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Tag: FIFA

  • Football awards: Objectivity on trial

    Football awards: Objectivity on trial

    Christiano Ronaldo and Edison Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pelé, supplied about the most poignant moments of the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or gala held January 13, 2013 at the Kongresshaus of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) in Zurich, Switzerland. Their emotional acceptance of the Player of the Year and Player of the 20th Century awards highlighted the relationship between player recognition and the establishment’s inclination.

    More known for dominant displays on the football pitch, the pair’s quivering monologues in Zurich struck a wistful chord. Did the tears come from joy or relief? And were the individuals not the ones that harassed defenders, confused goalkeepers and mesmerised fans across the world?

    Both typify the football prodigy, the kind that influences team tactics and the exit of neutral coaches. Despite official retirement from football in 1977 after a stint with New York Cosmos in a nascent North American Soccer League, Pele is as revered today as Ronaldo is feted.

    In his pomp, Pelé or ‘O Rei’, meaning ‘The King’, was untouchable. A World Cup winner with the Selecao in 1958, he earned two more winners medals, the last at Mexico 1970. Declared a national treasure by a Brazil president, he notched 77 goals in 92 outings for Brazil and over 1, 000 goals throughout his career.

    Ronaldo is unplayable. Last year’s feat of 69 goals in 60 matches for club and country recommends the winger’s supreme athleticism and mental fortitude. Despite resistance from defenders sharpened by improved diet and scientific grooming, the Portugal skipper continues to strike with cutting edge precision. His goals, of recent, sent Portugal through to the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals from a difficult play-off with a Sweden team parading the gifted Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Still, the idea that Ronaldo and Pelé sobbed out of relief seems plausible, considering their records and consuming rivalries with exceptional players. Largely at Ronaldo’s expense, Lionel Messi of Barcelona claimed FIFA’s top honour from 2009 to 2012. And some, particularly the 80s and 90s generation of football followers, hold that the exploits of Argentina legend Diego Maradona supersede Pelé’s.

    An internet vote in 2000 for FIFA’s Footballer of the Century supports their position. The difference in playing era may account for the discrepancy, but Franz Beckenbauer and other icons of the game tip the scales in the Brazilian’s favour on account of greater discipline.

    Maradona struck gold in Mexico too. His extraordinary efforts landed Argentina the 1986 World Cup trophy, the second major silverware after his coming out ball at the Under-20 World Youth Championship in Japan, 1979.

    Ronaldo, on the other hand, suffers the fate of playing in the same period as Messi, thus allowing better comparison. And none but the superficial would argue that the Portuguese is the more talented player. On his day, ‘Messidona’ compares to none, as his sublime body feints and exquisite finishing validate. His performances draw comparison with Maradona, but he looks set to surpass his hero after his record 91 goals for club and country in 2012.

    Following his annex of the now-defunct 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year award, Ronaldo reined in a series of awards for club and country – enough to start a museum in his native Madeira to which the latest accolade heads for display, by his admission. But his second place finish in voting for the 2009 award – the last of the World Player of the Year prize before FIFA and France Football merged their awards – as well as the 2011 and 2012 prizes apparently haunted him.

    For footballers in the business of ego-fuelled performance, the need to be elevated by peers and managers is often a life-long pursuit. Ronaldo’s demeanour in Zurich vindicated the view as much as his words underlined the notion. “I am very happy; it is very difficult to win this award.”

    Franck Ribery, who finished third in the voting with 1, 127 votes behind Messi’s 1,205 and Ronaldo’s 1,365 couldn’t resist a dig at his triumphant adversary. “I’m not a selfish player and the FIFA Ballon d’Or was not an objective of mine. I would rather win it all again with Bayern Munich and win the world title. That is what really matters,” he said to German paper Bild afterwards.

    That is not exactly the truth. In the run-up to the ceremony, Ribery thought that winning the accolade was “now or never”.

    Messi, whose injury-blighted 2013 campaign obviously splintered his chances, conceded defeat with grace. In justifying Ronaldo’s accomplishment, he discounted his own form. “I started the season injured. I was a long time out but that has nothing to do with it. Cristiano had a great year and he won on merit.”

