The Nation Newspaper

Tag: football

  • MUSTAPHA: I love football from the cradle

    The current president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Board of Appeal, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), has described his love for football as inborn and ascribed it to a tradition established by his father, the erstwhile Kwara State Football Association chairman.

    At the last 40th CAF General Assembly in Casablanca, Mustapha was named the new president of the CAF Board of Appeal.

    He noted that he was infected with the love for the round leather game by his father, who was a soccer administrator and supporter. He rarely missed football matches involving the local team and would always go to matches with his entire family.

    He said: “My father was the Chairman of Kwara State Football Association and we used to follow him to the stadium to watch matches, so you can say the love of the game is from the cradle.”

    A distinguished legal practitioner of over two decades, Mustapha has excelled in various assignments in Nigerian football as well as in using strategic thinking to run diverse businesses.

    Mustapha, who has served severally in the NFF committees as well as the National Sports Commission, has assured that his board will employ integrity and justice to all as watchwords during its tenure.

    “For me, the approach to this new assignment will be simple: integrity will be at the front–burner. A lot of people who know me can vouch for me on this. More importantly, we will follow the rules dispassionately to deliver justice to all.

    “I see every assignment as a call to service. I have enjoyed the experience all the way, but I will say the most challenging for me was conducting the 2010 NFF elections, which has been adjudged as perhaps the most credible in NFF history. There were lots of intrigues and attempts were made to compromise us, with threats and invasion of privacy thrown into the bargain.

    “However, our unwavering commitment to a credible process prevailed to the extent that the FIFA observer offered me a job with FIFA, but a highly-placed Nigerian told him that my hands are full in Nigeria!”

    He attended the Harvard Business School (USA), Manchester Business School, Suffolk Law School (both in the United Kingdom) and the Business School Netherlands in The Hague and served in top positions in various businesses and in boards of corporate entities, as well as with the National Sports Commission (Chairman, National Appeals Committee), the NFF as Chairman, NFF Electoral Committee & Deputy Chairman, NFF Committee for Ethics and Fairplay, as well as the Nigeria League (Member, Organising and Disciplinary Committee).

    Speaking recently in Abuja, the former Chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee added: “I want to thank the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, for making this possible. I never lobbied for the job and I never even knew that I was being considered. Perhaps, the big roles that AITEO continues to play in Nigerian football and at CAF level brought one to prominence. I thank Mr. Benedict Peters (President, AITEO) for his immense service to football.”

  • LAMI ADAMU: Why I quit football for suya enterprise

    Former Nigerian international and a member of the Super Falcons to the 2000 Olympic Football Tournament in Sydney, Lami Rachel Adamu, shares her romance with football before bailing to packaging of suya and kilishi in the USA  with  MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN. 

    She was one of the lasses that represented the country in the 1990s and a member of the Super Falcons  to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, but  Lami Rachel Adamu has revealed why she quit the world of  football for a spot in the exotic packaging of Kilishi – the dried form of Suya (skewer neat) common with the Hausas in Northen Nigeria.

    Lami is a proud Nigerian in Disapora and her exploits as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Saharan Kilishi in her New Jersey base in the United States has not gone unoticed.Two  years ago, Lami was amongst the Diaspora Young Professionals that were in audience with President Muhammadu Buhari  at the Nigerian Embassy in Washinghton D.C during his first official visit to the USA.

    “I came to the United States in January of 2002 on a full athletic scholarship to Bloomfield College in New Jersey and I took the full advantage of the opportunity I was given,”  explained Lami who earned  a first degree in management . “I got my bachelor’s degree in 2005 and went straight to obtain an MBA at Nyack College in New York. When I graduated, I was hoping to work in corporate America but that was the beginning of the financial crisis.

    “Afterwards, I coached both my college men’s and women’s teams as an assistant coach. I also did coaching for a number of years after college but stopped because I wanted something different.

    “I could not get a job, that was when I decided to start my suya and kilishi business  and I also offer catering services. I was motivated to start my suya and kilishi business to give Nigerians here in the USA the authentic taste of home.

