Question

1. History of soccer in the world

2. History and development of soccer in Nigeria

HISTORY OF SOCCER IN THE WORLD

Introduction

Football (or soccer as the game is called in some parts of the world) has a long
history. Football in its current form arose in England in the middle of the 19th
century. But alternative versions of the game existed much earlier and are a part of
the football history.

The first known examples of a team game involving a ball, which was made out of
a rock, occurred in old Mesoamerican cultures for over 3,000 years ago. It was by
the Aztecs called Tchatali, although various versions of the game were spread over
large regions. In some ritual occasions, the ball would symbolize the sun and the
captain of the losing team would be sacrificed to the gods. A unique feature of the
Mesoamerican ball game versions was a bouncing ball made of rubber – no other
early culture had access to rubber. The first known ball game which also involved
kicking took place In China in the 3rd and 2nd century BC under the name cuju.
Cuju was played with a ball (stitched leather with fur or feathers inside) on an area
of a square. A modified form of this game later spread to Japan and was by the
name of kemari practiced under ceremonial forms. Perhaps even older cuju was
Marn Gook, played by Aboriginal Australians and according to white emigrants in
the 1800s a ball game primarily involving kicking. The ball was made by encased
leaves or roots. The rules are mostly unknown, but as with many other early
versions of the game keeping the ball in the air was probably a chief feature. Other
variety of ball games had been known from Ancient Greece. The ball was made by
shreds of leather filled with hair (the first documents of balls filled with air are
from the 7th century). Ball games had, however, a low status and were not
included at the PanHellenic Games. In the Ancient Rome, games with balls were
not included in the entertainment on the big arenas (amphitheaters), but occurred in
exercises in the military by the name of Harpastum. It was the Roman culture that
would bring football to the British island (Britannica). It is, however, uncertain in
which degree the British people were influenced by this variety and in which
degree they had developed their own variants.
History of Soccer in the World

According to the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), football

or soccer as it is known in North America - is played by upwards of 240 million
people worldwide. Records trace the origins of the sport back more than 2,000
years ago to ancient China, Greece and Rome, where the 'ball' was made of rock or
animal hide stuffed with hair. There have even been suggestions it dates even
further back to old Mesoamerican cultures - but 'football' or 'soccer' as we know it
today has its roots in 19th century England.

From England, the idea of football spread to Europe and across the Atlantic. Two
schoolteachers, August Hermann and Konrad Koch, introduced the game to
Germany circa 1874. Immigrants, meanwhile, are thought to have brought soccer
to the United States.

Through the history of soccer we have seen multitudes of stars be born. Jadon
Sancho is one of world footballs most talented players of now and the future. The
first football association was formed in England in 1863. Rules were established -
but continued to change - and the size and weight of the match-ball standardized.
Crucially, carrying the ball with the hands was outlawed: association football
(soccer) and rugby became two separate entities. Football continued to undergo
rapid development into the 1900s, accelerated by industrialization. Public school
teams soon became the minority following the emergence of factory and other
work-based clubs. The best players received monetary incentives, and tickets were
sold to the public - mainly members of the working-class - for matches.

Domestic leagues became commonplace around the world - the English Football
League being the first professional division. In Germany, football was played at an
amateur level until 1949, when semi-professional leagues were introduced. The
country's first professional division, the Bundesliga, started in 1963/64. Forty-six
clubs from the former West Germany applied for admission to the new league.
Sixteen were selected based on their sporting track record, economic criteria and
representation of the various sub-regional leagues. Until 2001, the Bundesliga was
directly under the auspices of the Deutscher Football-Bund (DFB or German
Football Association). This changed with the formation of the Deutsche Football-
League (DFL or German Football League). Early soccer leagues in the US mostly
adopted the name 'football' for their activities, but confusion between American
football and association football resulted in the term 'soccer' being used to describe
the latter in the 1910s and early 1920s. Two professional soccer leagues were
started in 1967, the United Soccer Association and the National Professional
Soccer League, which merged to form the North American Soccer League in 1968.
Interest in soccer within the United States continued to grow and, as part of the
United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, US Soccer pledged to create a
professional outdoor league. Major League Soccer duly launched in 1996. Latter-
day continental club tournaments have existed, in various guises, for many years.
Europe's UEFA Champions League and the Americas' CONCACAF Champions
League are perhaps the best known. Interleague club competition can be traced
back as far as the late 19th century, but international club tournaments are a
relatively new concept. In 2000, the FIFA Club World Cup was born, a tournament
between the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host
nation's league champions. Since 2005, it has become an annual event.