    Pele’s words at the occasion betrayed the anticipation of possessing the one award that eluded him partly because he never played in Europe; a feeling apparently bested by the privilege of accepting the award in person as opposed to, perhaps, posthumous honour. He said: “I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous because all of those guys who got the Ballon d’Or, which I couldn’t get because I didn’t play in Europe. Now I thank God that I can complete my trophies at home.”

    Watching Ronaldo and Pele mingle with others on the stage, it was hard to tell who the night belonged to more: the brash, talented youngster not exactly enamoured of the establishment or the old magician who held it spell-bound. FIFA President Joseph Blatter said the first ever FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur went to “the greatest footballer to grace the pitch”.

    Maradona will have a thing or two to say about that. The Argentine has lost none of his old spark as constant run-ins with authorities from his homeland to Italy and Qatar indicate. And Messi will be back. Never shy of braces and hat-tricks, he terrorises opponents across Spain and beyond once the bandages come off.

    Beside the superiority debate, which remains ever subjective, FIFA President Joseph Blatter’s pre-award put-down of Ronaldo and FIFA’s extension of voting for the Ballon d’Or following a backlash from fans were significant. Official influence apparently counts as much as the voting process. That undercuts Messi’s unprecedented quadruple, and to some extent, Ribery’s third place finish.

    If the award goes out to the player ‘considered to have performed best in the previous season by national team coaches and captains as well as journalists’, midfield dynamos Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta may have been as worthy of the 2009 and 2010 prizes. They pulled the strings as Spain conquered Europe and the world between 2008 and 2010. And for registering greater effect with his national team and Real Madrid, Ronaldo may as well claim the 2011 and 2012 rewards.

    With the exception of Yaya Toure whose dominant and consistent displays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast fetched a

  • Iheanacho senior gets half pay

    It has been learnt that Kelechi Iheanacho’s father and Taye Academy have received half of what was promised them by Manchester City.

    That would mean City have splashed at least 300,000 pounds to secure the talented Iheanacho, who was picked by FIFA as the best player at last year’s U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    MTNFootball.com specially gathered that City have rescinded a decision to make payments to the Iheanachos until January next year and both the player’s father and the academy that started him out have thus received half of what was agreed with them.

    “Iheanacho senior is now smiling to the bank as he has been paid half of what was promised him after his son signed for City. This shows how badly the EPL want the youngster,” a source familiar with this transaction told MTNFootball.com.

    Iheanacho, who was voted the CAF Most Promising Talent for 2013, could not honour a special invitation to the FIFA Awards in Switzerland is now working on his travel papers to England.

    Iheanacho’s U-17 teammate, Chidiebere Nwakali, has also secured a four-year contract with Manchester City.

  • Falconets leave for South Africa Wednesday

    Falconets leave for South Africa Wednesday

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

     

    The Nigeria’s U20 female side, Falconets will leave for Johannesburg, South Africa next Wednesday for the second leg of their final round FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers billed for Saturday, January 25th, 2014.

    Falconets pummelled the Basetsana 6-0 in the first leg played last Saturday, January 11th at the Abuja National Stadium.

    The head coach of the team, Peter Devdevbo who revealed this to SportingLife on telephone was very optimistic that the Falconets had qualified for the U20 World Cup in Canada despite having a game more to play in South Africa.

    The Delta Queens Coach informed that his team will have another victory over the Basetsana next Saturday as they hope to end their qualification campaign the way they started it-with win.

    “We are leaving for South Africa by mid week because we are going to play against them on Saturday. We are prepared because we have all that it takes to beat them again on their turf,” Devdevbo boasted.

  • Ezeh lands in Portugal

    •Player waiting for medical, signing

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    FC Porto hopeful, Chiderah Ezeh has landed in Portugal ahead of his expected medicals and signing for the former Champions League winners.

