The Nation Newspaper

Category: Ade Ojeikere

  • Too close to call

    The most exciting European league season ends today in Cardiff, with the UEFA Champions League final game between Real Madrid FC of Spain and Juventus FC of Italy. The Italians remain the only undefeated team in this year’s tournament. Manchester United, in 2008, was the last undefeated champion. Unfortunately, Real Madrid is the defending champion but has been beaten twice en route this game. Real lost the first leg game 2-1 to Atletico Madrid, although it qualified. The Los Blancos side lost 2-1 at home to Bayern Munich to equal the scores at 3-3, having beaten the Germans by the same score-line. Real moved on in the competition, courtesy the 4-2 extra time victory over Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu Stadium.

    Bets have been placed on either team to carry the day, with those rooting for Juve laying claim to the difficulty of previous winners winning the trophy back-to-back. This is the biggest jinx confronting the Galaticos, whose fans couldn’t be worried by such mundane submission, given the dynamic nature of the game and its unpredictable results since August, last year. AC Milan (1989, 1990), Ajax (1995, 1996), Juve (1996, 1997), and Manchester United (2008, 2009) – these teams lost their finals as cup holders. Will this be Real Madrid’s lot tonight? God forbid, many people will say.

    Do you believe in jinxes? Have such myths been destroyed since the competition began? After all, we have seen players win the trophy as players before transforming to coaches to win the title again. Indeed, Zidane will be the first player to win the trophy back-to-back as a coach. Can somebody say Amen there? Amen. Amen. Amen.

    What are the other facts associated with this competition, with regards to the clubs, players and coaches? Real Madrid will be the first team to score 500 goals in the UEFA Champions League, if they are able to score a goal in Cardiff. The Galaticos have scored 499 goals from the group stage to tonight’s final in the competition’s history. Interestingly, Real Madrid has the record of titles, winning five. Juventus has the unenviable record of losing more matches with four defeats and only one victory against Ajax in 1996.

    Curiously, Real Madrid and Juventus will play their sixth Champions League final, just like AC Milan FC of Italy. Besides, Real Madrid, only Inter Milan, Marseille and Porto have a 100 per cent winning record.

    Indeed, Juve’s strength is Real Madrid’s sore point and it could be the deciding factor tonight. What is Juve’s strength? The Italians’ defence appears impregnable, given the fact that they held star-studded Barcelona 180 minutes without conceding a goal. Barca’s Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar (MSN) have been scoring goals with aplomb. But against Juve in the semi-finals, the players were lost, culminating in Barca not recording a shot at goal in one of the two encounters.

    This isn’t an accomplishment to brush aside, not forgetting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s superlative saves, his commanding presence as the last man in the defence, giving out instructions to his players. One is also worried about the Italians’ collective play without losing sight of key players, such as Gonzalo Higuain, aiming to inflict pain on Real Madrid for daring to send them away at the behest of their big stars. There is also Khedira spoiling for the Spanish side’s fall tonight. Khedira left Real Madrid under acrimonious setting in spite of his heroics with the Spanish side. Khedira joined Real Madrid from Stuttgart on July 30, 2010 for an undisclosed fee. But in June 2015, Italian side Juventus announced that Khedira had signed a four-year deal on a free transfer; the move was completed July 1, at the start of the 2015–16 season.

    Such players seeking vengeance, like Higuain and Khedira, must be reminded that there are players in their former teams who know their strengths and weaknesses, which they will exploit on match day. I will be very surprised if Real Madrid players give Higuain room to operate. Higuain will be marked, having scored five goals so far in the competition.

    So, who are the gladiators at Juventus? Need I restate Buffon’s contributions? I would rather look at the Italians’ defenders, comprising Giorgio Chiellini, Medhi Benatia, Alex Sandro and Dani Alves, who have the daunting task of stopping Cristiano Ronaldo, the talisman of the Spanish side.  Ronaldo will be difficult to pocket over 90 minutes because he has many records he wants to either achieve or possibly surpass. It must be said that victory for Real Madrid offers Ronaldo the best chance of being voted the World Footballer of the Year for the fifth time. If it happens, he equals the feat already achieved by Messi. You can see why it will be too close to call if anyone tries to pick the eventual winners based on facts on paper.

    The Italians are rugged at the rear, but what do they have in the midfield where most of the battles will be fought?  In this area, the Italians will rely on Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira to seize the midfield from the Spaniards. If Juve hopes to lift the trophy tonight, their midfielders must dominate the midfield and supply good passes to their strikers – Gonzalo Higuaín, Paulo Dybala, Juan Cuadrado and Mario Mandzukic – to score goals.

    However, Zidane has identified Dybala as the most dangerous striker for Juve. Dybala will be marked.  “Dybala is definitely Juventus’ number one threat. Juve has many good players and Dybala is one of the best. This will be a special final for me as I played for both clubs. I have amazing memories of Juventus.

    “Bale has nothing to tell me; he’s ready, he has suffered a pretty serious injury but I know each one of my players is motivated and that’s the only important thing for me. We still have some days left to prepare for the game, we’ll do some simple things during today’s training and we’ll go into further details tomorrow (Thursday),” Zidane said.

    Marking out star players is what will make tonight’s game very interesting, with each striving to render the opponents’ dangerous men otiose. Indeed, most pundits are expecting a tight and tactical game, which invariably will reduce the number of goals to decide it. Should this be the setting expected from two teams with immensely talented players? Certainly not, except it becomes necessary. Yes it is. So which of the two coaches will blink first?

    Former Brazil captain Cafu starts the rating of key players tonight, beginning with two defenders – Dani Alves (Juventus) and Marcelo (Real Madrid). Cafu said: “It will be a clash of titans. We are talking about the two best full backs in the world at the moment. Dani Alves attacks a lot, but Marcelo does the same. Tactically, it will be very interesting and it will be fantastic for Brazilian football.”

    Already, Higuain is looking forward to the battle against his former mate at Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos. “Let’s hope Ramos doesn’t score in the 90th minute. I have a lot of affection for him and his family and we still send each other messages.

    “Football sometime places you in situations like this one where I will face Real Madrid in the final. It will be an evenly matched game,” Higuian said.

    Will there be personal honour for exemplary players? Yes. Former Real Madrid legend and goalkeeper Iker Casillas raised the likelihood of tonight’s clash by deciding who the best footballer of the year would be when he said: “If the opponent wasn’t Madrid, I’d want him to win the Champions League with all my heart. He deserves it. It’s obvious that I’m a Madrid fan, but Gigi’s journey shouldn’t end without the Champions League.

    “He’s won almost everything, but this is a trophy he’s missing and it weighs heavily on him He’s had a great season, he’s back in the final and for we ‘old people’ – I’m thinking of myself, Petr Cech… – it’s a good thing. It shows that at 39 you can still feel good and be competitive,” the Blancos legend told Gazzetta dello Sport.

    “He started at 17 when I was 14. It was amazing for me to think that a boy just older than me was already at that level with Parma. It was a pattern, I admired him, I followed in his footsteps and I envied him. That was for a little bit, because when I started playing regularly for Madrid in 2001, he moved to Juve. Then we continued on together. The Ballon d’Or? Maybe a goalkeeper could win it, but I think it’s very complicated.”

    So, how deadly is Ronaldo in front of the goal keeper? Zidane captures Ronaldo’s influence in tonight’s game thus: “As you well know, there are no words that can do Cristiano Ronaldo justice. He has now got more than 400 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions. These are unbelievable statistics, but with him, anything is possible.”

    Zidane looks forward to Ramos conjuring last minute goals for Real Madrid, noting: “Ramos represents the values of Real Madrid, the spirit of doing anything to win. For me, those values are commitment, battling and fighting until the last minute. This club has taught me that and our captain, Sergio, represents this. He is a noble player.”

    Can Ronaldo be trusted to win this title with his goals for Real Madrid? “On the day of the game there is going to be a lot of nerves and I prefer not to think much about the final,” Ronaldo told Real Madrid TV.

    “They are an excellent team but so are we. I have the feeling that we are going to play a great game and we are going to win. I feel very good, very good, a bit cold, but it is better than having an injury. I’m better on a physical level compared to the last five seasons. I also played less, although I’m the one who played the most matches in the team,” Ronaldo concluded.

  • Moses, Iheanacho, Iwobi, et al

    The English game is arguably the most exciting in terms of talents and the massive global followership, thanks to the country’s vibrant media. Not forgetting the paparazzi, who highlight the oddities of the game. The English game stands out among the European leagues because of its upsets, intrigues, on-and-off field antics and the outlandish actions of the yobos at match venues.

    What excites people the most is the capacity filled stadia, even when there are matches in close areas as the Merseyside, London games and also in Manchester. How do these fans get to assemble weekly? The truth is that most of the English clubs are community-based, such that the people see them as theirs, not government.

    Indeed, a friend was shocked when I told him that Liverpool broke away from Everton, hence the bitter rivalry. This discussion arose before the Arsenal vs Everton game last Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. My friend, a Gunner, wasn’t comfortable with the fixtures, insinuating that Everton will disturb Arsenal to help Liverpool. I told him that would not be right. Arsenal beat Everton 3-1 and he called to say I was right.

    The English game can be ugly, but it is the promptness in which they handle situations arising from such ills that ensure viewership across the country. No sacred lambs. The guilty are not spared. Rules are binding on all, no matter whose ox is gored. Running the game in England, like in other European countries, is a business. But the English have raised the bar to make it their most alluring soccer competition.

    Not many can fault the crowd control mechanism associated with the English game. This mechanism ensures that everyone brings his family to watch games when the need arises. The officiating is chiefly responsible for the shocking results, frills and thrills, making the players the one to follow in terms of statistics and other records.