    “I believe my travelling exposure before coming to the USA helped me a lot. My transition was not that difficult. Of course, my choice of business(suya and kilishi) surprised my family and friends especially my mom because of my educational background and exposure. But now , they are very proud of what I’m doing,”she said.

    Indeed, Lami has proved true that a woman skilled in her work would not stand before obscure men but  kings with her rich collection of clientielle. “I love doing what I do and that makes the work easier. The business has given me the opportunity to meet  prominent Nigerians from all walks of life including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2016.

    “As a Nigerian, it was an incredible honour to meet Mr. President and when we met  him, he was attentive and soft spoken. I could never have had this opportunity doing any other thing other than what I am doing.”

    Yet Lami is full of nostalgia about her days with the Super Falcons, adding that the beautiful game of football was indeed her first love.“I was very active and curious as a kid. I played a lot with the boys in the neighborhood. I became interested in football and it turned out that I was good at it.

    “Yes, football was and is still my number one sport. I did other sports like track and field, handball and volleyball but football will always be my favourite. Football always makes me happy and I call it my therapy, even now,” she stated.

    Indeed, football was her remedy judging by her difficult childhood occasioned by the death of her father when she was still a toddler.

    “My dad died when I was  just two years old and so I didn’t get to know or enjoy him as my father,” a crestfallen Lami further explained.

    “My dad was in the Nigerian army and fought in the Biafra Civil War but he later became a police officer.

    “My mum became a widow early and because she didn’t go to school, she stayed at home to take care of us; she did her best to raise us. My grandfather took my siblings and I because that’s just how it was because the children belongs to the father.

    “At age seven,  I was sent to go live with my uncle (my mother’s younger brother) in Jos. My uncle did not agree or have any support for me to play football. He tried to stop me but I was just stubborn because my uncle did not support me in any way

    “I kept at it (playing football) until one of our relatives told him to allow me because he does not know where the sport would take me and he reluctantly allowed me to continue playing football.”

    As it’s often said, there is a way when there is a will and Lami said she demonstaretd her willingness to excell in football when she joined Tiny City Queens of Jos  from where she left for Oladimeji Tigress of Ilorin.

    She narrated: “My first call up to the Super Falcons was in 1997 when I was with Oladimeji Tigress of  Ilorin. I was star struck when I got to the camp and I could not believe that I was in the same canp with the likes of Nkiru Okosieme, Mavis Ogun, Eucharia Uche, Phoebe Ebemekoumo, Florence Omagbemi, Omolove Branch, Ann Chejine and Mercy Akide who were  all in that set. It was amazing just to be there.

    “The Super Falcons of my time were passionate and completely dedicated to the game. I don’t believe the dedication is there now like it used to be during our time.

    “My best coach in the national team was coach Jossy Lad (RIP). He was quiet and gentle. His words of advice and encouragent helped me not only on the pitch but I still use it today.

    “I would always be grateful to coach Mabo for being a father figure and to all the girls. Going to  the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games  with the Super Falcons was surreal and it was a really beautiful experience that I’ll cherish and pass on to my kids and grand kids.”

    Regretabblly, the Super Falcons are no longer the most dreaded team like in the  days of yore when the continent  was their oyster, but Lami reckons the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can turn the fortune  of the team for the better.

    “To improve women’s football in Nigeria, the NFF has to put in more resources and energy, but most importantly interest in women’s football. They need to develop the women’s league just like the men’s  by getting  sponsorships, organise competitions for all age groups, pay better benefits and  provide equipment.

    “It’s unfortunate that the Super Falcons are treated like second class citizens compared to the Super Eagles. I believe the situation has gotten worse since we left the team,” lamented the 39-year-old Lami.

  • Football ministers

    Football ministers

    George Opong Weah visited Nigeria on Monday – not as a soccer star, but as President of Liberia. He wore a suit, not his favourite number 9 shirt which made fans roar in ecstasy, as he stepped onto the pitch for a game. Weah was a prolific striker, scoring goals with aplomb. He was such a phenomenal player that he did the unthinkable – playing for both Inter Milan and AC Milan FC in Italy. These two teams are bitter rivals, though they use the same pitch for matches. Weah wasn’t the only player to do so but, for an African, it underlined how he was adored everywhere he played.