    Ezeh, who was in the Golden Eaglets’ squad to the far east during the recently held FIFA U17 World Cup, left Nigeria on Friday and his agent, Mohammed Babawo has informed SportingLife that the young lad arrived Portugal safely and he is currently waiting for his medical which he must have prior to his putting pen on paper for the club.

    Ezeh scored a goal enroute to Nigeria’s fourth success at the FIFA U17 World Cup. All

  • NFF appoints new Media Officer for Flamingoes

    NFF appoints new Media Officer for Flamingoes

    The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Jennifer Ifeoma Okoye, the Media Officer of the U-17 national women side, nicknamed Flamingoes.

    The appointment letter from the NFF which confirms Okoye’s media role with the Nigeria women age-grade side and “takes immediate effect” from 20th December 2013 and will “take charge of all media-related activities with the U-17 women national team”.

    Until her appointment, Jennifer Okoye who holds a Degree in Mass Communication from Ebonyi State University Abakiliki, was a Nigerian correspondent for BBC Fast Track, even at the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, wrote for Goal.com Africa and is a one-time seasoned Sports Presenter/Producer at the confluence Television and Grace 95.5 FM Lokoja, as well as an activist, founding the Young and Vibrant Initiative, (YVI).

    The well-travelled international sports journalist under a Lokoja-based media firm, Confluence Cable Network covered Ghana AFCON 2008, Egypt U-20 World Cup 2009, Angola AFCON 2010 amongst other international tournaments.

    She is expected to intimate the public with activities of the Coach Bala Nkiyu-led wards as they prepare for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Costa Rica later this year.

    On her appointment, Miss Okoye thanked the Nigeria Football Federation for the opportunity to serve and promised to bring her wealth of experience to bear in the course of her duties.

    She, however, appealed for the cooperation of media colleagues and football stakeholders in ensuring the activities of the national team side are well-reported.

    “I am delighted with the opportunity and prepared for the task ahead- I will appeal for the cooperation of my colleagues in giving the team the needed publicity,” she said.

     

  • Phillips berths with LAMPS Awards

    Phillips berths with LAMPS Awards

    BARELY months after successfully holding the maiden edition of Nigeria Football Pitch Award, Shina Phillips, is the CEO of Matchmakers Consult on the march again with an all-encompassing award on the continental sphere.

    “ The word lamp is the major reason behind the idea of the LAMPS award,” said Phillips matter-of-factly.“It is about those who have brought about positive change to the continent of Africa.

    “They are vehicles that convey light and knowledge; it is about the name and what it means. It is about those who are innovative and are agents of change in the different categories as it is defined.

    “LAMPS as being conceived stands for: Legends of Arts, Management, Politics, Science and Sports. This will promote healthy competition and inspire many to make the difference and we really want to make a bold statement with this,” noted Phillips.

    Phillips is indeed a man of many parts full of ideas, he started Matchmakers Consult in 2007 and its first major event was the NFF/FIFA players’ agent workshop. He’s also a FIFA- licensed agent. In the 1990s he started out early in conjunction with the late chief Ajaiyi Adun to package the Contractor Magazine Awards to deserving individuals in the construction industry. He was about the first person to institute awards for the now thriving Nollywood industry and he has yet to look back. He has been involved in the 10-year-old Security Watch Africa Awards from inception it is being involved at some levels in Nollywood awards way back. His story is incomplete without mentioning attempts at Nollywood’s awards. He initiated an award for Veterans in the movie and stage industry.

    “I’m not interested in given out awards to people because it is not an ego trip,” affirmed Phillips who caught his teeth in journalism before venturing to other things. “I like to reward excellence and celebrate hard work especially to create a platform for people who do extraordinary things to be rewarded and this is not only about footballers alone.

    “I like to appreciate people who have used their knowledge and talents in other spheres of human endeavours to benefit the society. Some of my friends called me Mr. Crazy and one of the people who call me Mr. Crazy is Mr.Ibu of Nollywood because of the things I do.

    “My motivation comes from God because he is the giver of these ideas and he has always provided the enabling environment and partner s to make them work, “he noted as he speaks on sundry issues. Excerpts…

    How successful was the inaugural edition of the Nigeria Football Pitch Awards held last year?