    Today, Chelsea is the first team to win the Barclays English Premier League, winning 30 matches. Chelsea is the only team to have played 38 games without a red card flashed at its players. Tottenham’s striker Michael Kane is the highest goal scorer, with 29 goals, despite missing 11 weeks, following injuries. Chelsea’s goalkeeper Courtois kept clean sheets in 16 games, making him the best in the league. Of course, nobody can sneer at the choice of Kante as the best player in the 38-match competition. Kante got a back-to-back gold medal for winning the Barclays English Premier League diadem, first with Leicester FC last year and now, with Chelsea. He was also voted the best by his colleagues. Chelsea’s director of football, Nigeria international Michael Emenalo told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that he sent roses to Leicester FC’s management after sealing Kante’s switch to the Blues last season. A worthy buy, if you ask followers of the English game, especially Chelsea’s fans.

    The beauty of the English game is that it recognises landmarks. It elaborately celebrateits stars. Could there have been a better way to escort John Terry out of the Stamford Bridge pitch where he played for 22 years than what the 22 players did for him in the 26th minute? Why the 26th minute? Of course, that is Terry’s jersey number and I won’t be shocked if Chelsea doesn’t assign that jersey to anyone next year, at least. It wasn’t happening for the first time. It also wasn’t because Terry was English. On that same pitch, Cote d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba was celebrated. How could I have forgotten the immaculate medical facilities provided at match venues? The swiftness with which medical attention is taken to distressed players has reduced the number of deaths, which is commendable. Treatment starts right on the pitch. What it shows is that there are mini-hospitals at match venues to handle any eventuality. No lack of oxygen and the doctors stuck in the traffic. No tales of the ambulance driver going to eat or empty tank and no money for fuel. The stadium announcer doesn’t reel out vehicles’ numbers to re-park to allow the ambulance drive out of where it is parked.

    The European game will be very competitive next year, following the qualification of five big English sides – Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool. Check out the names of the coaches – Conte, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp. They are not English. This explains why the league is the one used to benchmark others in all its ramifications.

    Talking about Chelsea reminds one of Victor Moses and his exploits with the league champions. Moses was brought in from Wigan Athletic because of his burgeoning skills. He couldn’t pass Mourinho’s standards. Mourinho kept loaning the Nigerian to other teams. Pundits thought that Moses’ sterling show with West Ham penultimate season could have convinced Mourinho to keep him. But faith smiled on Moses when Chelsea recruited Antonio Conte as their manager. It didn’t start easily for Moses until Conte opted for the wing-back formation.

    But like the typical Nigerian who seizes any opportunity to excel, Moses held on to the right wing-back position for duration of the 38-week competition, missing games only due to injuries. Moses won three Man-of-the-Match awards. He is listed as the 28th best player in the English game this season. Moses is one of the revelations of this season. He is being tipped as the next Nigerian to win the 2016/2017 Glo/CAF Africa Footballer of the Year award this year.

    But Moses has Gabon’s Aubameyang to contend with. Aubameyang is the highest goal-scorer in the German Bundesliga with 39 goals, even though Dortmund didn’t win the German title like Chelsea did, with Moses as one of the star actors. It is true that goals make all the difference in matches. However, winning trophies should have higher marks in grading players for the award. Moses is a key player for Nigeria, Aubameyang is a vital for Gabon. But Nigeria looks good to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    Today is the English FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley. Two Nigerians, Moses and Alex Iwobi, will be featuring. My heart tells me that the game will be decided after 90 minutes. I won’t be shocked if it is also decided through penalty kicks. I’m not being a seer here. I’m just thinking aloud. Moses is sure to start the game. And if tradition is to be sustained, Iwobi will be introduced as a substitute. However, Iwobi’s remarkable performance last weekend could earn him a starting shirt and it would be nice watching Moses tackling Iwobi. Where are the photographers? Brothers at war, many would say. Good for the Nigerian game, if you ask me.

    Iwobi distinguished himself with the Gunners but became fatigued, leading to his being sent to the second team. He is back now. And he could be the joker Arsene Wenger may use to retain the English FA Cup, which the Gunners won last year. Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr must be happy with Iwobi.

    Where do I start to judge Kelechi Iheanacho’s showing this season? I would rather say that Iheanacho’s end of season cameo appearances with Manchester City rest with Pep Guardiola’s tactics for every game. Guardiola wants to play his men. But I feel strongly that Iheanacho will blossom next year, especially if Sergio Aguero heads for Real Madrid. Otherwise, a January 2018 transfer will be Iheanacho’s bet option, if he must be in top shape for the Russia 2018 World Cup. Nigeria needs to beat Cameroon in Uyo in August to grab the group’s sole qualification ticket.

    When the news broke that Ahmed Musa signed for former champions Leicester City, many looked forward to how he will outpace his markers in the English game. But sacked manager  Claudio Ranieri didn’t give Musa an unbroken run of matches to adjust to the new system as he did with some of his wobbling stars, such as Vardy, Mahrez and Drinkwater. Musa struggled through with Ranieri, although matters became worse for the Nigerian when the new man, Shakespeare, took over.

    Ndidi turned out to be another Nigerian who distinguished himself in the English Premier League despite joining Leicester in January. Ndidi won many accolades. He enjoyed rave reviews of his performances. He scored some wonderful goals. He certainly was one of the best mid-season buys.

    The EPL has an uncanny way of humbling average players. Many have forgotten that Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo played in there tlast season. They are in China, a league which is a novelty. But who will blame them for moving to China with the mindboggling figures they earn? Ighalo played for Watford FC. Ideye starred for West Bromwich Albion FC, found a new home in Olympiakos in Greece and now plies his trade in China with Mikel Obi. Ighalo and Ideye turned out to be one season stars for their clubs.

    How does one rate Isaac Success, given the remarkable marks Ndidi has achieved with Leicester in his debut half season displays? Success has been in-and-out of games for Watford. He has scored one goal, most times as a substitute. Ndidi will be useful to Rohr as a substitute, especially when the Eagles need the goals desperately in the closing stages of matches.

     

    Federations’ elections

     

    So much noise is being made by those contesting into the sports federation elections. Everyone thinks he/she has something to contribute. Rich men/women have collected forms, with many asking those seeking re-election what they did with previous tenures.

    Some aspirants are complaining about the use of cash to secure votes. Sports federation elections should not be about money but ideas. Voters ask for money because they know that they are recognised during this campaign period. Once aspirants get into office, they run the place like their estates. This should change.

  • A walk with Obaseki

    A walk with Obaseki

    This piece is coming in fulfillment of the biblical injunction which preaches that “we honour our father and mother, so that our days may be long”. Last month, I wrote that I wasn’t going to write on Edo State again. And my 85-year-old father didn’t take kindly to that. My father’s terse message frowned at the line which said it was my last. I apologised profusely. This column is for you, dad.

    Let me start with this scenario last Thursday in Lagos. Boarding time showed traces of a likely downpour but the passengers had to board the plane. Less than 25 minutes after boarding commenced, the heavens opened up. It wasn’t funny as most of us were drenched to the sole of our feet because the airline staff didn’t have anything covering the point where the ladder connects the aircraft’s door. Unbelievable. Our problems were compounded as we waited for the skies to be cleared. Many of us could wax songs from the gnashing of our teeth. Not forgetting our trembling hands.

    Fast forward from the airport in Lagos last Thursday to Tuesday morning, this time in Benin City. Then you will appreciate the huge joke we experience everyday. It was raining when the aircraft arrived, yet boarding had to be done en route Abuja; guess what, there couldn’t have been a better drama script than what I saw in Benin. Passengers were ushered into the aircraft under the umbrella. They took their turns. Please don’t ask me how long it took. I saw some foreigners laughing. Will you blame them? Where these foreigners come from, it is mandatory for every airline to have vehicles taking passengers from the lounge to close to the aircraft and vice versa. For the bigger airport terminals, you walked out of the aircraft, even if the rain was heavy into the welcome lounge. No contact with the rain except when you get out of the building. When will Nigeria grow? I digress.

    Going to Edo State comes with a lot of excitement. I look forward to the level of development. I strive to visit my hometown, Okpokhumi-Emai in Owan East Local Government Area. Of course, I stop by at Sabongida Ora, my late mother’s place, for a meal of good bush meat and ogbono soup with pounded yam.  How could I have forgotten the big snails or the stockfish? The aroma is something else. Eating these delicacies leaves me with one option – sleeping inside the car while heading for Okpekpe. It has become a ritual. Thank you Mike Itemuagbor, for making this yearly feast called Okpekpe 10-km International Road Race (an IAAF/AIMS’ bronze event) possible. It compels many of us to go home.

    Travelling through the roads gave hope that something was being done to make life safer for commuters. Indeed the fifth edition of the race was one of transition and I looked forward to observing how Governor Godwin Obaseki would interface with his predecessor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. There was a pre-race dinner in Auchi on Friday, an innovation by Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu. I didn’t attend because I had to be awake at 4.30am Saturday to observe the details beyond what would be published in the media.

    If anyone had doubts about the synergy be

    tween Obaseki and Oshiomhole, it was time to clear such. People were excited when Obaseki, Oshiomhole and Shaibu crossed the finish line about the same time. The two men acknowlegded the change of baton and assured everyone that the global competition had come to stay. Obaseki directed that a three-year programme, starting from May 13, be drawn up to help the race attain the gold label in record time. Several innovations were seen this year, the most significant being the Police chopper hovereing over the place whilst the event was on. The chopper was also for surveillance. Besides, aerial photography of the race was shot from inside it.

    Interviewing Obaseki revealed a lot. This time with some sports editors (Tony Ubani, Christian Okpara, Dare Esan and Frank Ilaboya), we walked a short distance with the governor who answered questions. The walk took us to Oshiomhole’s dinning settee built exquisitely with burnt bricks. It was a beauty to behold.

