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Founder of Football Fans Tribe, Tokoni Joseph Iderima, has revealed the unique insight behind its creation of the fast-growing football content social media platform that is riding high on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Tokoni Iderima, a graduate of Computer Science and Mathematics from Rivers State University, launched Football Fans Tribe in 2019, from a position of relating to the passion of football fans in Nigeria which was untapped.
Born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he hails from, Iderima established Football Fans Tribe to give fans a sense of belonging in the football value chain, whether at local viewing centres, stadiums or at other venues where the game comes to the fore, with such idea unexplored in Africa before now
“Football Fans Tribe was birthed with a vision of bringing together Nigeria’s brimming Football community to a common ground where every fan finds a common ground to easily communicate, celebrate, banter and enjoy what football Fandom brings.
“And then pushing these conversations, celebrations and more to the worldwide audience through the internet and engaging content. With a culturally diverse country like Nigeria, one unifying factor that crosses the boundaries of tribe is football and connecting everyone in this community through the game we love is what we’re here for,” the Football Fans Tribe founder said.
Speaking further, the brain behind the Football Fans Tribe said, “Two main things prompted the formation of Football Fans Tribe, first is the clear football fan landscape that felt untapped, unnoticed and ignored in the country. A landscape I was a part of, going to viewing centres, and stadiums and being a passionate fan.
” Second, there wasn’t any such football fan platform on the internet outside Europe, talk less in Africa so there was a need to let the world see how we follow our beloved clubs, the national team and how we discuss, banter and celebrate football with each other.”
Passion for football continues to grow among Nigerians, suggesting that it is etched into the fabric of the people. However, recent debates have argued that the increasing followership is an intention to escape the harsh economic reality in the country. As a stakeholder, the Football Fans Tribe chief executive stresses that though there is an element of truth in both standpoints, the happiness football gives supersedes whatever challenges true followers encounter.
“In some cases, you say ‘a little of both’ but for this, it’s “a lot of both” because football is something sewn into our lifestyle as Nigerians, so by default, the passion is there but then it now also serves as an escape from the current realities so this is something that makes football more loved each day. Football followership is a natural phenomenon that doesn’t need any improvement, if the standard of living is focused on then there’s more joy for the average fan,” stated the founder of Football Fans Tribe.