    As an organiser, it would be difficult for me to judge ourselves but what we set out to do was basically a well- managed event that would be a reference point and on the basis of that, I think we did our best. We were concerned about organising a credible football award for the first time in the history of Nigerian football. It was the first time we were able to bring all the stakeholders under one umbrella of the governing body of football in Nigeria which is the NFF. Essentially, we the organisers and the NFF were able to organise an event that was adjudged as very transparent beyond the glamour and politicking that often characterised other awards. To ensure transparency, we brought in BOD International which is the fifth auditing firm in the world and that say so much about the extent we went in order to organise the event which has been adjudged by everyone as the best in recent time. Be that as it may, I think it’s the media and the public who would be able to score us well but I’m delighted with the positive things being said about the Pitch Awards.

    So what are the arrangements being put in place towards the next edition of the awards?

    Right from the outset, we planned to do things differently and that was why we went all the way to sensitive the press and the public about the kind of things we wanted to do. We even had a pre award night called The night of Stars which was hugely successful and we’ll commended by the NFF because that was the first time you had something as big like that before the real award night because we brought the best of Nollywood and Nigerian football together, Basically what I’m saying is that, we are taking stock and we are not going to rest on our oars. We had a successful outing last time and we are not going to let go on integrity because when everybody knows there’s transparency, there would be great followers of the awards.

    Generally, what impact do the Pitch Awards have on stakeholders and the Nigerian football industry?

    The Pitch Awards was the first time we had the NFF endorsed such from the start b because they believe in our capacity to deliver a successful and transparent event. Apart from this, those who won the last time knew that they were adjudged the best in a transparent manner and would strive to do their best all the time. Everybody wants to b e appreciated and to whom much is given, much is expected and it would spur them to o greater heights.

    Why is Shina Phillips always interested in handling out awards to people?

    I considered this as a privilege and would same unashamedly; God has been good to me by giving me so many ideas to work on. It has always been my desire to appreciate people and it goes without saying that one must really have an appreciative heart in order to see the good in other people. I have embedded this in my business because I love to appreciate people and very soon, we are going to do something on a bigger scale with the LAMPS Awards.

    What again are the LAMPS Awards and what is the idea behind this?

    I’m a very restless person but I must thank God for always giving me these brilliant ideas and he has gifted me again with this idea called the LAMPS Award which is going to be a celebration of the best in Africa. I love Africa as a continent and I had been looking for this opportunity to celebrate the best on the continent not only in sport but in all endeavours. Africa has great potentialities but it seems that we have not had the great tonic to spur others to bring out their best for the continent and this is one of the areas that the LAMPS awards would be taken care of. For Africa to be bigger and greater, the people must begin to celebrate themselves because in other climes, heroes, heroines and legends are usually celebrated but this is not always the case in Africa. It is usually contentious and I had this thought about what can endeared unity, excellence and foster healthy competition amongst the Black race. I thought about what I could give that would resonates through the globe and God gave me this idea about LAMPS Awards. This is an award that is designed to showcase the brightest lights on the continent in key areas of arts, management, politics, life and sports. Of course, there are several award ceremonies on the continent but definitely, this is going to be a different because there is no single award on the continent that brings everybody under the same umbrella where they would be collectively honoured and celebrated. The LAMPS award would expectedly fill in this void and on an annual basis, bring the best of the continent together and honour them in a grand ceremony.

    The inspiration for LAMPS awards is also due to the fact that the African continent has produced a legend of all times in person of the late South African President Mandela who was indeed a beacon of hope for human race. I think Africa can produce great people and as we recognise these people, they would be encouraged to bring out their best. Already, we are working with great institutes across the continent to mid-wife the award. African is indeed a continent that light truly shines upon and we can make the LAMPS awards something really great.

    The process is already going because nominees are already being indentified by a high level committee that is already being put in place to ensure a very transparent and credible award.

    Do you already have a venue in mind for the event?