    I was bowled over watching Oshiomhole, Shuaibu, Iara (Oshio Baba’s wife) and Betsy Obaseki eating like a closely knit family. Of course, the governor excused us to join the high table. I observed that former commissioners and legislators came for lunch. The Edo political family is intact.

    Oshiomhole showed that he had taught his wife our traditional values. Iara walked towards us and asked that we join the table. Lunch over, Obaseki, who had other plans before we cornered him, joined the movement out of Oshiomhole’s home with Sports Minister Solomon Dalung to Benin. The interview was truncated but we had enough materials from the discussion with Obaseki.

    Meeting Oshiomhole almost five years after came with plenty of drama. We took turns to greet the former governor. I shook his hands but he kept looking at me. Oshiomhole again shook my hands and won’t let go. He stared into the skies. A third time he shook my hands. I knew the former governor’s dilemma but I didn’t want to help him fix the puzzle.

    Not one to accept defeat easily, Oshiomhole sprang up to his feet, shook me ferociously and shouted “yes, Ojeikere! I know you now. Mike, this was the guy who wrote that article at the back of The Nation, aptly captioned “Oshiomhole’s suicide mission.” He told of his encounter with this column. The former governor remained excited, four years after reading. Thank you, sir for your kind words. 

    With the race over and winners heading back to their countries, the homeward movement took me to Benin City – to rest after another hectic exercise. The Obasekis, Uzzis and the Ojeikeres have family ties. I wanted to visit the governor, the first since he came into office.

    Let me confess here that a friend in government is lost. Also, a family member in government isn’t easy to access. I waited patiently. It was all for my column to capture the events differently. I succeeded. I worked with Obaseki on Monday for two hours, as they say, my ears were full. What I heard the governor telling Edo people raised hopes for better days. You needed to have seen how elderly people struggled to hug him. The prayers were moving.

    But I was stunned when school pupils sprang from their seats to hail the governor, who chatted with some of them. The children sang rehabilitation, apparently motivated by their teachers (I don’t blame them) for their buildings, most of which were falling apart. The governor reassured them, with one of them told that a mini stadium will be constructed along with their school buildings.

    Inside the governor’s office on Monday morning I saw Obaseki work with his deputy and the Secretary to the Government. Done with a discussion, the governor asked me to accompany him on an inspection tour. We drove towards Sapele Road besides the Central Hospital. There was a traffic light, which the governor’s convoy obeyed. When the light turned green, one of these “road assassins”, a fuel tanker beat the light on the other side. The governor instructed that the convoy blocks the tanker, arrest the driver, impound the trailer and ensure that the driver is prosecuted, onlookers were excited. They sang the governor’s praises.

    Quickly the convoy moved away to Oba Market area in Benin, where the real job continued. So much was said during the tour that had the Secretary to the Government and other permanent secretaries.

    Did I hear you say is this sport? Yes. We walked long distances, sweating profusely. Those who wore coat pulled them off. We covered over five kilometers, walking briskly. When I asked the governor about Bendel Insurance FC, his went bright. He said a lot, asking me how the government could recoup its investment.

    I sent the government my thoughts on this issue which he acknowledged as we drove back to the Osadebey House. I told him to organise a fund raiser where a card scheme would be launched. The governor asked, “what do you mean?”

    I said the cards will be in gold, silver and bronze, with another option where during matches sealed cans will be passed around for willing supporters to put whatever they had to help the team. The bronze card’s limit would be between N50,000 to N250,000. Silver card owners will pay between N251,000 to N500,000. Gold card holders will pay from N501,000 up to any figure.

    Again, the governor asked who would purchase the cards. I retorted by saying Bendel Insurance FC’s fans across the country. He nodded. I also asked the governor if he doesn’t have friends who are Edo people who can buy these cards. The governor said “I have”, nodding in approval.

    Obaseki reconfirmed the establishment of the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), which he promised will be backed by a legal document that would be binding on subsequent administrations since that is the modern way to run sports. We talked about how the commission could be funded. Then Obaseki said: “Ade, you sure say we no go find how we go bring you home come do something?” I smiled; the governor laughed.

    We were back in Government House. He walked into his office and I walked to the car that brought me.

    All hail Oshiomhole. Clap for Shuaibu. Take a bow, Barrister Osarodion Ogie. For Obaseki, with these men, Edo can be the model state. Thank you, Itemuagbor for thinking out this project that has placed Okpekpe on the world map for very good reasons. Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

  • Champion Moses

    Champion Moses

    It always feels good whenever a Nigerian is part of a remarkable sporting activity. Such feats highlight the strong points of the nation beyond the bizarre stories which the western media tend to highlight. Watching Victor Moses dancing on the podium of winners, which is what Chelsea’s achievement as the Champions of the 2016/2017 Barclays English Premier League signifies, brings fresh hopes of better days for Nigerian league players and those in the Diaspora. It is also refreshing to note that Moses, who sought asylum as a result of the Kaduna carnage, in which he lost his parents, can now smile, sadly as a Nigerian and not a Briton, in spite of the fact that he has re-organised his life after the Kaduna killings.

    Chelsea’s rebirth this season has been anchored on the decision of the team’s manager, Conte, to play Moses as the right-wing back after two back-to-back defeats from Liverpool inside Stamford Bridge Stadium and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Moses distinguished himself in the position. Twice Moses was missing and Chelsea wobbled. Many pundits suggested the team missed the Nigerian. Soccer greats revealed that Chelsea exhibited their best in the defence whenever Moses played.

    But what does Moses feel about this assertion? Moses told the international media, courtesy of a revelation from another Nigerian great who played for Chelsea, Celestine Babayaro: “I was at Stamford Bridge speaking to Victor the other day and I was amazed at how quickly he has adapted to his new role.”

    Babayaro told Sunday Mirror on Sunday: “He agreed and said that it was all down to Conte, and the way he has coached him. He goes through everything so that you know when to go and when to stay. He works with everyone as individuals and as a team, drills them so they know exactly what they are doing. If an opponent moves one way, they all know where they should be. He is a typical Italian coach.”

    The defeats compelled Conte to revert to the 3-5-2 formation which suited Moses’ style, leading to the remarkable Man-of-the-match awards for the Nigerian. This new system of play catapulted the Blues through 13 straight victories, culminating in the historic feat for Conte, who transited from being a national team coach for his home country Italy to grab the headlines for good reasons today. Not forgetting that Conte was very successful with Italian giants Juventus FC, who are favourites to play against Real Madrid in this year’s UEFA Champions League finals in Cardiff.

    Chelsea’s transformation was not about Moses alone. Conte was careful in ensuring that he sold out the team’s right back Ivanovic, who is touted as the closest person to the club’s owner just as it was rumoured that he headed the cabal that threw out Jose Mourinho last year. Again, Conte applied wisdom in benching old war horse John Terry, in spite of the fact that he is a cult hero at Chelsea, having captained them to many successful seasons.

    Two players, namely Marcus Alonso at the left wing back and Kante, gave Chelsea the balance that they needed both in offensive and defensive plays, with Kante’s smiles reassuring Conte that his system switch was worth the gamble. Kante held Chelsea’s midfield with gusto, scoring in a few games to underscore why he joins the league of players who have won the Barclays English Premier league diadem back-to-back. It also explains why former champions Leicester FC tottered this season after an exciting season last year.

    Credit must go to Conte for the patience and love he showed Diego Costa, preferring to use the player’s good qualities in front of the goalpost to emerge this year’s champions. Hazard also regained his confidence to produce some audacious goal-scoring acts. Hazard got Conte’s warm embrace after matches, irrespective of his performance unlike under Mourinho, where he took flaks for poor outings, including substitutions. He was also left on the bench or out of the squad. This is vintage Mourinho but the Special One must learn this lesson of standing by his players through thick and thin.

    If Chelsea fans needed a coach who is passionate about his job, they had it in Conte. He is also theatrical, irrespective of the team’s performance. You needed to see Conte fly at anyone when the team scores. Conte’s post-match handshake with his players was reassuring. This is surely a sign of his absolute control of the dressing room and the training pitch.

    What does Chelsea winning of the EPL title mean to Moses? Plenty, but the most significant impact is that it puts him on the line for Moses as the likely winner of the 2016/2017 Africa Footballer of the Year award, if the antecedents of the event are to be considered. Moses’ chances of winning the award will be enhanced if Chelsea beats Arsenal in the English FA Cup finals at Wembley Stadium later in May. Arsenal is always energised towards the closing stages of the league. It is the reason Gunners make the top four. Such last grasp finishing has seen them win the English FA Cup in the last two years. A win against Chelsea will be their third consecutive achievement. Unfortunately, Nigeria international Alex Iwobi can’t pose a threat to Moses’ chances of being crowned the 2016/2017 Africa Footballer of the Year.

    A victory for Chelsea over Arsenal will mean that Moses will be among the most decorated Africans in Europe. Moses’ likely challengers will be Liverpool’s Senegal international Mane, who has been sidelined by injury just as his club is still struggling to qualify for the top four in the English elite league. Mane was the best for the Senegalese despite his penalty-shootout miss which eliminated the country against the eventual winners, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

    The Cameroonians could upset the predictions of tipping Moses ahead of others. But the Cameroonians’ records with their clubs don’t come anywhere near what Moses and Chelsea have achieved. We also shouldn’t discountenance Aubameyang who plays for Borrussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. He has been scoring goals in the German league and at the UEFA Champions League competitions The German side is out of the competition but Aubameyang’s goals stand him out. Aubameyang scored seven goals in the Champions league. He has so far scored 28 goals in the German Bundesliga. An awesome record, if the truth must be told.

