely carnival or festival Wembley stadium. There was nobody in our group and the other groups we met at the station who identified as Scot, Irish or Welsh or BAME. It was ONE big family, and Gareth Southgate was our ‘father’. As chair of the board of directors of www.ExcellenceinEducation.org.uk programme, It was an honour to lead children and volunteers to a very inspirational event. This was much more than sports or football. It was a national event. It was diverse, inclusive and everyone joined.
IT WAS NOT JUST ENGLAND THAT PLAYED, THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT DEFEATED. THE TEAM REPRESENTED MORE THAN ENGLISH FOOTBALL. They represented all social, economic and ethnic kids. As regards the outcome, even the Italian Manager admits in a post-match outburst that “Italy was lucky, because England was the better team – they only missed penalties. So they didn’t lose the match.
After the penalties, I told the BBC exactly what happened and corrected the misimpression that England lost! This is 100% wrong! I reminded them that The Italian manager graciously agreed with me “that Italian men only won the penalties and NOT the match. The ‘British’ boys will be back” Greater days are ahead for the UK and this young team has more years.
Professor Chris Imafidon, is chair, ExcellenceinEducation.org.uk, an alliance of inner-city educational charities and institutions that mentors youths, women and professionals in the commonwealth. He is a multi-Guinness World record holder; internationally renowned adviser to monarchs, governments, presidents and corporate leaders; Mentor to multi-millionaire tech entrepreneurs & many world record holders. His research and innovation have been recognised internationally, winning multiple awards. Professor Imafidon is 5X International Bestselling author; Mentor to New York Times Bestellers and a Sunday Times Op-ed author, a Wall Street Journal BestSelling author and a regular contributor to #AfricanVoice;. [Twitter @ChrisImafidon; Instagram @CoImafidon; Facebook/Linkedln/ClubHouse –Professor Chris Imafidon]
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