    There is a committee already in place for that and personally, I’m in interested in Johannesburg but I know there is the possibility of holding it in Abuja and of course, we have Ethiopia in mind which is the headquarter of the African Union. But I know the committee would still put this into vote and pick the best venue because we are looking forward to it holding sometime in December 2014 or thereabout.

     

  • The Nigerian Youth

    The Nigerian Youth

    NIGERIA may yet fulfill its promise of greatness, after all. The narratives of the country’s youths in various spheres in the outgoing year provide reassurance that it may hopefully reverse its steps from the verge of predicted failure. It is particularly heartwarming that these impressive strides of youth are happening as the country prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2014. Symbolically, therefore, this moving expression of youthful oomph could well be prophetic of the country’s next 100 years.

    To start with, what better way to highlight the country’s attraction of international respect than reference to its feat in sports, specifically soccer, which is rated as the world’s leading and most popular sporting activity? It was a November to remember as the Nigerian Golden Eaglets soared to win the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Tournament in the United Arab Emirates. In a historic triumph, the teenagers won the title for an unprecedented fourth time, and so dramatically too; and emphatically crushed defending champions Mexico 3-0 in the final after a dream run in which they outclassed otherwise eminent football-playing nations, including Sweden and Uruguay.

    Significantly, in addition to the fact that the team glittered in the competition and also won the FIFA Fair Play Award, individuals in the side shone brilliantly. Notably, Kelechi Ihenacho was the most decorated, winning the tournament’s Adidas Golden Ball Award for the overall best player, alongside the Silver Boot Award for being the second highest goal scorer. Remarkably too, the team’s goalkeeper who was adjudged the best won the Adidas Golden Gloves Award. Nigeria is now rated as the most successful team in FIFA Under-17 World Cup history.

    Still on the global stage, it was a year in which an 11-year-old US-based girl of Nigerian origin, Zuriel Oduwole, hugged the headlines even more spectacularly. Zuriel, undoubtedly the world’s most successful child celebrity interviewer, was listed among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Africa by the respected New African Magazine. Zuriel who once described herself as “An African child A Nigerian girl-child” was named among the elite group for her campaign for girl-child education in Africa. To appreciate the scale of her stature, it is noteworthy that her record of firsts includes being the youngest person to be interviewed by the well-known international business magazine Forbes in the August 2013 edition of Forbes Africa. “I am hoping that the parents of girls in Africa will see me as an example, and see that their girls have a lot of potential in life, and can achieve great things in life,” she told The Nation in an interview.

    An interview with Ghanaian ex-president Jerry Rawlings as part of a school project when she was nine opened her eyes to the educational disadvantages of the African girl-child, and inspired her to launch her Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up programme, aimed at lifting the African girl-child. It is a testimony to her phenomenal profile that at her age she has interviewed nine incumbent heads of state, including Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, all of whom are still in office today. She has also interviewed African billionaire, Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote, and American tennis queens Venus and Serena Williams among other prominent figures. Indeed, she has been likened to giant media interviewers Oprah Winfrey and Larry King for her striking ability in interviewing distinguished personalities. Interestingly, she enjoys an ambassadorial status in Tanzania, courtesy of the country’s first lady, Mrs. Salma Kikwete, who this year made her the first African child to be appointed honorary ambassador by a foreign government. And she has been named as Global Ambassador for the Ethiopian Airlines, which will be her official carrier across three continents to help her with the campaign for girl-child education.

    Youth impact on Nigeria’s ongoing war against terror is another arresting point underlining why they deserve an ovation. A particularly shocking incident mid-year, among others, spotlighted the invaluable role of the group of volunteer youths known as Civilian JTF (Joint Task Force) in the battle against Boko Haram Islamist fundamentalists in the country’s northern region. In an unexpected twist, members of the group apprehended two women in purdah with assault weapons concealed under their dresses at the Bulabulin entrance to the Monday Market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. This feminine involvement introduced a disturbing dimension to the anti-terror campaign in Borno, one of the three states under emergency rule, the other two being Adamawa and Yobe states.