    The points which Mane could have garnered from playing at the Africa Cup of Nations are irrelevant because of his injury, aside the fact that Liverpool’s sloppiness is noted in the Senegalese’s absence. Indeed, had Senegal won the trophy, it could have been Mane’s award, especially if Liverpool had won the league diadem. But such presuppositions are now illusions, with Chelsea emerging as the Champions of the 2016/2017 Barclays English Premier League diadem, yesterday in England.

    Is Moses the unchallenged contender for the award? Most probably, considering how he has fared with Chelsea. But the big snag is Moses’ attitude to Nigeria’s international games. Moses, sadly always gets injured days to Nigeria’s matches, only to return to play for Chelsea the next weekend, raising doubts about such claims. And no coach will bank on such players to plot long term strategies for the team to excel.

    When Moses plays for Nigeria, he is the undertaker. He delivers the goals when our strikers are clay-footed. His darting runs against the opposition’s defence create the openings for his mates to score goals. It is, therefore, understandable for any manager to reply on Moses’ talents to make his tenure successful.

    However, I grew goose pimples all over my body when I saw the training camp list for the Corsica game ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game between Nigeria and South Africa inside the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo on June 10. Moses was missing. I initially thought he was excluded because of the English FA Cup final game between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. But my heart sank when I saw that other Nigerians likely to be involved in the game, such as Alex Iwobi for the Gunners and Ola Aina of Chelsea, were given the concession to join the team in France after the game.

    My mind went straight to how former French manager at the 1998 World Cup in France excluded three of the country’s best players in Europe – David Ginola, Eric Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin. The French won the France 1998 World Cup, throwing up new talents, such as Thierry Henry who eclipsed the naughty trio for the good of the game. Dropping Ginola, Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin brought a lot of resentment from the citizenry. But Aime Jacquet stood his ground, including defying presidential subtle persuasion to accommodate the troublesome players. The gamble paid off for Jacquet and the France senior team, going forward.

    I’m not an alarmist but I’m worried, even though many have argued that Moses’ exclusion from the Corsica friendly was to allow him to rest after a hectic season. Indeed. Did Moses not have two long spells of injuries, missing several games?  Moses is our best, dear Gernot Rohr. Excluding Moses from the list sends wrong signals to people. It would have been better if other Nigerians in Chelsea and Arsenal were left out too. It would be courting disaster if Moses doesn’t play against South Africa and Cameroon.

    NFF chieftains should get Moses to be more committed towards national team assignments even if he has dual nationality. Moses doesn’t need 75 per cent national team assignments to get a deal in Europe, unlike other Nigerians. I hope he isn’t using this fact to decide games that he should play or not. It would be very sad if Moses isn’t voted the best African football for the 2016/2017 European season simply because Nigeria didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and/or the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations slated to hold in Cameroon.

  • Like Rufai, like Enyeama

    Like Rufai, like Enyeama

    I cherish the day Nigeria beat Bulgaria 3-0 in her debut game at the USA’94 World Cup.
    The victory left the competition’s pundits wondering where such young lads as Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amuneke, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Eguavoen, Michael Emenalo and George Finidi learnt the tricks of the game.

    Samson Siasia, Benedict Iroha, Uche Okechukwu, Tijani Babangida, Peter Rufai, Mutiu Adepoju, the late Rashidi Yekini, the late Stephen Keshi, the late Thompson Oliha, the late Wilfred Agbonivbare, the late Uche Okafor, et al, were also part of the giant-killing team. The Bulgarians were better rated but we awed them with our skills and outran their defenders with sheer pace. The footage of how Amokachi rode the tackle before scoring the third goal formed part of the highlights of the goals at the Mundial in 1994.

    European clubs grabbed these new kids who painted the world with goals. There were others, such as Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West, Victor Ikpeba, Dosu Joseph, Babangida, et al, who didn’t make the ’94 World Cup, but returned to form the nucleus of those who won Nigeria her first Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Games soccer event in Georgia, on June 3. Olympic rules allow for three overage players (Okocha, Amokachi and Uche Okechukwu), yet not many can place a bet on which of the two teams (USA’94 Eagles and Dream Team 1) is the best.

    For soccer followers, it wasn’t much of a shock watching the Nigerian side tear the competition’s eventual third place side, Bulgaria, to smithereens. After all, Nigeria came to the Mundial as African champions.

    Rebuilding of the Super Eagles ahead of the 1994 Mundial arose from a crisis, which erupted in 1989 when Nigeria failed to qualify for the Italia 90 World Cup. Many people advocated a complete sweep of the old order. This didn’t come without complaints, especially when Clemens Westerhof dropped Peter Rufai at the airport en route the trip to Yaoundé. Nigeria lost 0-1 to the Indomitable Lions.

    The intervention of a former chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Group Captain John Obakpolor (retd), to ensure that Rufai made the Yaoundé trip failed. Obakpolor, though out of the Glasshouse then, urged Westerhof, who was a relatively new coach in the country, and didn’t know our players well, explained why Rufai should go to Yaoundé. This he did on the Lagos airport tarmac.

    “There is no gainsaying that at that time, Rufai was the best goalkeeper we had and he was in a terrific form. This is because there are some psychological things between the Nigerian and the Cameroonian teams. If any Cameroonian team saw Rufai in goal, they always trembled. But Westerhof said ‘no’ and that if I insisted Rufai should be on the trip, he would simply walk across the runway to the international wing and join the next flight to his country.

    “I said to him: ‘to hell with you.’ And what happened? We lost the match because the Cameroonians kept rushing our goalkeepers and intimidating them…they couldn’t have been able to intimidate Rufai,” Obakpolor said.

    The defeat cost Nigeria the World Cup ticket, but it served as the basis for the Dutch tactician to pick his men. Rufai’s cult status among the fans worried Westerhof, who couldn’t stomach the loud ovation anytime Dodo Mayana was around. Who will? Westerhof wanted to stamp his authority over his players and Rufai was sacrificed. The power brokers at the Glasshouse supported the Dutch, albeit to avenge Rufai’s alleged tantrums while fighting for the rights of his players anytime he was made team captain.

    Part of the purported strategies to wield the big stick on Rufai, and others, was the indiscipline clause. But Glasshouse chiefs had failed all the integrity tests as they didn’t play their part in their relationships with the players. Some of those who lost their places were Friday Ekpo, Etim Esin and, in many instances, Chidi Nwanu, although unlike Rufai,  Nwanu made it to only US’94 World Cup.

    Dropping Rufai from the Eagles came with a price. Goalkeeper Alloy Agu lost his tooth against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Agu was substituted with David Ngodigha. And thus began the futile search for Rufai’s replacement. Nigeria lost the Italia 1990 World Cup ticket. Cameroonians distinguished themselves in Italy but it was a lost opportunity for our boys on the altar of indiscipline.

    We tried several goalkeepers – the late Wilfred Agbonivbare, Ike Shorunmu et al, but that charismatic aura around Rufai was missing in these goalkeepers. Rufai’s agility and showmanship stood him out and endeared him to football faithful. Whereas, Westerhof won the battle to stop charismatic Rufai, he lost the battle and plot to belittle Okocha, whenever he played Jay Jay on the bench. If the Eagles were wobbling, Westerhof got the baptism as he was pelted with sachets of water thrown from the stands. That didn’t stop until he introduced Okocha to the game. On one of such occasions, Okocha scored a brilliant free kick and the fans carried Jay Jay on their shoulders after the game.

    Westerhof built the team that shone in 1990, losing his first game 1-5 to Algeria, but the team qualified for the finals against the same country, losing this time 0-1. By 1992, it was obvious that the Eagles will be in US, if they kept the tempo. It happened. Our sore points remained the goalkeeping area. The media embarked on a campaign to bring Rufai back.

    The campaign paid off as Rufai made the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. He shone in the matches and contributed his quota to the country’s winning the tournament, which she won for the first time in 1980, in Lagos, beating Algeria 3-0. Credit must go to Westerhof for throwing the Eagles camp open ahead of both competitions in his quest for our best players. Indeed, the Dutch got a goalkeeper trainer to drill his goalkeepers, with the aim of picking his best; he chose Rufai as our best. Westerhof took the professional advice which helped the Eagles to be rated the fifth best at the Mundial, despite their ouster in controversial circumstances in the second round.

    Is this not what is playing out with the Vincent Enyeama saga, 23 years after? Well, Enyeama has undergone a successful surgery, making him unavailable for the matches against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo on June 10, and against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, also in Uyo, in August. NFF chiefs and manager, Gernot Rohr have ample time to decide on Enyeama. They should start by sending him get well messages. A hospital visit will not be out of place. These gestures could further convince the goalkeeper to rescind his decision to quit the game at that level.

    Enyeama is our best goalkeeper in Europe. He is the most consistent and regular goalkeeper at the elite class in France, winning accolades and getting rave reviews for his acrobatic displays during Ligue Un. Enyeama quit the team to avoid further altercations with Sunday Oliseh, which could have affected team discipline.

    Of course, Enyeama didn’t expect NFF chiefs to back him against the coach. If NFF chiefs show some love towards Enyeama, he will rejoin the team. He knows the importance of playing at the World Cup. He was at the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup where he made his debut, South Africa 2010 World Cup and Brazil 2014 World Cup. After all, the doctrine for goalkeepers is that they get better with age. Is this not true? Will anyone be shocked if Italy parades Buffon in goal at the Russia 2018 World Cup, given the goalkeeper’s superlative form with Juventus at the ongoing UEFA Champions League, where the Italians look like the team to confront Real Madrid in this year’s final at Cardiff?

