U.S. football fans are all too familiar with the “challenges” Landon Donovan faced when he first went to Germany. You know, he missed home and all. And we all know how Americans struggle to adapt to German culture. It’s soooo alien.
All jokes aside, adapting to new leagues and countries is a common issue in international football. But the stories that typically hit the wires usually involve players who can’t cope with the weather, or miss their families, or need to adapt to new cuisine, or languages. Ahem … José Antonio Reyes.
But ask Landon or José how they would deal with lashings. Stephen Worgu, a Nigerian national who plies his trade in the Sudanese Premier League for Al Merrikh, was sentenced to forty lashes in Sudan after being convicted of drunk driving. That must have been an interesting cultural experience. His advisors and club must have warned him that drunk driving in a country ruled by Sharia law probably should be avoided, particularly in the north of the country.
This story makes me think about the number of players out there who either leave or get shipped into truly alien environments to try to make a living. Thinking about Worgu’s experience in Sudan makes the travails of Donovan and Reyes seem petty. Not to say that players need to be lashed to credibly complain about challenging foreign environments, but it does put other player’s complaints in perspective.
Needless to say, Mr. Worgu should have known better. I can think of a few players … Jermaine Pennant … who should steer clear of playing in Sudan. Someone should warn him as his career seems to be heading further and further south.