    I would have been surprised if Weah left Abuja without scoring a goal; he did and the goal, if reviewed, was a spectacular one as it touched on the most important reason why Super Eagles don’t do well in major soccer tournaments and other sporting contingents. Weah isn’t a stranger to our football politics, having been playmate with Taribo West and Celestine Babayaro at Chelsea. Besides, he played against many of our soccer icons, such as the late Stephen Keshi, the late Rashidi Yekini et al.

    Weah had cause to play ceremonial matches with famous players, such as Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Samson Siasia, Peter Rufai and other members of the golden era of the game here. They must have discussed our problems with Weah.

    So what did Weah say in Abuja? “Some of the things you see at the World Cup, you will see an entire team go to represent a whole country and you will hear that one minister took the money, they did not pay these players and the players are causing problem. When players are going to camp, it is to relax and focus. And for them to be in camp, they must have everything there for them not to worry, ‘’ Weah said.

    Spot on Weah. Most ministers of sport advance the argument that since the cash is coming from the government’s vault, they should be the ones to disburse it – as if they own the cash. It is difficult to explain why the ministers don’t trust NFF members as the president trusts them. Those of us who cover sporting competitions find it difficult to answer questions concerning our ministers dishing out cash to players when the ministry has officials who can do the job. Foreigners wonder how such ministers can audit expenditures. Which auditors, appointed by the ministers indict him?

    What these ministers do is to blackmail NFF members. They polarise the media to stir up controversies, which compel the government to constitute probe panels whose outcomes are of no consequence, if the ministers succeed to muscle the federation chiefs to do their biddings. These football ministers set the NFF members against themselves with the face-off affecting the team’s performance. They then constitute Presidential Task Forces (PTFs), whose members, most times, are the ministers’ friends. And critics of the federation take over the jobs of the coaches.

    It got so bad in two instances that the incumbent coach watched in awe and pain as interviews were been conducted for his job during tournaments. The late Shuiabu Amodu qualified Nigeria for two World Cup competitions, but was sacked, no thanks to our all knowing sports ministers. Sports minister Solomon Dalung told the media that the Muhammadu Buhari administration saved N7 billion when there wasn’t a PTF body to superintend during Nigeria’s qualification series to the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    What most ministers don’t know is that Nigerians can’t be fooled by their theatrics, especially the corporate world, which would not do business because of frequent policy somersaults in governance. Besides, the ministers think that creating confusion in the Glasshouse, and unfounded allegations against soccer chieftains, would convince the business moguls to listen to their requests. No show.  No business concern would invest in projects bedevilled with controversies and tales of sharp practices. Nigerians look forward to the day when the Sports Ministry would also be probed since it is always the soccer chiefs that pilfer government’s cash. We wait.

    We had a minister in the past who watched matches live at the stadium, but compelled the NFF men to drive back to his hotel some three hours away to collect players’ bonuses which other countries paid immediately after games. The minister insisted on doing the paper work whereas he had a personal contingent of 35 people (cooks, nannies, house boys, relations, kids etc). What manner of paper work did the minister want when the federation had stipulated what they wanted the cash for in the budget which the government approved? Shouldn’t the minister have given the cash to the federation to disburse and ask them to account after the tournament, the way others do?

    Nigeria is usually the laughing stock when players refuse to train until their cash is given to them. Most times the players spend the night before a game sharing money that should have been transferred into their accounts immediately after matches like it is done in their European clubs.

    We also had a minister who got government cash for a recuperating Nigerian athlete, who got paid in two tranches at different times. Was it not a sports minister who boasted that he would convince the government not to waste money on Nigeria’s qualifiers for the Mundial because Super Eagles can’t win the trophy? Yet, the minister was on every trip to watch the team, of course earning estacodes for himself, that is if he didn’t have other people who accompanied him. They tell us that they accompany the teams to deliver the president’s goodwill messages. Indeed.

