It was 8:00 pm on December 28 – three days after Christmas celebrations—and three days before the New Year.
“I received an email from Arsenal that Maxwell has been selected to be Arsenal’s mascot for the game against West Ham United on 28th December 2023, I was over the moon as an Arsenal fan of decades.
“When I told Maxwell about the email, the joy and excitement he showed was palpable to say the least”, the elated father said. The duo embraced the occasion to showcase not only their football allegiance but also their cultural roots.
In a forward-thinking move, Maxwell’s family had collaborated with a friend in Ibadan, Nigeria, to arrange Yoruba traditional hats (fila) in the dynamic colours of green and white, symbolising both Nigeria’s flag and the spirit of innovation.
“Being a proud Nigerian from Ilesa in Osun State, I really wanted Nigerians, Arsenal fans and football fans all over the world to know Maxwell’s cultural heritage and where he is from.
He emphasised the saying, “Naija No Dey Carry Last”, adding that “it was important to put our country in bright lights in our own little way as 100s of millions will be watching.
“So I contacted my very good friend (Olayinka Lawal Oloye) who lives in Ibadan Nigeria to help arrange some Yoruba traditional hats (fila) in Nigerian colours (green & white).”
The result turned out to be a visually stunning representation of a young boy seamlessly blending his cultural heritage with the contemporary world.
But that was not all that made the night remarkable for the Faseun’s family, particularly their young son whose iconic display of the Yoruba’s fila quickly caught the attention of the world. There may be various reasons why players walk in with children. These include promoting children’s rights campaigns, bringing the element of innocence to the game, fulfilling children’s dreams or making profit off it, and reminding players that children are looking up to them.
But for Faseun, it was a perfect time to show the world the beauty and uniqueness of Yoruba culture and of course what the green white green colour of the Nigerian flag symbolises. The match unfolded, with Arsenal and their East London rivals battling fiercely on the pitch. Despite the eventual disappointment of a loss, Maxwell’s presence shone brightly. Maxwell’s night would later ascend from good to spectacular as he interacted with Arsenal players during the warm-up, capturing the attention of digital media and even engaging in a virtual conversation with Arsenal’s rising star, Bukayo Saka, who appreciated Maxwell’s cutting-edge expression of Yoruba culture.
As the night unfolded, Maxwell’s encounters transcended time and space, as he met Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Gilberto Silva, creating memories that will resonate with him for a lifetime.
In a final twist, Arsenal’s captain Martin Odegaard presented Maxwell with a hand-signed match-worn shirt, marking a technological milestone in the future of football fandom.
As the final whistle blew, the cheers of Arsenal fans echoed through the stadium. Though the result was not in their favor, the night belonged to Maxwell Mickie-Faseun—an embodiment of a young, multicultural generation seamlessly blending their heritage with passion, creating a story that would resonate far beyond the confines of the Emirates Stadium.
From the look of things, the fusion of football fandom had found a new face, and Maxwell’s journey illuminated a path where tradition and innovation could coexist harmoniously in the beautiful game.
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