    Unfortunately, the decision to invite Enyeama or not is the manager’s. He has the right to try other goalkeepers. But if Rohr courts Eneyama to return, NFF chiefs must support him to get the goalkeeper back. Nigerians won’t forgive the NFF if we fail to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Sadly, if this happens, the manager goes home, we gnash our teeth, and others enjoy their games in Russia next year. God forbid.

     Pinnick’s maturity

     Elections into the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) offices are over. The furore surrounding the elections, held in Addis Ababa, brought bad blood from supporters of the Isah Hayatou group and the new order that sacked him, spearheaded by Nigeria’s FA president Amaju Pinnick. Being a Nigerian, many expected those in CAF to root for Pinnick. But the old order rooting for Hayatou’s continued stay, despite serving for 29 years, tagged Pinnick a small boy, with many using uncouth words. While in Addis Ababa, the talk was about a wholesale replacement of Hayatou’s supporters who were Nigerians. But Pinnick shocked many when he said such vengeful acts won’t happen, insisting that the victory belongs to Nigeria.

    All those who didn’t give Pinnick a chance to win a place in CAF are in Cairo for a two-day workshop on club licensing. They have swallowed their pride. This is good. But I hope they have learned a few lessons about humility, and the need to see such an expedition from the prism of Nigeria, not what they stand to gain. Pinnick surely has a good heart by retaining these people. Now they know that it wasn’t about Pinnick, but Nigeria, which they represented in Cairo. Thank you, Pinnick.

    Sometimes, I wonder where Pinnick would have been had Ahmad Ahmad lost the election to Hayatou. Phantom charges would have been brought against him. The media would have been called names. Now, we know despots cannot rule forever, no matter how their supporters feel. The only constant thing in life is change.

  • Where are the police?

    Where are the police?

    Where are the police dogs used at trouble spots? Are they dead? What happened to the canisters of tear gas? Where are the riot policemen? Crowd violence at match venues is frightening. Newspapers report bloodied faces of match referees and broken structures at match venues. Soccer crazy Nigerians must now wear canvas shoes to match venues. They need them to run as fast as they can. The flipside is that such a scenario wouldn’t encourage people to watch games with their families, just as it is at sporting venues globally.

    Are the police waiting for carnage before acting? Are league venues not an open invitation to chaos without adequate policing?

    The Inspector General of Police should spare the thought for the league centres.  Police presence at such venues should be intimidating to create the atmosphere for the referees to professionally interpret the laws of the game. Referees pelted with stones in the course of matches will freely favour the home team to save their lives. Then the away team returns home to tell their fans what they experienced with plenty of embellishments. A war scene is created even before the second round game is played. This setting will be experienced when the second round of matches begin.

    Violent fans are known by soccer faithful, but many people don’t like reporting them because they are protected by prominent citizens. These criminals flaunt their lawlessness. Whoever challenges them is doomed. These roughnecks invade the pitches to beat up the referees and maim others.

    Must the police wait for the League Management Company (LMC’s) invitation before doing their job? The police are trained to identify criminals. The hoodlum is a criminal and his antics are familiar to everyone, but only the police are legally armed to accost them. It may interest the police to know that their English counterparts, for instance, have a special police squad trained to handle crowd violence. Where is ours? Who will save our league from urchins? Who will arrest the hooligans? How do we expect any company to remain in this chaotic system to beam matches live? No way. Violence at match venues put such companies’ equipment at the risk of being destroyed.

    It hurts to know that South Africa television station has pulled out of the league coverage stating among other reasons breach of contract with the LMC. Without sounding like alarmist, it won’t be wise for anyone to take his family to match venues. Those who watch those games at home on match days will be idle. Yet, we expect fans to throng the venues. Not possible. It is one of the reasons Nigerians prefer watching the European leagues.

    Indeed, footages of troublesome scenes at match venues have been highlighted on Supersports as they happened. It was easy to apportion blame since pictures don’t lie. It was easy for Spersports to repeatedly stream these games because they were doing the job as a business aside the fact that the company’s reputation of was at stake, should it compromise. Besides, irate fans would be fooling themselves if they decide to destroy Supersports equipment at the stadium because the master dub was in the company’s office and other online platforms as they happened.

    Supersport towered over other broadcast units on this aspect of not tampering with such sen sitive documents. And it is this cutting edge that I want us to sustain lest the beasts who pummel the referees, players, officials and fans, resulting in wanton destruction of properties and lives, would be back.

    Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM) Football Club of Lagos’ player Olatunbosun’s rocket shot against Enugu Rangers FC inside the Agege Stadium in the “Centre of Excellence” couldn’t have been adjudged the best goal of the week globally, if Supersport didn’t transmit the game live on television. It was the streaming of the goal online that attracted the attention of the Goal of the Week panel on CNN to list it among others. Soccer faithful shouted Eureka since it helped to signpost the fact that the domestic league was growing. MFM’s Stephen Odey and a few others’ exemplary displays during matches have reverberated in the media, forcing the Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr to watch their games. Both players are likely to join the Eagles in their training camp in France. This is one of the biggest advantages of showing a game on television. It doesn’t matter if Odey and Olatunbosun play for Nigeria against Bafana Bafana. What counts is that they would have gained a few tips from training with the big boys. They would have cultivated new friends. They can now dream big – playing in Europe. Besides, others in the domestic league will know that they too can be invited to the camp.

    I’m not looking at the propriety or otherwise of the decision to stop beaming our matches live by Supersport. Nor do I want to blame the LMC. I feel strongly that both bodies should sit in a meeting with government officials to find out how the flaws established by the two parties are resolved, lest we turn our league venues to theatres of violence.

    We are experts in constituting panels to find out what happened after any misfortune, in spite of the glaring need for such acts to be nipped in the bud. We will save lives today if the government can intervene in this Supersport impasse rather than look the other way to say we can get another television broadcast right company. Not in this recession. But we can scale down the bundle sold to Supersport to cut cost or restrict the deal to the telecast of live coverage or get all the parties to respect the tenets of the contract before government officials.

    We should not allow any lacuna that will be exploited by the criminals at league venues. No life is worth being lost on the altar of parties holding on to their grounds. After all the deal was struck because of lovers of the beautiful game who throng the stadium weekly to watch games. It is instructive to state here that in spite of Supersport’s coverage, many referees have suffered untold pains. Leaving the venues without checks, such as the SuperSport coverage, would be an invitation to death for those how dare raise the alarm about any discrepancies noticed, except such a person is armed. In fact, referees will freely allow home teams to win, if that is what will guarantee them a peaceful exit from the stadium.

    It would be foolhardy to expect our local broadcast outfits to replace Supersport seamlessly, given the high-tech equipment Supersport uses at match venues. When our local stations handled the league coverage, we had laughable tales like power outage, thugs preventing the television gadgets being set for broadcast and tapes doctored to suit interest groups. Of course, thugs stop the away teams from filming matches as required by the laws governing the game. They destroy recorded materials, and manhandle anyone recording games at the stands. Most times they restate their experiences in other centres to justify their action.

    This seeming double-standard in the way the matches are supervised raises the question about the rules of the game and how offenders of the law are dealt with. Who are the referees assigned to cover matches? What is the level of neutrality of the match officials to ensure fairness? How regularly do the LMC and NFF evaluate matters arising from league coverage? How many of the beasts caught beating match officials have been prosecuted?

    What plans do the LMC have to effectively police matches in the absence of television coverage? Is it not time the LMC sat with the Inspector General of Police to find a way of policing match venues? Shouldn’t there be a regulation to make it mandatory for the hosts to employ trained security operatives who will man the inner perimeter of the playing areas? These are the people who should arrest intruders and hand them over to the police like we witness in other climes?

    How was it possible for a particular club to win all its home games last year, with many of the goals coming from second half penalty kicks? Accusing fingers have been pointed at many officials of participating  clubs who hold strategic position in the league’s organisation, which they exploited to their home teams’ advantage. For how long will this impunity continue?

  • Exposing age cheats

    Franco-German tactician Gernot Rohr has been talking since he returned from holidays about his plans for the Super Eagles.  Rohr has the task of getting Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Cameroon. So far, the odds are in Nigeria’s favour to qualify for both competitions except that the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are bad customers any day.

    Indomitable Lions are Africa’s kings. They have rebuilt their team with new boys who play with zeal and determination. Any team desirous of a victory over the Cameroonians must match them grit-for-grit, with their strongest points being the players’ pace and ruthless finishing in front of the goalkeeper. Coaches dread the Indomitable Lions and Rohr isn’t an exception.

    Rohr has been providing insights into the kind of squad he wants for Nigeria. He watched the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He took notes, which he hopes will guide him in beating the Lions in Uyo in August. Rohr has been ruffling feathers of those who were head coaches. Rohr told us, for instance, why Vincent Enyeama cannot return to the team, stressing that the goalkeeper had disciplinary issues with chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), although they will tell you that Enyeama can return to the squad if he is listed by Rohr.

    Rohr informed us that the Eagles will play two friendlies against a Corsican side and against Burkina Faso in France as part of his plans to effectively prepare the Eagles for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa inside the magnificent Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo. Rohr guided the Eagles through its 1-1 draw against Senegal in London March 23.

    A few people criticised the influx of new kids in the Eagles camp after the 1-1 draw against Senegal. But Rohr revealed that he threw the camp open when it became apparent that the Burkinabes’ game had been cancelled. Rather than dismissing the players, he reckoned that the best opportunity for the mulattoes he had been trying to convince to play for Nigeria to appreciate the need to belong here was for him to invite them to play against his team. It worked magic. They came in droves and we can safely say that Chelsea kid Ola Aina and Arsenal’s Chuba Akpom may be the surprise package to destroy the Cameroonians.

