It's been a while around here. Work has been quite hectic, leaving no room for extracurricular. Even with that, I've been trying to come around but get stopped at every point by one thing or the other but today, I have decided to break the jinx.

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In this era of players having dual nationality and being eligible to feature for more than one nation, the question of which country a player features for would be unending.
![p173879.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcXukmCv3qsW8FX1T1TjXiVthdJgBM8NUMV6WTnGncX4f/p173879.png)
[image source](https://www.premierleague.com/players/13286/Tammy-Abraham/overview)


Some people use this to question a player's patriotism but personally, I feel it is more than just that. It is beyond what the eyes see.

A prominent one currently ongoing is the issue of whether Chelsea striker, Tammy Abraham would feature for either Nigeria (his fatherland) or England (his birth country).

I remember a couple oof years back, a national team call-up was stretched to Abraham by Nigeria which he turned down and decided to feature for England. Even though he has featured for the Three Lions in about two friendly games, he still is eligible to play for either nation should he decide.

Some Nigerians bring in to play that Abraham is not patriotic by not wanting to play for his fatherland and I beg to differ. It is beyond just saying I want to play for a nation. It is not a decision that can be taken blindly. A lot of other factors need to be put into consideration, of which family is very key.

Few months ago, it took West Ham Declan Rice months to decide whether to play for Ireland or England before finally settling for the latter, even after representing the former in friendly games and earned his first international call up for the Three Lions almost immediately. According to him, the support system he received from the English system played a key role.

Just yesterday, former Arsenal midfielder and ex-France international, Ray Parlour advised Abraham to dump Nigeria for England. Whether he plays or not for either is still his own decision and he has asked to be given till April 2020 to make a decision on his allegiance.

![Tammy-Abraham-Lampard.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRWshL5qeKJUcHba2gBFJTTaER9hekGDEpXgumbXn6BSa/Tammy-Abraham-Lampard.png)
[image source](https://www.news18.com/news/football/frank-lampard-lambasts-racist-abuse-of-tammy-abraham-after-uefa-super-cup-loss-2273023.html)

All these said if just like to say that Abraham needs to take his time as much as he can, no pressure. He should take a look at the England national team and their history with black players, Gabriel Agbholahor, Seun Fashanu and a host of others despite putting in so much during qualifiers and friendlies were not able to break through. England were forced to use John Barnes in the 80s because they had no choice and of recent, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli seem to be breaking that jinx. Hopefully, it would last.

Coming down to Nigeria, Abraham should look at the history of the Nigerian Federation especially when it comes to the welfare of players. We have seen players who served the nation well, only to go back to grass either due to injury or one problem with no support from the football body. Some were even promised gifts for doing well but didn't get it until over decades after.

All these said, Abraham should understand that whatever decision he makes, he would have to live with it for the rest of his life. He shouldn't bother about people judging him based on whatever decision he makes. It's his life and his alone.

View my original post on [sprtshub](https://v1.sprtshub.io/post/beyond-the-colours_h5Qef)