    Their dramatic capture, as narrated by a member of the vigilante group, Malam Usman Ibrahim, speaks volumes about the alertness of the vigilantes. He said, “We were on a routine check at the gate when these women came with heavy veil. At first, we did not bother to look at them, but we realized that one of them was shivering, we said something must be wrong.” Then, after a search, according to him, “We found that each of them concealed an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in their veil. We were surprised at the discovery, so we took them to officials of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) for investigations.” While this was just one notable instance of selfless informal contribution to the government’s anti-terrorism efforts, it nevertheless demonstrates the undeniable value of effective intelligence, which the committed youths continue to provide in the counter-terrorism campaign.

    Away from the theatre of destruction, emerging Nigerian home-based youth artistes are selling their creativity to audiences across the world. This circle of musical entertainers has imaginatively redesigned the popular Rap and Hip-hop genres with local flavour, especially slang and proverbs, creating exportable melodies. Among the high-flyers are Davido, Iyanya, Ice Prince, Omawumi, Chidinma and Wande Coal. A good number of them are magnetic ambassadors for big local and international brands, and are dazzlingly rewarded in foreign currencies. Their popularity abroad, particularly via international TV music channels, continues to open doors for them to perform at overseas concerts and win prestigious awards.

     

    A final thrust, this time concerning a field fundamental to the country’s development. Nigeria’s education system may not be as bleak as circumstances suggest, with the report in October of the distinction of a nine-year-old computer whizz-kid, Jomiloju Tunde-Oladipo, who set a record as the country’s youngest Microsoft certified professional. He is now a Microsoft office specialist in Office Word 2010. With an examination score of 769 out of 1,000, Jomiloju outclassed 20 others, performing excellently in Sharing and Maintaining Documents, Formatting Content, Applying Page Layout and Reusable Content, among other subjects. It is noteworthy that Microsoft Certified Professional, a certification programme of the reputable Microsoft Corporation, is aimed at building skills on Microsoft business solutions, focusing on client-end operating systems such as Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, among others. Also worth mentioning is the international status of the certification.

    Young Jomiloju’s accomplishment is particularly significant in the Computer Age, with the uplifting implication that the country may not be such a terrible laggard, after all. Of relevance are the ambitious computer schemes of some state governments, notably, Ekiti and Osun states. In the former, Governor Kayode Fayemi is focused on the distribution of 33,000 laptops to students and teachers in public secondary schools under the administration’s e-School Project. In the latter, the groundbreaking computer-based educational project for public secondary schools, known as Opon Imo, introduced by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, promises a revolution in learning methods. These examples bring hope; and when considered in the context of Jomiloju’s feat, which he achieved within the private school system, optimism about the country’s future is understandable.

    In the last analysis, these are justification for the celebration of the promise of futurity, encouraged by the sterling performance by the country’s youth in the face of overwhelming odds.

  • AWONIYI reveals best-kept secrets

    AWONIYI reveals best-kept secrets

    TO say that Taiwo Awoniyi, Nigeria’s golden boy at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Championship in the UAE, is full of wiles and guiles in a positive sense is perhaps stating the obvious.

    Cool, calm and collected but beneath his calmness is a guy full of wisdom who is very shrewd at talking so much so it would take some nudging to really get him to talk about some few things dear to his heart.

    But in a landmark conversation with The Nation Sport & Style, the Golden Eaglets’ four-goal hero in the UAE finally came out of his cocoon as he revealed some intimate things first about his twin-sister; his career plans and childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor.

    “I’m not quick at telling people about myself or about things I want to do,” said Awoniyi who started his national team career at the Under-15 level on his way to superb performance at the Under-17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

    “I think back home in Kwara State and in Ilorin in particular, not many people gave me the chance to reach this stage in my football career and I personally kept so much to myself.

    “In fact, I don’t usually tell people anytime I was invited to the national team can be ait at the Under-13, 15 or even this Under-17 and that was why a lot of them were surprised to see me on the television playing for the Golden Eaglets.”

    Awoniyi reckons that he was not born with silver spoon and had to battle his way in order to make name for himself and his adorable family. He said his greatest possession is the family he came out from, adding that he would do anything to ensure that he remains the pride of his parents.