    Now that the new NFF has got the Aiteo Group to invest in our football, I want to see if the minister would ask them to hand what they generated to him. So far, Aiteo has spent $600,000 and N320 million on the team en route its qualification for the Mundial in Russia. Again, the NFF has secured a deal worth N2.5 billion over five years with Nigeria Breweries, with NFF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick assuring Nigerians that he would generate $2.8 million more for the team.

    Already, FIFA has released $1.5million to the 32 qualifiers for the Mundial, Nigeria inclusive. Another $8 million await Eagles for the group stage matches. and the figures are staggering as the teams progress. So, what would that minister be saying now that cash running into millions in dollars hits the NFF account? What manner of advice would he have given the President asking him not to fund Nigeria’s participation to the World Cup? Is the World Cup all about winning?

    Weah spoke about Nigeria’s chances at the Mundial, saying: “I think Nigerian team is a model; we all followed them. I have played with great Nigerian players; I played against them. Now you have a new generation. The fact that they qualified is a good thing for Nigeria.

    “But I hope they will prepare very early because they are going to represent Africa and we will be there to watch them, for them to bring the trophy for the first time if it is possible. But I think the seriousness to go to World Cup is not to pay players to go, I want every African government to know, if you win World Cup is a pride to Africa is not just to Nigeria, so we must do everything to ensure that the players are not stressed, make sure they concentrate, make sure their incentives are given to them to motivate them.

    “Remember I played in European setting, when we go to camp, we have nothing to do. The only thing we have to do is to take a shower and prepare for the game, everything is laid down here and so you have no excuse.  So, let the players not have excuse, support them and let them go and bring back that cup.”

    Weah noted that every government in Africa complains when it comes to sports. He thanked President Buhari for supporting the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    He said: “I was amazed the other sitting before Macron; he talked about his sports agenda because he believes you can build capacity through sports, and through sports you can also encourage people to work, to do what they want to do.

    “I have been fighting for so long for my national team to qualify. Imagine, I’m the World Best here in Africa, the only world best. And I told French President Macron that FIFA built one stadium in Liberia and we have one Ballon D’or,  so if you build 10 stadia in Liberia, you will have 10 Ballon D’Or.’’

    Weah revealed that he had convinced the World Bank to support his country’s sports revival with $5 million. This is what Nigerian sports need, not ministers who abandon 29 other sports and bicker with soccer. It hurts to note that these other sports are money spinners too, like soccer, in countries where sports is seen as a business, not one to compensate failed politicians.

    “As a former coach, technical director and former sponsor of the national team, you know is not only football. When Liberia goes to represent us at the Olympics, we only see the officials drilling with our flags, we don’t see no athletes.

    “This year, we have made sure that all of our sports we will have someone to represent us and I will be there to monitor them. That is why we put a former player as the sports minister that I will work with to revamp Liberia National Team and I know he will do it best. And those techniques that made Liberia qualify twice and missed the World Cup three times, I will make sure that I work with him so that he can do the work and ensure that our athletes go and represent our country,” Weah said.

    I envy Liberia. I won’t be surprised if Liberia becomes the new Mecca for sports in the next decade, with President Weah. Who won’t fund sports when the marketing drive is being initiated by the country’s President?

  • DAWN of grassroots football

    DAWN of grassroots football

    It’s no weekend or Sunday, but Hardball, a football zealot, is especially excited — excited at another innovation in grassroots football.

    The excitement is not only about the  DAWN — Development Agenda for

    Western Nigeria — Commission, which has mid-wifed the proposed Western Nigeria Football League (WNFL).  It is also because that great idea is getting quality attention from the apex of Nigeria’s football house.

    As in other sectors, it is applying the credo of regionalization (read decentralization) to football, both as sports and as business. You can never lose on that score, for it follows the federalization of football and its management.

    Amaju Pinnick, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, on March 2, said it all, at the inauguration of the Western Nigeria Football Forum Office, domiciled at the iconic Cocoa House, Ibadan, the same regional historical monument that also houses the DAWN Commission.

    Ibadan was capital of the pace-setting Western Region, in the Awolowo glory years: first university, first television in all of Africa, first modern stadium then named Liberty

    Stadium and of course, tallest building in all of Nigeria, the Cocoa House, in which the epochal event was taking place.

