FOOTBALL AS A “QUASI” RELIGION: A CASE STUDY OF THE RITUALS AND SYMBOLS OF ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK FANS

ABSTRACT

The study investigated football as a quasi-religion among Accra Hearts of Oak fans. The

study specifically sought to (i) identify the beliefs fans attach to their clubs, (ii) explore the

significance of the club‟s beliefs to the fans, (iii) investigate the significance of the rituals to

the fans, (iv) explore the significance fans attach to the club, club rituals, beliefs and totems

(v) assess the social functions of the club.

The research sites for the study were Nima and Kokomlemle, two suburbs in Accra, Ghana.

The study was „mixed method‟ in nature. Through purposive and “inclusion criteria”

sampling techniques, data were collected by means of a questionnaire from hundred

respondents; sixty male fans from Chapter “O” and forty female fans from Hearts Ladies

Chapter. Interviews were also conducted with ten executives of the fan chapters which

were made up of five males and five females from Chapter “O” and Hearts Ladies

respectively.

The clubs possessed totems like the Oak tree, rainbow, and the numbered jerseys.

According to the fans, the Oak tree symbolised longevity for the club and for that matter the

club would never go on relegation. The rainbow represented masses to the fans. The data

also showed that the slogan was significant to the fans because it provided the fans with

identity and in applying it to their lives, the slogan gave them hope for the future. The

numbered jersey meant the position of the players (branding) and a small percentage of the

fans were of the opinion that the numbers represented grace in life. The study also unveiled

that the fans wore certain numbered jerseys because they wanted to become heroes like the

players on the field. The totems of the club resembled that of religious faith symbols.

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The fans performed many rituals in honour of the club and some of which were; singing,

embarking on trips (pilgrimage), betting, dancing, clapping, shouting, praying, Mexican

wave and fasting all enacted in support of the club. Participating in the various rituals relief

the fans from mental exertion and at the same time provide entertainment to the fans,

similarly religious adherents find relief from stress by partaking in their various religious

rituals.

Social functions like unity, entertainment, sense of belongingness, asceticism and

community social responsibilities propelled the fans to rally behind the club. The data

further illustrated that the unity came forth as a result of the interaction that took place in

the periodic gatherings among the fans. Religion could also boast of the same

aforementioned social functions like football.

Vast majority of the fans supported the club from childhood because they were born into a

family of Hearts of Oak supporters. In like manner, preponderance of religious adherents

owed allegiance to their Christian faith because they hailed from a family of Christians.

However Hearts of Oak was not the only club the fans supported; they also owed allegiance

to other clubs as well, like the National teams and European clubs. Succinctly, with modern

day religion, some Christians are alledged to have had double faiths. The respondents made

known that watching their key players “pastors” exhibiting their artistry on the field of play

was their main motivation for visiting the stadium. The fans visited the stadium to “worship”

their key players. They therefore refused to visit the stadium if their key player was sold

out to a foreign club. The players are like the “Pastors” in football so selling them might not

draw fans to the stadium. Like religion, football also comes with emotions. The fans revealed that they became happy

when the club won its matches. A loss or draw saddened the fans. The data noted that fans

also became angry and aggressive whenever a bad decision was taken against their club and

might even resort to hooliganism if the decision affected the club severely. Football is

indeed a quasi religion because of the rituals, beliefs, totems and the social functions it

performs. The Accra Hearts of Oak fans perform rituals, have their beliefs and idolized

totems which are equivalent to the beliefs and rituals of religious adherents. Social functions

like unity, identity and entertainment associated with football could also be identified with

religion. Durkheim (1915/1995) saw the society as a “god” which influenced the life of the

individual, the same influence Hearts of Oak club exerted on its followers. Furthermore, the

fans attached a great significance to Accra Hearts of Oak, making Accra Hearts of Oak club

a “god” to the fans.