    There is also the excitement around the Eagles over a likely game against either 2014 World Cup champions Germany or the Three Lions of England at an unnamed venue when the matches of FIFA-free window of November 13 are played. Such high profile matches are what we need to truly prepare the Eagles for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Victory over Germany will shake Europe with the team becoming the toast of other European countries that will be in any World Cup group having an African nation. But the thunderbolt that Nigerian players lie about their ages has stirred the hornet’s nest with our shylock club agents going for his neck – “Kill him”; “Sack him” and “What is he saying… are some of the rants from these people who have mostly enslaved our good players in all manner of clubs outside the country. We should learn to take the lessons arising from the message than pillorying the messenger. For Rohr, age counts when you discover any talent. Investing in younger players, most times, means longer stay with the national team, if they are not injured. Of course, it will be ridiculous for us to invest in 30 young players and they would all be injured at the same time.

    These agents are the ones who falsify our players’ ages in a bid to get them to play for Nigeria as a pre-requisite to get European clubs’ contracts. The list of players who have changed their names when they get to Europe is long. Our players have many international passports with different names. And Rohr’s comment about their ages isn’t strange. Many former stars have been mocked by their European mates and managers about their ages.

    Time was when a particular club agent had 70 per cent of the members of the squad. In fact, it was said then that anyone who wanted to play for Nigeria must sign with this agent or consider his dream a mirage. Indeed, stars such as Sunday Mbah rue the mistake they made by refusing to join the camp, culminating in his unceremonious exit from the Eagles. 

    Since the time of Clemens Westerhoff, it has been difficult to set the criteria for picking players in the Super Eagles. The team has become a rehabilitation centre of sort, with many of them unable to represent the country in more than two competitions after their debut. Yet other countries such as Brazil, Argentina, England, Spain, France and Germany etc have graduated many of their rookies into their senior teams.

    In 1989, Nigeria lost 0-2 in the finals to Portugal. Paulo Sousa and Jao Pinto starred for the Portuguese side. Don’t ask me to name our Nigeria U-20 players in the game because they retired many years ago.

    Let us check out the list of Spanish youngsters who were in Nigeria for the 1999 U-20 Youth Championship which they won. In the 1999 tournament held in Nigeria, Seydou Keita (Mali) Xavi (Spain), Gabri (Spain), Pablo Counago (Spain), Fernando Varela (Spain), Ronaldinho (Brazil) and Shinji Ono (Japan) were the leading lights. They are still playing the game with Ronaldinho crowned the World Footballer of the Year. We had Julius Aghahowa, Pius Ikedia and Joseph Yobo as our brightest stars. Where is Aghahowa now? Is he still playing? For how long did he play for Nigeria after he was discovered in 1999? What about Ikedia? Yobo quit the Eagles after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first Nigerian to be capped 100 times.

    In 2009, Neymar drew all the applause spotting Brazil’s over-size jersey as a substitute in most games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos during the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Brazil didn’t play in the finals like our Golden Eaglets. Yet, many of those young boys are in the Brazilian side. Ours have either retired or have quit the game for several reasons.

    Rohr’s age salvo is the fillip that the domestic league clubs need to compel them to parade U-15 players for their junior teams. The league Management Company (LMC) and indeed the NFF can start collating the names of the players. Aside setting the template for the future, LMC and NFF men can guide the players’ movement to Europe, not to countries where the game is just a novelty. We are losing talented players to shylock club agents because we don’t have credible data for the correct names of players even if they falsify their names.

    Perhaps, the NFF could move to regularise the youth academies. This is the only way we can collate data that shape the way our players develop. Conversely, the NFF should start grading the coaches who train all levels of our football. Only specialised coaches should be given badges to train kids from age three to 12 to ensure that they have a grasp of the rudiments of the game. Countries with discerning patterns of play acquire them from the regulated academies.

    With a regulated academy structure, it will be easier for national team coaches to assemble boys and girls who are under 17, for instance, for the Golden Eaglets and Falconets, using the talents in the academies and those playing in the local league. This structure reduces the time to blend the players for the coaches since they would have been schooled to play under a unitary pattern designed for the academies and the clubs.

    We have won the U-17 World Cup diadem five times, yet we haven’t been able to play in the World Cup finals at the U-20 level since 1989 and 2005. It doesn’t add up, especially where the bulk of the U-17 players graduated to the next category. Winning the cadet trophy five times suggests that we have a viable template for nurseries. Foul. The dearth of talents is the reason Rohr is opting for the Nigeria-born kids, whose ages are verifiable at the touch of the button on any wire service, unlike ours where we still present manipulated sworn affidavits, even for talents born in the 20th and 21st Centuries.

    We cannot continue with a system that has crippled our sports. We need to do those things others do seamlessly if we hope to compete with them. Age plays a vital role in sports. We recycle ageing stars because we have no nurseries to groom talents. Rohr’s comments should push us to emulate others.

     

    Federations’ elections

    So much has been divulged in the media about the guidelines for the next federations’ elections. What shocks this writer about the guidelines is that we want to eliminate people who won the previous elections through rule-change at short notice. I’m not supporting sit-tight administrators. No. If they were duly elected through a process, then they should be allowed to be voted out, where we are sure that they are unpopular.

    Those of them with tenured mandate should quit honourably as they got to the position because others quit when it was time. Those who are functional officers in their international federations should be made ex- officials so that they can keep their positions. It must be said that they got there through Nigeria’s platform, which we must protect, no matter who is involved. Nigeria is bigger than anyone.

    Honourable sports minister sir, Nigeria mustn’t be banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for electoral breaches. The rules shouldn’t be different when it comes to Nigeria as 210 countries in IOC run their elections without qualms. Ours shouldn’t different.

  • Waiting for Edo sport’s rebirth

    This is the third – and the last – time I will be writing on sports in Edo State. Permit me the indulgence, but I don’t want to bore you. The late Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia’s ideas worked because he structured them to accommodate the athletes’ future.

    Sportsmen and women who could go to school were called programmed athletes. They were given stipends, aside the payment of their school fees – provided they retained their places in such teams. University graduates among them were promoted to the administrative cadre, where they could grow to head the Sports Council or reach the management level. The exceptional ones were encouraged to head for the United States (US) for further studies.

    Those who didn’t have the capacity for education became coaches who were encouraged to upgrade their knowledge, if they had the requisite credentials. This group could also become secretaries of sport federations. Others with secondary school certificates became grounds men and volunteers, among many others during competitions after retirement. The athletes knew what to expect after being spotted. They were not used and dumped.

    Those who couldn’t cope with education at all became gatemen, artisans or drivers. They weren’t disregarded and this helped to build a synergy between the retired athletes and those who replaced them. There was something to play for, with the job opportunities.

    The structures to make sport thrive in the Ogbemudia era were built on models, with the Bendel Sports Council serving as the clearing house to midwife talents discovered, nurtured and exposed through competitions.  Aside, the medal hung on the necks of athletes, the late Ogbemudia personally signed congratulatory citations, which the athletes cherished. The citations gave athletes a sense of belonging, knowing that their efforts were appreciated. Coaches whose teams were successful got notches on their earnings, which motivated them.

    Aside from the Afuze College of Physical Health and Education which served as training grounds for coaches, technical staff, secretaries and those who plotted the strategies of the Ogbemudia era, a model for sports development was found in the sport council.

    The sport council system worked in the Ogbemudia era because he cut off the bureaucratic bottle necks in the civil service. Ogbemudia had the penchant for visiting camps unannounced. And such visits left in their wake sanctions on recalcitrant athletes, coaches, team officials and other ancillary staff. Ogbemudia’s visits ensured that everything in the camps worked. He ate with the athletes and sought their views on the services rendered. Athletes’ welfare and daily allowances, kitting, provisions etc were top notch and delivered daily to them. Support staff, such as doctors and physiotherapists, lived in the camp.

    Ogbemudia segmented the operations of the camps, with discipline enforced by camp commandants. This ensured that the athletes were focused. There were other checks done by trained staff of the Sports Council.

    After Ogbemudia’s exit as the military governor, his ideals and philosophies were whittled down and, in many cases, corrupted by self-serving models. Sport lost its course when the administrators jettisioned the Ogbemudia model. It got so bad that corruption among hitherto efficient Sports Council workers crept in. Would you blame them? Of course, when the cat is away, the mice will seize the home.

    Nepotism crept into the Sports Councils operation. Cabals sprang up to destroy the unity in the place. Reward system for athletes was done by who you know than the results from competitions. Gross acts of indiscipline and breakdown of law and order among the council workers affected the athletes’ performances. Those who were victims of inherent double standards in the council defected to other states.  Attempts to change things at the Sports Councils came late and those assigned to effect the changes were insincere, self -serving and corrupt.

    The Sports Council died. Rather than produce athletes, it provided touts, body guards for privileged people, with many becoming traders, who spent more time in selling their wares than on the pitches to discover, nurture and expose athletes.

    Interestingly, the zonal offices around the state were extinct. It was difficult to spot new athletes since those officials in zones migrated to the state capital.

    I’m an advocate of the sports commission system. Listening to discussants at the two-day sessions at the Randekhi Royal Hotel’s Conference Centre in Benin during the week, I felt sad that they advocated to a complete sweep in the council.

    Most of them gave the impression that since the Commission system is working in Delta and Lagos states, it must be adopted / or domesticated in Edo. Foul. The commission system in Delta had its flaws, such that an outsider came to head the place. The workers felt the headship should be on career rankings. The workers working on the Delta and Lagos States’ models have alleged that their bosses run a one-man show type of administration.

    What I deduced from the conference amounted to a change in nomenclature from “sports council” to “commission” without giving it the hub to operate. If the Obaseki-led administration accepts what has been submitted, the athletes will revolt. They won’t give their best during competitions, knowing that they can aspire to anything in the council, which would be hijacked by these new converts.

