EFA
Fives in Nigeria & the UK
A personal view - letter to R N L Black EFA Chairman 2nd April 1993by Adamu Yakabu (Nigerian EFA) - EFA Annual Report 1992-93.
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for keeping us up to date with the happenings in your Associaton through (news) letter, EFA handbooks etc. I must say we appreciate the efforts for they are in line with the decisions of both Associations to bring themselves closer culminating in upliftment of the game of Fives internationally.
In return we shall appreciate it if you will kindly publish our contribution below which is aimed at comparing the perception of the game in both Nigeria and the UK. This article is based on practical experience after my last visit to the UK for the 1988/89 Kinnaird competition. The views expressed are purely personal and meant, I dare say, to awake genuine Fives lovers and players all over the world so as to generate their interests and keep them abreast with all the developments in this game, for Fives must cease to be a one nation sport. I shall consider this article a success if it provokes more interests in what is currently happening to Fives in other parts of the world.
History
In UKStarted naturally at Eton College by students who played against the college wall during break periods. In Nigeria
Introduced in 1928 by an Education Officer, Mr Hogben, an ex-student of Eton College who was then teaching in Birnin Kebbi in the northern part of Nigeria. The game thus spread all over the northern part of the country especially in secondary schools. It was only in 1990 that the Fives Association of Nigeria succeeded in putting up two fives courts in the southern part of the country (Lagos) thus introducing it to the southern part of the country for the first time.
The Courts
In the UKAll the courts are uniform and standardised, roofed and fully lighted. In Nigeria
Standardization of courts does not exist in Nigeria. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some courts are long enough to accommodate a trailer lorry while others are wide enough for even a learner driver to park a station wagon saloon car across. Some courts do not even have the buttress. They are simply a garage.
The Structure
In the UKBuilt with concrete cement blocks and plastered. There are no spectator stands. In Nigeria
Some courts are still made of mud. Only one court in Nigeria has a roof while only two are lighted. The majority are however made of concrete cement blocks and plastered. All courts have a long run in space terminating with a spectator stand.
Balls & Gloves
In the UKFives is played with hard balls and gloves. In Nigeria
Fives is played only with soft tennis balls. Gloves are not needed at all. This has some historical background. The first fives court was constructed with mud and on completion and to the horror of Mr Hogben, he realised that hard balls were making holes on the walls. He very simply replaced the hard balls with soft tennis balls as a solution to his problem. They have since remained.
Rules
In the UKThe rules are standardised and fully documented. They are occasionally updated by the Association. In Nigeria
Nigerian rules are not documented. Like the British Constitution they are 'stored' in every player's head. Surprisingly the rules are the same as that of the UK. These rules are frequently modified on concensus during annual tournaments. These changes somehow still conform to British standards. 95% of fives players in Nigeria have never set their eyes on the printed rules from the UK. Playing in the UK will however not cause any problem to them as they will play to the rules.
Players
In the UKPlayers are taught and coached in schools where courts exist. Gradually they grow up into mature fives players before ending up as veterans. In Nigeria
Nobody teaches/coaches Nigerian fives players and you don't have to be in school to learn how to play. Nigerian players start as interested spectators, ball boys, practising teenage players, mature players before ending up as veterans. The idea of coaching is horrifying to players as players grow up so naturally and effectively with the game. It can safely be stated that all Nigerian fives players started the game from the age of ten! This has been made possible by the existence of fives courts in townships other than schools.
Plays/Games
In the UKCompetitive and even normal games are arranged after laborious telephone contacts setting day, time and place. The game is so personalised that you have to book an appointment with like minded individuals whose business it is to shoulder all expenses arising from any match. Thus fives is a very serious business to individual players. In Nigeria
In competitive games, all you have to do is to fix venue, time and place and all teams will show up. Normal games don't require any notice or contact whatsoever. Fives is played all the year round from 7 am to 7 pm seven days a week. Players play for their clubs which take care of their expenses when ever they arise. There are always more players than available courts at all venues at all times of play.
Spectators
In the UKAre irrelevant and to a certain extent non existent at all. Even the officials during competitive games are more interested in their games and only spare enough time at the end of their games. In Nigeria
Spectators are more important than players who are mere gladiators. Competitive fives draws up important dignitaries such as Governors, Ministers etc and on such occasions the minimum number of spectators is around 500 persons. Such occasions comprise speeches, refreshments and in some cases cultural dances. Competitive fives is incomplete without these ceremonies.
Finances
In the UKGenerated through grants, subscriptions, levies and personal contributions and sacrifices. In Nigeria
Same
Tournaments
In the UKVarious during the year organised by the EFA. In Nigeria
Only one annual tournament for the Sardauna Cup organised by FAN. Friendly matches can be arranged between clubs at their own expense without reference to the National Association.
Referee
In the UKNot needed at all. In Nigeria
In Nigeria, competitive fives is a 'small war' and therefore necessitates the need for at least one sane person with a head on his shoulders to oversee and regulate the 'insanity' that characterises all wars in the person of referee or umpire. In fact some clubs cannot play even normal games without a referee, whose words are always final. Fives Association of Nigeria has been doing its best to discourage the use of a referee.
General Observations - Comparison (i) - (viii)
In the UK(i) Fives courts in the UK are more like grave yards which are made alive on few occasions during any year.
(ii) Standardised courts make playing very formal, text book like and single patterned.
(iii) Bouncing and movement of hard balls can be predicted as they are to a large extent constant.
(iv) The surest way to score a point is by putting the ball in the 'peppered box'. All players therefore always aim at it.
(v) Emphasis is on individual players.
(vi) There is clear dichotomy between players and officials.
(vii) Classification of players takes place only during tournaments.
(viii) Players look clumsy using the tennis balls. In Nigeria
(i) The courts are in use all the year round from 7 am to 7 pm, seven days a week (including Sundays for emphasis).
(ii) The numerous sizes and shapes of courts make playing very flexible and natural. This encourages the development of natural talents, various movements, adaptability and stamina building. These make it easier for players to adapt to the numerous sizes of courts after just one practice.
(iii) Tennis balls cannot be predicted especially since there are various types and grades. Players therefore have to develop their natural instincts to cope with these uncertainties.
(iv) Natural flexibility provides for numerous ways hitting the ball against the wall so that it touches your opponent, the 'bullet' which is a strong straight hit after you have succeeded in bringing your opponents on or near the first step, mesmerising your opponents through body movement etc.
(v) Emphasis is on clubs.
(vi) There is none. The two could be inter-changed at will.
(vii) Players comprise underage, intermediates, grown ups (senior) and even expired players (veterans) at all times and not necessarily at tournaments.
(viii) Nigerian players adapted quite easily with hard balls. In fact the gloves were quite inconveniencing they very well could do without them. Sadly the prospect of Nigerian players changing to the hardballs are very remote in view of the unavailability of the balls and gloves in Nigeria and secondly the cost of bringing and getting them in Nigeria is unaffordable to 99% of Nigerian fives players.
Reactions to this article are welcome please.
Adamu Yakubu
Fives in Nigeria & the UK by Adamu Yakubu (Nigerian EFA)
Created: 10th January 2004 by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk