A jinni (spirit) dropped a jewel, which formed a great circular inferno. This became the Karthala volcano, which created the island of Grande Comore. That’s how it all started, according to an old myth.But, this newest myth – surrounding the exotic Indian Ocean island heavily attached to football – overshadows the classic mythology. It tells a story of every single one of us, underdogs, minnows. Faced with the cruelty of day-to-day life, unfair battles we’re predestined to lose, led by an innocent desire to fulfil our dreams despite tons of obstacles on the road.Aren’t we all the Comoros in a way?Those tiny bystanders in life. Outsiders. Fighters left with no other choice.You must have met at least one Chaker Alhadhur in your life. A left-back acting as a goalkeeper for the first time in his life. In the most important game ever, of course.Chaker Alhadur appreciation tweet!!! What a man, what a player #AFCON2021 #TeamComoros pic.twitter.com/0dMQhH7nG5— Kiyaga Shafic (@kiyaga_shafic) January 25, 2022 A nine-to-five blue-collar scapegoat forced to move to that accidentally vacant job he’s absolutely not qualified for. And he knows he’s not up to it, you know it, his boss, the entire company, the whole world knows it…Yet, that Chaker of ours grabs the opportunity and rushes bravely into a challenge hoping for a miracle.Chaker Alhadhur who is a defender plays in goal as their goalkeepers did not make the match squad due to coronavirus disease (©REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)And Monday’s anything but a day for it.Monday is that sledgehammer that tarnishes your dreams at the very beginning, hitting them straight in the centre, in that pivotal point. It sents off Nadjim Abdou, or if you prefer, the Captain, a father figure, a man we look up for when it’s difficult and it seems like everything’s against us.Nadjim Abdou being sent off (©REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)And we’re left without him from that 8th minute of our lives and miss him like a compass that N(orth) sign.Stranded on someone else’s shore, however, we refuse to surrender, bouncing back just at the moment everyone has written us off.We transform into Youssouf M’Changama, another larger-than-life character. An underrated maverick whose opponents don’t hesitate to show their disrespect towards him, removing the wall between them, rest assured he’ll never be capable of cruising past it.But they’re so damn wrong.Comoros’ midfielder Youssouf M’Changama celebrates after scoring (©AFP)Because Youssouf hits it marvellously. His missile is wicked, powerful, curved, it captures the talent and the last drops of disobedience we pour into life once we find ourselves in the ropes. It’s that last punch, a drop of resistance before the officials call it off for today. Or forever.It’s not intended to turn the tables or change the faith. No, it serves only to disturb a bit those favourites, giants, that colossus confident in the landslide victory just a second or two before.To shake their until-then undisrupted supremacy.Youssouf M’changama’s goal for Comoros against Cameroon pic.twitter.com/ZDxbLf3xvj— Ralf RangNick (@SniffRades) January 24, 2022 Just like those French colonists, who are still fighting with the fourth-smallest African nation by area. For what? For Mayotte, a tiny piece of land you’ve probably never heard of. Although it’s Comoros’ fourth major island, which voted its independence from France in 1974, it continues to be administered by France as an overseas department. Moreover, France has vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Comorian sovereignty over the island.MOROCCO – MALAWI Huh, such a familiar story, init? For every charming little piece of the Earth called Comoros, there’s that one bully, a worldwide policeman named France, to interfere and successfully import commotion. More than 20 coups in a span of 45 years, several hotshots assassinations, constant unrest and poverty below any dignity…AFCON 2021: The end of the road for the brave Comoros as they are eliminated by the tournament hosts, horrible scenes outside the stadiumThat’s probably why only two out of 28 courageous covid-torn Coelacanths who fought to the final minute of their maiden AFCON adventure were born in their homeland. The vast majority of them are actually offsprings raised thousands of miles away from home but have proven to all of us one crucial thing. What makes you a hero is not the place where you’re born, nor the colour of your skin, nor the social status, nor the possibilities you’ve been provided with when the referee whistles the kickoff.What Harambee Stars can learn from Comoros in rebuildThe only thing that matters is that you keep fighting. Never to surrender. To be like Comoros. Any given Monday.By: Bojan Babic
