No Leave, No Transfer: The Gospel of a True Fan

Good morning!

It’s a new week but what a weekend we just had! I stumbled upon a clip of the triumphant Super Falcons in full celebration mode, counting their historic titles with fans — “One! Two! Three! … Ten!!” Goosebumps. The joy, the unity, the shared sense of accomplishment. It got me thinking: What would football really be without the fans?

It’s easy to scream “I’m a fan,” but fandom is not just about screaming the loudest or tweeting the hottest takes. It’s not about who owns more merch or who’s been to more matches. One defining trait separates the real from the rest: loyalty.

Loyalty is the heartbeat of true fandom. It’s the fuel that powers your roar from the stands (or your couch), even when your team is on a losing streak. It’s sticking with your club when others jump ship. It’s the “no leave, no transfer” spirit that says, “Even if I vex today, I go still wear my jersey tomorrow.”

Being loyal doesn’t mean you become blind to the flaws. It doesn’t mean you must clap for mediocrity or wave banners for shoddy management. No. True loyalty holds your club to high standards, because you love the club, not just like it. When we criticize, it’s not to tear down—it’s to build up.

I’ve seen passionate fans scream in frustration, pen open letters, and vent online—not because they hate Enyimba, but because they can’t bear to see her in disarray. That’s love in action. “Onye a hụrụ n’anya ka a na-abara mba.” We speak because we care.

You know a dedicated fan by how deeply they live their club’s highs and lows:

They skip events just to catch games.
They go broke buying match tickets or streaming data.
They wear their jerseys to church on thanksgiving days and to the barber’s shop when things are rough.
They dig up stats, argue in beer parlours, wake their neighbors up with late-night goal shouts.
They cry when their team crashes out and shout like prophets when the team finally delivers.
These are the fans who don’t just support Enyimba—they are Enyimba. They breathe Enyimba. And truth be told, Enyimba—just like any other football club—does not exist in isolation of her fans. When the fans are united, strong, and clear in voice, it becomes impossible for the powers that be to ignore them forever.

So, as a true blue, don’t let anyone gaslight you into silence. If something’s off, say it. If someone else says it, don’t shout them down. Not every criticism is hate. Sometimes, it’s just heartbreak spoken out loud.

And here’s the twist: Soldier come, soldier go… but barrack remain. Players will come and go. Coaches too. Even administrators. But we the fans—we’re the barracks. The beating heart of the club.

Let’s not use sycophancy to scatter our barracks.

Loyalty no be mouth. It’s a lifetime contract—signed, sealed and shouted in the stands!

Enyimba Enyi!