    “I had so many challenges like any child that was not born with silver spoon,” he explained. “My father retired as a Prison officer but despite his meagre resources, he made sure that we were okay.

    “I have never seen such a loving father like him because he would go the extra length to even borrow money from his friend s in other for us to school.

    “He was always paying back such loans with interest but he never cared just because he wanted us to become somebody in life. This has been how he has trained all of us and beside my twin sister and me, my two senior brothers are already graduates, the third person is in the school of nursing. Maybe it is a result of my parents’ efforts to ensure that we go to school that many people did not believe I can make it in football.

    “Some were always saying that ‘I should go and find some other things to do.’ But I had this feeling long time ago that I was going to use football to help lift the image of my family. After my dad’s retirement, he was able to build a house though far from where I was training and that posed a lot of challenges for me.

    “He tried his best to give me transport for training but I knew he was just squeezing himself to do it and that was why I preferred to trek to training more often. Some of my classmates used to make jest of me over that but I didn’t bother because I knew God has something in store for me.

    “Some felt I would go to the university immediately after my secondary school but I knew it has to be football for me. I was fond of telling them that ‘even if I go to the university, it was just to enhance my career as a footballer’ and I thank God that all is going well,” he said amongst sundry details. Excerpts…

    Going into the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Championship in the UAE, the talk was that Success Isaac was going to score the goals to ensure victory for Nigeria but how did you cope with the pressure after he was injured?

    The pressure wasn’t much for me because of the calibre of good coaches that we have. If you remember, I actually scored a goal almost immediately I came on as a substitute for Success following his injury in the second game against Sweden. Immediately after the game, the coaches commended me and told me what I needed to do in our subsequent matches and I’m so happy that all worked well in the end. They just told me to have the full confidence that I could get the job done with or without success and to God be the glory, everything paid off well. I actually scored four goals at the World Cup but those were important goals for me personally because they were vital and came at a crucial time for the team. They were goals that a lot of people didn’t expect from me and that made them so special for me.

    Tell me about your twin sister, how close are you?

    My twin sister is Kehinde and we are very, very close and we have so many things in common because we have always been together since our childhood days. We do most things together and she is somebody I really like so much because she has always being there for me. Several times, she was the one that bailed me out with transport money so that I can go to training. She was so supportive of my career and by the grace of God; I will ensure that she becomes a better person in life too. She has finished her secondary school and seeking admission into the university. We are identical twins and we do so many things together. In fact, I would be very happy if we can get marry the same day but that is a long-time dream since we are still very young. But I think there is that possibility that we can get marry the same day.

    You’ve made some money with the Golden Eaglets, what are you going to do with it?

    I’m still a kid and I’m going to give this money to my dad and mum to make good use of it for the family. What I’m looking forward is seeking ways to improve my career and I’m I really looking forward to the prospect of enhancing my career and if need be, I would like to combine it with my education.

    How do you feel about your quick transition from Golden Eaglets to Super Eagles?

    Foremost, I give God all the glory because he has always been my helper and the architect of my life. I thank God and was very happy when I heard about the invitation to the Super Eagles camp preparing for CHAN to be hosted in South Africa.

    How did you receive the news, did you read newspaper or heard from the radio or somebody told you and who was that?

    I was told by the Mr. Siji Lagunju, the chief technical officer of the NFF who incidentally, almost all the player who passed through the Under-13 and Under-15 regards as a wonderful dad to all of us.

    What has been your experience in the Super Eagles camp?

    It has been great with great daddy like Coach Stephen Keshi who is wonderful and cheerful coupled with encouragements from senior players who are always ready to tell me what I needed to do.

    What are the challenges you are coping with and what is your chance of making the CHAN squad to SA?

    I don’t have much challenges because all d senior players here are wonderful and always encouraging me all the time even telling me my weak points. About my chances of making the team, all that is in the hands of God.

    How useful is the presence of Dele Alampasu, your teammate at Golden Eaglets with you in the Super Eagles?

