Different Generations, Different Strokes By Femi Adekunle

Different Generations, Different Strokes

By Femi Adekunle

 

I love telling my children stories. It’s one of the ways we bond. Even now, when they are grown, they look forward to the gist sessions.

And so, I told them this story we were also told when we were children. It’s the story of the prolific striker, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, especially because my kids love soccer. He was the first Nigerian to play in the English Football League, and first African to qualify as a professional coach. He was a prolific striker in Nigeria’s national team, the Red Devils, with a deadly left foot. The Lagos State Government named a stadium after him in Surulere. By the way, the national team, the Super Eagles, were known as the Red Devils in the ‘50s and ‘60s. He was indeed a legend.

It was one of the stories we relished as kids. The story was that Thunder Balogun played in an international match way back in the ‘50’s, for the national team. He was reputed never to miss a penalty – no ‘keeper born of a woman could stop his shot. The ‘keeper on the other side was so good that he stopped penalties effortlessly. Nigeria was awarded a penalty, and Thunder Balogun was to take it. He kicked the first shot using his right foot, and the ‘keeper stopped it. The referee was scandalised, and he ordered a replay. He kicked again, and the ‘keeper stopped it. Who on earth was this ‘keeper stopping Thunder Balogun’s spot kick??? The referee couldn’t believe his eyes and had to order yet another replay!

As he was to kick the third time, the coach (another version said it was his wife) bellowed from the bench “Thunder Balogun, remember your left foot!” The maestro changed to his lethal left, kicked a shot that flew like a bullet, and the skilful ‘keeper made to stop the shot. But alas, the ball went straight into his stomach, pierced through his back, and it was a goaaaal! The stadium erupted in loud ecstasy, but the celebration was cut short upon the crowd, realising that the visiting daring goalkeeper had collapsed and died on the spot. What a tragedy!

My children burst out laughing hysterically, and I was embarrassed.

What’s the lesson here? The same story that we received in truth and in awe is the same story my kids laughed at. We believed it, but they didn’t. It made me realise that the children of today with their romance with the internet and technology almost from the womb are much more exposed than we were, meaning, the rules of parenting that nurtured us must be upgraded if these ones will be properly parented. It is a strange coincidence that the latest generation of kids, popularly known as Gen A or the Alpha generation, were born in the year 2010, the same year the first-generation iPad was announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. You’d think these kids were born with gadgets right from the womb.

Take it or leave it: just as our generation knows what our parents didn’t know, our children know much more than we know, and it’s the place of wisdom to upgrade.

 

Femi Adekunle 2024.