In the late 19th century, only a few national football teams existed, England and
Scotland among them. Germany has been represented in international football
competitions since 1908, while the first US national soccer team was constituted in
1885. Football became an International Olympics Committee-recognised sport in
1900, but it wasn't until 1930 that FIFA - football's world governing body -
decided to stage their own international tournament, the World Cup. With the
exception of cancellations in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II - the tournament
has taken place every four years since. The UEFA European Football
Championship, more commonly known as the Euros, is the primary association
football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members
of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), determining the
continental champion of Europe. It is held every four years, in the even-numbered
year between World Cups. The first edition took place in 1960. The CONCACAF
Gold Cup, the main association football competition of the men's national football
teams governed by The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean
Association Football (CONCACAF), determining the continental champion of
North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, is staged every two years.

Today the national associations are members of FIFA, football's world governing
body. The world regions are divided into six confederations: Confederation
African de Football (CAF), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA,
CONCACAF, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and Confederation
Sudamericana de Football (CONMEBOL). While 32 countries took part in World
Cup qualifying in 1934, that number has risen to over 200, reflecting football’s
standing as a truly global phenomenon.

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCCER IN NIGERIA

Introduction

The game of soccer came into Nigeria through the British Colonia masters in the
early 20th century. The popularity of the game later increased resulting in the
formation of clubs and competitions organised for them.

In 1945 the Governor’s cup competition was started. Later in the year 1854 the
name was changed to Nigeria challenge cup. Also, in 1972 the national league
competition was started. The clubs involved in this competition were grouped into
four divisions according to their level of proficiency.

Professionalism in soccer also started in Nigeria in the year 1990. Today, Nigeria
has about four national teams that represent the country in deferent international
soccer competitions of which most of the consentient players are now professional
in soccer based either at home or abroad. These teams include the, Super Eagles,
the flying Eagles, the Eaglets and the female team known as the Super Falcons.
The body responsible for organizing soccer competitions in Nigeria is the Nigeria
Football Association.

History and Development of Soccer in Nigeria

History of Soccer in Nigeria

The origin of football in Nigeria is practically no different from the same process
in other countries. Since this country was a colony of Great Britain, soldiers and
emigrants often spent their free time playing football. It became good
entertainment in the 20th century for all segments of the population who lived in
Nigeria. The first official match on the territory of this country took place in 1904
when many other countries did not even know about soccer or did not play it.

However, do not forget that football was not the only popular sport in Nigeria.
Sports such as boxing, tennis, and athletics were also gaining popularity. But still,
football became more popular, both for spectators and for those who wanted to
play sports. The thing is that football is a team game, where the cohesion of the
players and their mutual understanding is the main factor for success in the game
and having fun. In addition, cohesion, like football, has become a symbol of self-
consciousness in Nigeria for the people.

Development of soccer in Nigeria

The game of soccer came into Nigeria through the British Colonia masters in the
20th century. The popularity of the game later increased resulting in the formation
of clubs and competitions organised for them. In 1945 the Governor’s cup
competition was started. Later in the year 1854 the name was changed to Nigeria
challenge cup. Also, in 1972 the national league competition was started. The clubs
involved in this competition were grouped into four divisions according to their
level of proficiency.

Professionalism in soccer also started in Nigeria in the year 1990. Today, Nigeria
has about four national teams that represent the country in deferent international
soccer competitions of which most of the consentient players are now professional
in soccer based either at home or abroad. These teams include the, Super Eagles,
the flying Eagles, the Eaglets and the female team known as the Super Falcons.

The body responsible for organizing soccer competitions in Nigeria is the Nigeria
Football Association. (NAF) in affiliation with FIFA and also under the ministry of
youths and sports. Also of note in the development of soccer in the country is
Nnamdi Azikiwe, President of Nigeria from 1963-1966, who loved the sport and
worked hard to increase the popularity of football in Nigeria. Even at a young age,
the future president became a victim of discrimination since he did not have the
opportunity to participate in the athletics competitions of the 1934 Imperial Games.
This is because Nigerians were not allowed to take part in them. He was also
denied a tennis club membership in Lagos due to his background.

This led to Azikiwe becoming an activist and beginning to advocate for the rights
of Nigerians to self-determination. Sport became the basis of his platform, and
from this, the West African Pilot was formed in 1937. West African Pilot is a
national newspaper company. It made statements that football is primarily a sport
and entertainment that Nigerians love and that they are more willing to take part in
their country in such competitions than the British. And already in 1938, Zik’s
Athletic Club (ZAC) was founded – a training center that was completely designed
and equipped for Nigerians who want to play football, boxing, or tennis.
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