    It’s a great feeling having Alampasu in the camp and we are even roommates and that give us the chance to do a lot of things together. We are getting encouragement from all the coaches as well as the senior players and it make us very happy.

    What are your wishes in the coming year and how soon are you joining a professional club?

    My wish is for God’s mercy and blessing to keep following me; my family, my grassroots’ coach n team, my academy and Nigerians at large. I equally pray that God should assist me to achieve my dreams.

    What are your future dreams?

    I believe on d aspect of clubs, with God all things are possible and I think on the issue of joining a professional club, God’s willing all that is settled and by early next year, I should be ready for my club. I have other ambitions and I thank God that I have started achieving some even at my early stage. It is a privilege to play for the country at the Under-17 level and I pray it would be a stepping stone to greater things.

    Which club will you like to join or are you joining next year?

  • Ujah’s brace shoots Köln to the top

    Ujah’s brace shoots Köln to the top

    Nigerian striker, Anthony Ujah bagged a brace as he inspired Köln to a 3-2 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga (Germany’s second division) on Sunday.

    Ujah who was a member of the Nigerian squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil opened the scoring on the half hour with a powerful header off a Patrick Helmes cross.

    The 23-year-old thought he had doubled his account in the 56th minute, but the referee chalked off his strike for offside.

    Ujah was to enjoy the last laugh though in the 75th minute as he netted the winner via a laser-like strike into the far corner to give Die Geißböcke (the Billy Goats) maximum points over their bitter rivals.

    His impressive performance did not go unnoticed as he was duly selected as man-of-the-match. He subsequently took to Twitter to voice his delight at the win and his accomplishments on a personal level.

    “What a Derby. I am very very happy. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2014. FC,” he tweeted to his 6,738 followers via @ujah_13, moments after the game.

    The former FSV Mainz attacker, who has earned five senior caps for Nigeria, has now scored seven league goals this season.

    Sunday’s win at the ESPRIT Arena cemented Köln’s place at the top of the standings with 39 points from 19 matches, four clear of second-placed Greuther Furth.

    This means that Köln finished the 2013/14 Bundesliga season as champions going into the winter break.

  • NFF: No yuletide break for Falconets

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hinted that there won’t be any yuletide break for the country’s U20 side nicknamed the Falconets ahead of their third round FIFA U20 World Cup qualifying match against South Africa in January next year.

    The Falconets thrashed Tunisians U20 side 4-0 in the second leg of their second round tie played in Tunis on Sunday to get the berth to the third round 8-0 on aggregate. They had earlier beaten Sierra Leone 16-0 on aggregate in the first round.

    With barely a fortnight to the first leg of the third round encounter against South Africa billed for January 11th, 2014 at the Abuja National Stadium, the NFF has stated that the Falconets need total concentration ahead of the clash.

    The South Africans whitewashed Tanzania 9-1 on aggregate also to get to this stage after they had also eliminated Botswana 7-2 on aggregate in the first round.

    The NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi told SportingLife that the players will resume preparations immediately the team arrives from Tunisia because of the nearness of the first leg of the third round fixture where the Falconets need to win well at home before negotiating the second leg tie in Johannesburg.

    Nigeria’s U20 side have played in all the editions of the U-20 Women’s World Cup since inception in 2002 with their best performance being in 2010 in Germany when they got to the final before losing 2-0 to the hosts in Dresden. They were led to that competition by current Pelican Stars’ gaffer, Adet Egan.

    The Falconets were also semi-finalists last year in Japan. They lost the third place match to the hosts on that occasion too.

    Equatorial Guinea and Ghana will battle for the second African slot to the U20 World Cup in the third round after they eliminated their second round opponents with relatively ease over the weekend.

    Ghana never kicked any ball because their foes Uganda withdrew and were subsequently walked over while equatorial Guinea who have two African Women’s Championship(AWC) titles already at the senior level thrashed Zambia 6-0 on aggregate on set up the clash with their West Africans.

    The first and the second leg take place in the weekend of January 10th-12th and 24th-26th, 2014 respectively.

    Nigeria’s Falconets and the Black Princesses of Ghana represented Africa in Japan in 2012.