The excitement is long forgotten as I write this. Perhaps the broken bones have healed, the tense rivalries diluted into banter, yet, it seems apt to talk about the Twitter Premier League a week and a half after it took place.
As it happens, there’s already a prospective date for the next edition of the event.
There are many doubters of social networks and it’s power to change the contemporary world and introduce innovation.
Such doubters should be gathered and made to attend an event that has come to stay: The Twitter Premier League.
I remember attending the first edition of the tpl with a measure of amusement, wondering why a bunch of “Twitter people” had decided to hold a football event.
From “bants”, somebody somewhere had thought up an idea. If I sound skeptical, it’s because I was, I’m not the easiest of converts.
It was a free event, so there I was, skepticism in hand at the first ever edition. The attendance was good but the football was rather scrappy.
Enthusiasm however, wasn’t lacking. In hindsight, tpl 1 was “a humble beginning”.
In a country where half the citizens are football lovers, you’d think the Nigerian premier League would be the most watched league in the world.
In an Era of an unimpressive super Eagles and an underfunded local league, local football is at its lowest point.
Stadium turn outs are low and all the focus is on the glitz and glamor of European leagues. Hard as it tries, the Nigerian league isn’t there yet.
Is it to brave to proclaim that the tpl is here to change this?
Sometime between its first edition and the present time, the tpl has become a brand.
A successful brand I daresay, garnering attention and sponsorships from prestigious companies.
The teams contributed in no small measure to the sense of anticipation as the participating teams gave freebies.
Jerseys were unveiled with pomp, and it really wasn’t difficult to become hooked. Again, skepticism in hand, I decided to attend the fifth edition of the twitter premier League.
The fifth edition of the tpl was by far the most impressive. I arrived at the Campos mini stadium hungry, as the rather inconsiderate client I had met for a morning meeting did not provide small chops.
I speak for my stomach when I say the options were numerous. The food stand was buzzing my people! I ended up having burger, fries and shawarma (please don’t judge me, I didn’t have breakfast).
Away from matters of the stomach, I was more impressed by the quality of football played. I was expecting a scrappy 5 a side affair but I saw some goals that would easily contend for “goal of the season”.
The players committed themselves it showed. The tackles were robust and unflinching, the take ons were merciless as incompetent defenders were ruthlessly exploited.
The Reds continued their peculiar misfortune of crashing out after just the first round of football *casts side eye at Van Gaal *
The Knights were mesmerizing, defending resolutely and showing intent whenever they moved the ball forward.
It helped their cause to have a devil of a player on the right wing.
Can you tell I’m getting carried away?
The jerseys were so beautiful I almost cried (The Reds need to look away now please as well as the Knights who looked like a team of referees with all their stripes)
After giving their all, the Saints won the fifth edition of the Tpl, claiming the title for the second time. Back to back my people, no Twitter fingers on that team.
There were other things on offer. If you’re a techie, tpl will turn you on! I hope you people won’t judge me again if I admit it was my first time of seeing a drone?
I won’t give much more than that away.
The only downside for me was the prohibition of alcohol. I’m known to be partial to the few beers as I watch the beautiful game.
Football. Technology. Food. Innovation.
There you have it people, the Twitter Premier League.
I missed all these fun at TPL5 cuz am not in Lagos. Though I followed its activities on twitter