    Amaju also relayed how the West produced iconic footballers in the likes of Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Felix Owolabi and Sam Ojebode, still leaving out other greats like Teslim “Thunder” Balogun and of course, ace winger and hero of the 1976 Nations Cup in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, Kunle Awesu, of blessed memory.

    But what Amaju didn’t trace was the decay of the once luxuriant sports garden where all those came from, now parched; and almost desert-like.

    Proof? 3SC, Shooting Stars Sports Club (formerly Investment and Industrial Credit Corporation, IICC of Western Nigeria, also earlier known as Western Nigeria Development Corporation, WNDC) has fallen into hard times.

    The first Nigerian club side to land any continental laurel, winning the African Cup Winners Cup in 1976, it has faded from among the top performers of yore.  It now always languishes among the laggards of the Nigerian Professional League (NFL), if not completely taking the drop to the lower division, as it did after the 2016/2017 league season.  That simply means the ready streams of the Ojebodes, Lawals, Odegbamis and Owolabis are drying off.

    If the new WNFL addressees that alone, then it would have done a vital task for this generation, bring back some Renaissance on the football pitch.

    But it should be more than that really: that league, if it plumbs the grassroots, has the prospects of fully turning football in that part of Nigeria into an integrated business, spanning the local manufacture of soccer boots and other foot wears, jerseys, club merchandizing and allied businesses, from which young football talents, coaches, sports doctors, lawyers, other ancillary professionals and even local musicians are gainfully employed.

    That is the way to go, for every part of the country.  Can you now see why Hardball is excited?

  • Google honours Keshi with Doodle

    Google honours Keshi with Doodle

    Google on Tuesday marked the 56th birthday of the late Nigerian football icon, Stephen Keshi, with Doodle.

    A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages that commemorates holidays, events, achievements and people.

    Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the assertion during a chat with Google in Lagos.

    According to Kola-Ogunlade, Stephen Keshi was born in Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria, and was a member of the famed St. Finbarrs College Football Academy of 1977.

    He said that he was later called up for the Junior Eagles and subsequently the Super Eagles in preparation for the 1980 African Cup of Nations competition.

    “Football took Keshi all over the world as he played across Africa, Europe, and the U.S.

    “Known affectionately as `Big Boss’, he was beloved as a player for Nigeria’s national team, where he earned more than 60 caps and for representing the country at the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations,’’ he said.

    READ ALSO : Google doodle honours Chinua Achebe

    Kola-Ogunlade said that after his great success as a player, Keshi moved into coaching, the next phase of his career, adding that when the “Big Boss’’ became the coach of the Togo national team, he brought his trademark passion with him.

    The Google manager said that against the odds, Keshi led Togo all the way to a qualifying spot in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

    “He achieved his personal dream in 2011, when he became an indigenous national coach of the Super Eagles, cementing his place in African and world football history.

    “Coaching the Nigerian team, Keshi won the African Cup of Nations in 2013, and in 2014 became the first African coach of an African nation to make it to the knockout round of a World Cup.

    “Keshi is one of the only two men to win the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a manager, a testament to his wit, talent, and love for the sport.

    “A big cheer for this football legend on what would have been his 56th birthday!’’ he said.

     

  • CAF scraps award for home-based Players

    CAF scraps award for home-based Players

    The hope of African footballers who ply their trades not outside the shores of the continent have been dashed as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Wednesday Scrapped the award for their category.
    The decision to scrap the Africa-based Player award came just as the stage has already been set for the 2017 edition of CAF Award in Ghana.
    CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, in a pre-award night presser, declared the category had been scrapped because there could not be any other best or “ two levels of football in Africa.”
    Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi – the only Nigerian on the list – was in the running list for this year’s “home-based” award, but, with this development, he could solemnly ditched whatever hopes he nursed for an honour.
    In the words of Ahmad: “There are no two levels of football in Africa. Best is best, not best for the bad or best for the best. That’s the reason.”
    He added: “It’s very simple – we want to promote African football.”
    The governing body of African Football had introduced the category in order to balance out what it realised was a lopsided yet more illustrious African Player of the Year award i.e having the AFCON and CHAN.
    However, it is not clear if the decision enjoyed a consensus in Ahmad’s power bloc.
    But, before bed time there will be an answer to the question of who would be the next African football king?
    In the race for the crown are; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal).
    The CAF Award for footballer of the year comes up in Accra, Ghana on Thursday.

