President Ali Bongo Ondimba & Lionel Messi
Wonderful Argentine, Professional Soccer Player, Barcelona Forward, Multiple Award Winning, Mr. Lionel Messi is an obvious force to be reckoned with. However, his talents did not come into play and were AWOL when he visited Gabon. There has been and still is substantial hullabaloo about Messi's trip to the French-speaking Nation.
Firstly, there was the issue of Messi's camp members who gave the impression that he was not paid to attend a new stadium opening ceremony. It was said that he only attended out of the goodness of his heart only for France Football to reveal what it considers its own truthful version of events. Apparently Messi's appearance was not free as he was indeed paid to the tune of a cool 3.5 million Euros. Messi's camp members have denied that money changed hands.
Secondly, Mr. Lionel Messi's choice of attire had the Gabonese furious beyond belief. The Union de Peuple Gabonaise translation boldly exclaimed:
Secondly, Mr. Lionel Messi's choice of attire had the Gabonese furious beyond belief. The Union de Peuple Gabonaise translation boldly exclaimed:
“The messiah of football arrived in Gabon like he were going to a zoo: dirty, unshaven and his hands in his pockets, looking for peanuts to throw at them! When you’re called Lionel Messi and you’re a multi-billionaire, you don’t have the right to present yourself to officials of a republic, even a banana one, with your hands in the pockets of a ripped, tattered pair of shorts. “Gabon isn’t a zoo. We don’t know what the Argentine came to Gabon for, but we at least have the right to denounce his negligence and his lack of respect for standards and principles. We are uneasy with Messi’s attitude and his attire. Only for these reasons, linked to respect for the host country, do we condemn the footballer’s indelicateness, to say the least!”
Straight off the field, this all sounds exaggerated and completely hilarious but let's endeavor to see the wood for the trees here. Which is worse: the money or the attire? I would have liked to see more damning comments, indignation and fury about the money, not his attire.
Are the Gabonese being a tad too touchy, mouthy and sensitive? I think not. This begs the obvious question: would Mr. Lionel Messi have met the President of FIFA or the President of Argentina or the President of Spain or the President of any other non-African nation dressed in such a manner?
Are the Gabonese being a tad too touchy, mouthy and sensitive? I think not. This begs the obvious question: would Mr. Lionel Messi have met the President of FIFA or the President of Argentina or the President of Spain or the President of any other non-African nation dressed in such a manner?
While Gabon is a stand a lone sovereign nation with its own customs, cultures, languages, traditions and norms, one must not forget that she is forever a former French colony. Since such is the interesting combination, it is always a good idea to stay ahead of the curve. Alas, it is vital that one pacifies the locals and make amends, the quicker the Spanish speaking machinery is in motion the better for all.
(c) JuicyChitChats 2015 [Thursday 23rd July]
TAGS: JuicyChitChats-Sports. JuicyChitChats-Opinion. Gabon. President Ondimba. Lionel Messi. Prosper!
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Lol he seems like a really laid back dude
ReplyDeleteStill the best player in the world
ReplyDeleteFoolish man. Will he do such a thing in his own country, is that what he should be wearing to meet the President? Nonsense!!!
ReplyDelete