    Sports commission, for me, shouldn’t be hinged on getting a part-time or full time chairman and five members. No. The membership of the sports commission should be from the eminent chairmen of the 28 sports associations, who will elect their leader through a proper election. That way, members of the commission won’t be strangers to the workings of the sports associations.  The spiral effect of this arrangement will cut off the power play in which some chairmen and their secretaries run the associations while members become onlookers.

    Indeed, the benchmark for anyone seeking to be a member of the sporting associations must be elevated to ensure efficiency. We have seen a remarkable improvement in the Cricket Association under the chairmanships of Uyi Akpata, a big player in the corporate world. Today, there is a veritable league for clubs and cricketers to improve on their game. Akpata has used his clout to source sponsorship, which means there will be the culture of accountability, transparency and results, largely because the driver (Akpata) of the outsourced funds will lay a marker on the end users to give an account of the cash they collected. This invariably, answers the question of accountability and transparency. Not forgetting ensuring that defaulters are punished, asked to make refunds, sacked and prosecuted.

    Barrister Dele Edopayi is the chairman of the Edo Athletics Association. I know that he won’t be running cap-in-hand to the governor for funds. As a distinguished lawyer cum businessman, he can source for funds to run the association’s operations. He has friends he can persuade to identify with athletics while enumerating what they stand to gain from such sponsorships. Edokpayi will have zero tolerance for corruption or sharp practices in the disbursement of funds.

    Those postulating that sports can’t be run from sourced funds in this recession must seek tutorials from Akpata and Edokpayi. If all the association chairmen have the clout and integrity of Akpata and Edokpayi, picking the commission’s chairman and five members from the body of sports associations would have provided the Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s platform to provide the enabling environment for the industry to thrive.

    Besides, the Governor will have the liberty to give the sports commission money to run its operations, knowing who Akpata, Edokpayi et al are.

    Funding of sports should start with a legislation from the House of Assembly which will spell out the sports commission’s tenure, such that there won’t be frequent changes. Sports have two results -win or loss. Indeed, anyone expecting quick fixes now in Edo State sports must do a rethink.

    The tenure for the commission should be four years. The commission should be given seed money (take-off grant) which must be sourced to further challenge the commission’s members to execute their jobs from the prism of business and not a reward arising from the loyalty to the party. Indeed, the legislation by the Assembly should give the commission the power to take decisions, even if it will hurt top politicians, some of who love peddling their influence by forcing unqualified people on key components of governance.

    Periodic time lines should be embedded in the legal instrument of the commission to keep the members on their toes. Such checks and balances will strengthen accountability and transparency.

    But can we talk about a commission without schools sports? The second friction that the Obaseki-led administration will encounter with the commission is the tussle for power. When the athletes start winning competitions, the need to identify the party responsible for the feats will arise. The only non-elective person in the commission should be the Director-General of Schools Sports in the ministry.

    He will ensure that the ministry and the commission’s objectives are in tandem. I feel strongly that any effective sports development programme not hinged on the ministry won’t stand the test of time. Sports development takes its roots from the grassroots, where the talents are in abundance.  And most of the people at the grassroots who can be discovered, nurtured and exposed to competitions are the primary school kids, the secondary and tertiary schools.

    The Afuze complex should be fixed. The government could initiate a fund-raising ceremony to get the required funds. The reputation and astuteness of the departed unionist will surely draw donors. A structure named after such an icon should never be left in such derelict conditions. Once the Imoudu College of Physical and Health Education is fixed, it could, with time, be elevated to a university.

  • Dear God-win Obaseki (2)

    There couldn’t have been a better time than now to discuss the way forward for sport in Edo State. Indeed, last month, the ancient city of Benin was throbbing with excitement in celebration of the man who made sports the DNA for Midwesterners, Bendelites and Edo indigenes, the late Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, whose remains were buried after an illustrious era. The late Ogbemudia revolutionalised sports, essentially as a recreational platform used to sensitise people to be healthy.

    Watching how Nigerians celebrated Ogbemudia’s exit on television produced goose pimples on my skin because it showed that he meant many things to many people. He was a statesman worthy of emulation. Therefore, the governor God-win Obaseki-led administration should prioritise sports as a tool to take the youths off crime and a platform to create wealth for the people who identify with the marketing windows sports offer, with an enduring template.

    It was quite a spectacle watching Obaseki tee-off on the golf course in Benin penultimate Sunday. He walked with confidence and took his shots perfectly even though he embraced the game as an adult. As the governor walked down the course, I was convinced that he could provide the puzzle of returning the state to its apogee in sports.

    So, what were the sports that the region used as its hub?  I dare say Athletics (the competitiveness among schools at all levels), lawn tennis (Ogbe Hard Court tournament driven by corporate sponsorships), football, swimming (essentially for the number of medals which helped successive states to win the National Sports Festivals) and boxing served as the medals’ haul platform. With time, others sports, such as cricket, golf (seen by many as elitist), hockey, table tennis (especially with the influx of Moji Kuye, Sunday Eboh et al after one of the National Sports Festivals) and volleyball (anchored on the incredible talent of Tony Oghuma aka Wahala).

    What the late Ogbemudia did with football was crucial as he reawakened the rivalry among the regions with the emergence of clubsides, such as Ika Rangers which later became Midwest line FC, Ethiope Publishers Football Club, which metamorphosed into the great New Nigerian Bank FC and Warri Wolves, rebirthing as NPA Seasiders. There was also the Eselemo Diamonds in Warri, Ubulu-Ukwu City Diamonds and, of course, the revered AsabaTex, which was managed by the Asaba Textile Industry. There were the P&T Rockets of Benin, McDermots of Warri and, of course, the Great Bendel Insurance of Benin, formerly known as Vipers FC. Not forgetting Rubber Board, which became Flash Flamingoes, owned by Senator Patrick Osakwe, NNPC FC of Warri, Niger Valley FC, owned by the late Agbazika Innih and Nigeria Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) of Benin. The ripple effect of these clubs flung around the old Bendel State was that young boys combined going to school with playing soccer. Younger boys emulated those who did this successfully. But these boys could not have qualified to play for these clubs, if there wasn’t a nursery that discovered them (from school competitions) and trained them. But the clubs picked them up without recourse to those who discovered them. Soon, the nursery died. And the boys looked elsewhere. This didn’t help the industry.

    It is this nexus that the governor can fill by insisting on the emergence of a regulatory body that will ensure that the production chain isn’t lopsided. In constituting a regulatory body, we must guide against full government ownership of the clubs. We should restrict the government’s involvement to providing the infrastructure, the enabling environment for the regulators to run soccer as a business not as a mobiliser of people for social and political reasons.

    At a stage in the country’s soccer development, Bendel State had three top division sides, namely Bendel Insurance FC, Flash Flamingoes and New Nigeria. Their eventual eclipse started with the demotion of AsabaTex, then Flash Flamingoes, which went back to Rubber Board FC until its demise. While these teams were demoted, it suited those in government then to celebrate instead of working towards getting the teams new sponsors. With time, Bendel Insurance got relegated. The team still totters because it doesn’t have a blueprint for growth. Things only look up for Bendel Insurance when the governor loves sports.

    Those who managed the clubs didn’t think it was necessary to take them to the Stock Exchange for proper and regulated sponsorship, with the government’s cash coming as a means of support. They didn’t want anyone to know the clubs’ worth since with government cash, it didn’t matter if what was given was accounted for or not. When the teams won trophies, nobody was interested in the details of expenditure. Emphasis was laid on how to reward the players and coaches, having achieved the goals set for such teams.

    Today, the story is different – no thanks to the global recession. Governors are driven by people-oriented tasks meant to garner votes from the electorate in subsequent elections. Most governors see football, albeit sports as a social service. But in other climes, sports, especially football, is big business.

    Sadly, most of our pre-historic facilities cannot be used in the 21st century. What it means is that there is the urgent need to recapitalise the industry to get funds to upgrade these derelict structures that litter Edo State, I dare say. And I don’t think that the governor is ready for any gigantic project soon.

    Football has been left in the lurch since it was driven by the passion of the government which owned 80 per cent of the teams rather governors creating the enabling environment for the teams to thrive when they leave office. Our inability to fill this lacuna explains why people’s attention has been turned to the foreign leagues, with our grassroots players seeking to play in Europe instead of polishing their game here.

    In setting up a template for Edo State sports, Obaseki should use Bendel Insurance FC as the beacon of whatever plans he has. Bendel Insurance FC represented the symbol of Bendelites. Bendel Insurance FC is tottering today because it lacks a regulator to provide the indices for it to compete. I will suggest that Obaseki should revive the parent company of the club (Bendel Insurance Company) and then allocate enough cash to it.

    With such a regulator and a well packaged product, it will be easier to approach the Stock Exchange to do business, knowing the team’s followership in the past. Regulators must be transparent and be ready to account for the cash collected from the new initiative for a sustainable growth in the team. This is one of the ways to persuade people to identify with the team if it has stocks at the Stock Exchange. This explains why the Americans have invested in Manchester United and Liverpool, for instance. Russians now see Chelsea as their team because one of them owns it and, of course, the Thais are investing heavily in Leicester City, not forgetting the Sheiks’ quantum investment in Manchester City, among their many sports businesses.

    Athletics almost caught people’s attention like football because the state had experts who understood that the sport thrives through competitions. These experts trained coaches and sent them to the grassroots. Besides, they encouraged their American mates to be employed by the Sports council. Soon, Ogbemudia Stadium became a beehive for athletics and clubs. Schools’ inter house sports competitions were like the National Sports Festivals, especially the invitational relays for boys and girls. With time, former athletes became coaches, largely because the good ones were encouraged to head for America to continue what they had started here. The transition was seamless because of the structures. Everyone looked forward to the annual Mobil Athletics Classics to watch our athletes sprint for glory.