  • New chivita packs bring football stars to breakfast

    Chivita 100% has unveiled new limited edition packs featuring football stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Anthony Martial as part of its “Breakfast  with the Stars” campaign to provide football loving Nigerians a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and share healthy and complete breakfast moments with these stars.

    The new Chivita 100% limited edition packs seek to motivate and drive aspirational connection between consumers and their favourite football stars. It also promotes an active lifestyle through a complete breakfast and celebration of 100% achievement.

    Football fans dream football and admire these football stars who represent one of the best football clubs the game has to offer. These football stars inspire, excite, entertain and motivate because as achievers they believe in 100% commitment to excellence. Consumers are thrilled by these successes thereby developing more attraction to football and growing an enduring connection.

    Seen as a masterstroke in communicating the breakfast narrative of the “Breakfast with the Stars” campaign, the new Chivita 100% limited edition packs are a fresher, brighter and bolder packaging innovation that visually communicates the love for a game and fruit juice that unites.

    According to Chi Limited’s Head of Marketing, Probal Bhattacharya, millions of Nigerians are passionate about football and the new Chivita 100% limited packs are a great way to bring football icons to the table courtesy of Chivita 100%.

    “The objective of the Chivita 100% limited packs is to leverage on our passion for football in Nigeria to generate excitement among consumers by giving them an opportunity to have breakfast with great football stars like Pogba, Zlatan, De Gea, Martial, and among others. Consumers now have one special reason to stay motivated and achieve 100% success like these football stars when they start their day with Chivita 100%,” he stated.

  • Saudi women to gain access to football stadia in 2018

    Saudi women to gain access to football stadia in 2018

    Saudi Arabian women especially those with passion for sports will no doubt have a lot to celebrate .

    In a historical breakthrough for women’s rights, the Saudi Arabian government will allow women to attend football matches in the New Year

    After mounting pressure from activists to increase women’s rights, Saudi Arabia has taken its first steps towards sporting equality. As from 2018, female spectators and journalists will be allowed to attend both club and national fixtures in a segregated area of grounds.

    The new law has been agreed with Ahmed Eid al-Harbi, president of the Saudi Football Federation and former goalkeeper, and is expected to boost attendance figures across the country by as much as 15 per cent.

    “There is change, but it is slow. It has to be fast.”

    Although this is undoubtedly positive, many believe that true equality will never be realised. Commenting on the recent news, one Saudi journalist said: “Everything is upside down. Revolution is possible. There is change, but it is slow. It has to be fast. Nobody knows what will happen.”

    The nation has also shown its intention to add girls’ physical education to the private school curriculum, having sent female athletes to compete at the London 2012 Olympics for the first time.

    Others, however, are considering the latest steps something of a smokescreen to deter interest in the deeper issue of Saudi government meddling in its national sport federations. Such interference from Kuwait’s ruling party led to their banishment from Asian Cup and World Cup participation.

  • Nigeria and the metaphor of football

    Unarguably, the most popular sport in this clime is football. At one time or the other, every child has kicked a football.  In elementary and secondary schools as well as institutional of higher learning, football ranks as the most famous sport. It is, perhaps, for this reason that the sport is famously referred to as the ‘King of Sports’. On a private note, I find the allure of the game of football somewhat irresistible, though my famous team, Arsenal FC of England, sometime turns the sport into a traumatic experience for fans. But then, once you catch the bug of football, you might just not be able to get off it.

    Globally, football has become a money spinning enterprise. The organisation and management of football in Europe, for instance, is a multi million dollars venture with all the teams running other sports related businesses. Indeed, all sorts of professionals-doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, grass men, scouts, etc-are employed by the various teams in their drive for soccer glory. Therefore, football, in Europe, has gone beyond the mere recreational activity that it is in other climes. As a result of the excellent manner it is managed in Europe, youths across the world have found in football a means through which they could use their talents to escape poverty.

