You pick an action you like, you repeat it until it becomes consistent, that consistency grows into a habit, and over time the habit turns into a routine or even a ritual.
This goes on to say that traditions are not always inherited from cultures or families, sometimes, traditions are born out of personal passion. Football is one of the most meaningful ritual revolving around my life. Both playing football and watching football can be said to be a ritual indulge in, especially revolving around Chelsea Football Club.
Picture Is Mine
Being a Chelsea fan isn't just to me like supporting a football club, it's more like a commitment and a way of life. That's why sometimes when they are not performing well and I stand right there in the viewing center to say I'll never watch their matches again out of annoyance, but, just before the match I'm already there sitting in the front row shouting on top of my voices cheering the players up even when we are facing the toughest team ever.
Not just the match days, days before the fixtures, I find myself checking the team news, looking at the availability of the players we have and trying to talk about the possible line up the coach will come with, sometimes I'm right, at other times there might be a tweak in what I predicted but it's all for the joy of the game. I keep on anticipating the team's press conferences, scroll down the fan pages discussing with my fellow football fans all just to that heightens the excitement that comes with the actual play.
Match days are like sacred days for me, regardless of where I am and how busy I am, you will see me struggling so hard to beat the deadline with whatever I am doing so that my schedule will be free by that time. I might miss the matches of other clubs, which is understandable but for Chelsea matches, I've not missed a single match since 2017 that I left the secondary school boarding house and earned my 100% freedom. That's to tell you how much I put this ritual in high regard.
Even occasionally, I am meant to be on duty the day of our matches and somehow, I will still find a way to steal out time to stream the matches, just that I might not be able to watch the full 90-minutes with deep concentration but once the match is over and I'm free, rest assured the first place I'm going to is to watch the highlight of the match. On the days of finals, you can't see me watching the match with just anyhow costume, rather, you will see me proudly wearing my Chelsea jersey anticipating for the best. This to me feels like a big connection to the fans at Stamford bridge ( a place I will definitely go in no distant time, hehe)
At the heart beat of this ritual lies emotions too. There's nothing as uplifting as a thrilling win whereas defeats especially unexpected defeats ruins my mood for the rest of the day but then, you can't win them all I guess.
Retrospectively, being a Chelsea fan has taught me above other things to be hopeful, even when the odds are against me. Moments like the UCL final against Manchester City or recent World Cup Finals against PSG. It has taught me to embrace moments of failures with a burning desire to do better the next time and undoubtedly, it taught me loyalty! That consistency of always showing up for my team is what gives me a sense of stability and belonging even though I'm miles away Stamford Bridge.
In the end, my Chelsea ritual isn't just about watching them play or jumping to other teams when they are not doing well as I expect but it is about the emotional investment and the constant reminder that;
Blue 💙 is the colour, football is the game, We’re all together and winning is our aim, So cheer us on through the sun and rain, ’Cause Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
My entry into the Indiaunited Contest
Thanks for reading and have a nice day ahead 👍