    Ogbe Hard Court was a watershed for sports. It brought many international lawn tennis stars to the state. But there were other extras that made it unique, courtesy of the brands of companies which exploited the tournament to connect with their consumers on the social platform. Reinventing Ogbe Hard Court with the new musicians will be fine, except that the tranquility desired for maximum concentration by the players could be breached by a few. Perhaps a dance show involving Chris Daniel, Davido and Sir Victor Uwaifo before the matches or after could give the tourney the fillip of growth.

    I was excited seeing Uyi Akpata playing the forward defensive stroke in a cricket game in Benin City. Akpata was an opening batsman and a swing bowler as a young man. I wasn’t surprised because he was following the tradition. However, my excitement stemmed from the fact that he was the chairman of the Edo Cricket Association. It simply means that the body won’t be lacking funds to prosecute its programmes since Akpata is a big player in the corporate world. Akpata symbolises the calibre of chairmen who should run Edo Sports in the 21st Century.

    The spiral effect of Akpata’s chairmanship is that those who would belong to the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC) will be men of means who don’t see the commission as an avenue to enrich themselves. Since they have jobs, they will seamlessly work with the Commission’s CEO and the secretariat to achieve results.

    With such men of honour (Akpata et al) at the helm of the commission’s affairs, assessing the governor will be a piece of cake since they belong to the same league. And the governor won’t bat an eyelid in approving their requests which will be far-and-wide-apart as the dentition of the centenarian. Besides, it will be easier for the Edo State Government to convince the Stock Exchange to key into its commission’s noble initiatives, knowing that with such men, accountability will be no problem.

    Boxing is one of the sports that gave Bendel its glory, with many non-indigene boxers coming to live in the state. Isaac Ikhuoria won a bronze for Nigeria. I would have loved to expatiate on boxing except that dwelling on it brings tears down my cheeks. I feel sad that ex-champion Davidson Andeh is history. No one knows his whereabouts. He disappeared like ice-cream kept under the scorching sun. It is so painful. Davidson Andeh, where are you?

  • Dear God-win Obaseki (1)

    Your Excellency, I have ruminated on writing about sports in Edo State since you became the Governor last year. I held back because I didn’t want my submission to be misread – that I wanted to be the Commissioner for Sports. Readers of this column know that I’m an advocate of the Sports Commission system since it is the only way that the friction between the commissioner and the chairman of the state sports commission, which has crippled sports development in many parts of the country, can be nipped in the bud. Americans understood that providing sporting facilities (especially) in the neighborhoods was the best way to engage the youth and take them out of crime.

    Constructing neighborhoods sporting facilities based on the potential of the youth in an area gets everyone involved in a game as a form of recreation, which invariably improves the well being of the citizenry. Today, America boast of making sports, such as athletics, basketball, baseball, lawn tennis, golf and car racing, money spinners, even though their favourite sports is rugby. The pragmatic solutions towards making sports a business didn’t start with too many sports. Americans chose five pilot sports, and built structures, using the residents. Today, certain areas are renowned for certain sport.

    So much has been said about the late Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia’s sports reforms report as the guide to reinventing sports in Edo State. Your Excellency sir, had Ogbemudia been alive to reinvent Edo sports, he would have done differently some of the things he suggested in the report. What this translates to is that sports development is dynamic. Changes in sports are such that methods used last year don’t apply today because organisers of games think of scientific ways to improve on the sport and save the lives of its practitioners when they retire.

    Dear God-win Obaseki, a holistic approach towards reinventing Edo sports will be too expensive and won’t produce the desired results in your first term. Sports died in Nigeria when the government stopped boarding houses in schools and built up the places into classrooms in a bid to provide free education for all.

    What you need is to get the Local Government Areas’ chairmen and members repair the derelict facilities in the primary and post primary schools. Next, take an inventory of what is left at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, so as to repair the facilities such as the indoor sports halls, the swimming pools and the lawn tennis courts where we watch great stars. It won’t be out of place sir, if you discuss with some sports-friendly organisations to return to funding competitions. Wooing these firms to return to sports will be easy since the initiative is coming from the governor. The ripple effect of this kind of initiative Ajuwa Grammar School, Okeagbe-Akoko, Ondo State’s principal, Chief Guy Gargiullo, is a foreigner (Italian-Briton) who had spent time in the area and produced the swimmers as a reward to the community. Gargiullo is not a coach but a administrator and enthusiast, who looked at his locality, fashioned out a template that engaged the youth to participate in swimming.

    He also encouraged youths in the riverine area of Ugbo Nla to embrace swimming. So, aside from fishing to eke out a living, the riverine people learned how to swim and gain national prominence. Other youths in the area joined the bandwagon when early initiates returned from sports festivals with medals, having been received as heroes and heroines in the state. Gargiullo’s foresight opened a new vista for the youth in Okeagbe and the riverine areas of the country, which sadly has been destroyed – no thanks the ineptitude of our modern day sports administrators.

    Principals such as the late Michael Ojeifo Ojo, went to any length to get good school boy footballers to sustain the football tradition at Hussey College Warri. Of course, the late Ojo took lessons from the late Ogbemudia’s pilot scheme at New Era College in Benin City, the first secondary school that gave athletes the platform to go to school without disturbing their education. One must commend the Adams Oshiomhole administration for renaming the school Osaibovo Ogbemudia College in his lifetime.

    Besides, the ego problem between the commissioners for sports and the education ministry is the chief reason for the poor state of sports. I feel strongly that any effective sports development programme not hinged on the ministry won’t stand the test of time. Sports development takes its roots from the grassroots, where the talents are in abundance.  And most of the people at the grassroots who can be discovered, nurtured and exposed to competitions are the primary school kids, the secondary and tertiary schools.

    These units fall under the Ministry of Education. Unfortunately, the school sports departments of state are neglected, yet we expect sports to grow here. It does not add up. So, your Excellency, any blueprint that doesn’t involve the Ministry of Education will fail.

    As a beneficiary of the school sports system, I knew what to take to school every term, knowing that we had games masters for every term. They were experts in such sports. Many of these games masters and mistresses came from the now moribund College of Physical and Health, Afuze, the platform, the late Ogbemudia used to change the face of sports administration in the country. Simply put, your Excellency, the late Ogbemudia instituted a system that gave roles to every facet of discovering, nurturing and exposing budding stars, which was anchored on getting the rookies to understand the rudiments of a game.

    The Afuze complex should be fixed. The government could initiate a fund-raising ceremony to get the required funds. The reputation and astuteness of the departed unionist will surely draw donors. A structure named after such an icon should never be left in such derelict conditions. Once the Imoudu College of Physical and Health Education is fixed, it could, with time, be elevated to a university.

    Your Excellency, let me share this personal experience with you. In 1977, the bulk of the top cricketers at the Government College Ughelli, gained admission to the university, some to the Federal Government College Ilorin for Higher School Certificates (HSC) and others to Edo College Benin. On paper, as it seemed, in cricket in 1977, Edo College was stronger and looked poised to beat Government College Ughelli for the first time.

    There was excitement in Benin, expectedly so. The former Director of Schools Sports in the then Bendel State, Mr. Osifo, couldn’t wait to be part of history. In Osifo’s reckoning, Edo College stopping GCU met one of his goals of a paradigm shift in sports. Yet, Osifo didn’t manipulate the system.

    Indeed, at time there was a vacancy for chief coach for the state. The contest was between L.I.L Akorta of Edo College and Ifeanyi Ogosi of GCU. Both of them were renowned Phyiscal and Education (PE) experts. Ordinarily, Akorta was the cricket expert but Osifo opted to use the game to decide who would head the cricket coaching department. Ogosi was a football expert who played the game with GUC students in training. So, when GCU beat Edo College with its armada of stars, Ogosi got the job and the rest, like they say, is history. Akorta left to the Missouri in the United States for further studies. He returned to the University of Benin as a lecturer. Akorta sir, I salute your courage.

    There wasn’t any interference from the state’s commissioner for sports or from the commissioner for education. It was a school sports competition. The late Ogbemudia had a system which empowered Osifo, as Director of School Sports, to do what he did. Of course, his method was scientific and it yielded results, thereafter.

    Besides, your Excellency, governance is a continuum. There are several blueprints inside the cabinets at the ministry of sports and indeed with Oshiomhole for the formula to elevate Edo sports from its rustic conditions.

    Talking about documents in the Ministry of Sports’ and Government House’s cabinets, I recall the efforts of many renowned sports personalities such as Mike Itemuagbor, Barrister Osayaba Osarenren, Barrister Fatai Bello Osagie, Aisha Falode, Professor Ojeme, late Dr. JB Okoro, the late Shuaib Amodu and I (please, forgive me if I didn’t include your name), who were empowered to produce a blueprint for sports. We went to all the sports centres, inspected the rustic facilities, discussed with key stakeholders, interfaced with sports council workers and athletes (old and new) and finally went to tutorials at the Iheya Street, Benin City residence of the late Ogbemudia.

    After the lengthy but educative session with the late Ogbemudia, the indices for advising the government were easy, hinged essentially on the grassroots and the resolve of the chief driver of the change initiative (at that time Oshiomhole) to execute our suggestions. The late Ogbemudia warned that we shouldn’t be surprised if all that we had suggested were not implemented. It was as if he read Oshiomhole’s mind. Oshiohmole went for people-oriented programmes.

    Oshiomhole’s admittance that he failed in sports underlines who he is. He speaks the truth and damns the consequences. Take a bow Oshiomhole, for once again making Edo State the model that others emulated.