    The FIFA World Cup remains the most important football event across the world. Since Uruguay hosted the first edition of the World Cup in 1930, during the era of revered FIFA President, Jules Rimet, the competition has continued to grow in leap and bound. From a 13 team event, with which it started in 1930, it grew to become a 32 team affair during the1998 edition, which was hosted and won by France. Today, the World Cup commands a global TV audience in excess of one billion. Every nation desires to be represented at the quadrennial international football tournament. The event has become more than a football affair. It is now a huge public relations platform for nations.

    Hence, the sheer ecstasy and electrifying jubilation that greeted the 74th minute goal of Super Eagle’s in-form striker, Alex Iwobi, in recent grueling decider against the ‘Chipolopolo’ of Zambia is a sure expression of what participating in the World Cup means to our compatriots. Before Iwobi’s eventual clincher, the ‘Nest of Champions’ where the decisive encounter took place in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, was full of tension as soccer fans agonizingly watched as the obviously ambitious  boys from Zambia held their own against the star studded Super Eagles. With Iwobi’s goal came a huge relief and suddenly the stadium and, indeed, the whole nation came back to life.

    As Nigerians continue to savour the joy of the hard won victory against Zambia, one thing that keeps ringing in my mind is the unifying power of football. It is quite mystifying how a nation that was before now faced with numerous tribal and ethnic agitations suddenly decided to bury the hatchet in order to pursue a common goal. While various groups complain about marginalization in political appointments, resource control among others, it is hard to see anyone complain that a particular section of the country dominates the Super Eagles. Nobody cares about that. No matter where the players come from, the song on every lip remains: “Halleluiah, Eagles are winning today!” Muslims, Christians and Atheists were united in singing this song.

    Now, the question is: “How come we easily unite when it comes to the passionate matter of football and the Super Eagles and yet don’t seem to see eye to eye on other major national issues. Well, while there might not be a straight jacket explanation for this, my take is that the ordinary Nigerians from diverse walks of life don’t really care about most of these seemingly divisive stuffs. The ordinary compatriots don’t really bother much about religion, tribalism and other such conflict-ridden tendencies. This much was demonstrated in the botched June 12 1993 Presidential election when they overwhelmingly voted for the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, Muslim-Muslim ticket of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

    The bane of our nation is the elite. Be it political, religious, traditional, bureaucratic, academic, professional etc, the Nigerian elite through pointless egotistic, parochial and avaricious tendencies has continued to hold the nation by the jugular. Whenever it suits their selfish predisposition, they could agree to work together, intermarry, preach tolerance and generally act as harbingers of all that is good. But then, when their egos are bruised, business interests and political concerns collide, they don’t mind setting the country on fire. Yes, the nation could burn, for all they care.

    Sadly, whenever they decide to go on rampage, it is the hapless commoners whose rights and privileges they so deliberately and viciously trample upon that are often used as canon fodders. When some of the most tumultuous socio-political crises that have engulfed this nation are properly scrutinized, major victims of such crisis have always been the common folks on the street who are subtly hoodwinked into being active participants in a skirmish they nothing about. Ours is a nation where ‘warlords’ trick the ordinary folks into coming into the battle front, unarmed and ill prepared, only to flee at the slightest prospect of trouble.

    The Nigerian elite need to come to term with the reality of the time. The times are changing and very soon, there would be no more guinea pigs available for exploitation. One foresees more of “Our Mumu Done Do” kind of movements across the country as compatriots are fast ‘wising up’. Rather than continually engage in destructive selfish agenda that will do our nation more harm than good, the elite need to allow the metaphoric message of football sink deep into every sphere of our national life. We should allow the football process serves as model and reflection to our real life in the society. Being a team sport, every player in a football team including the coaching crew pursues one common goal: Victory.

     

    The Super Eagles achieved victory against Zambia because everyone worked together. Everyone worked to ensure that the weakness of the team was not unduly exposed. Everyone worked to ensure that the strength of the team was fully maximized. Team spirit and focus which are the main forces in football are the hallmarks of nation building. No nation that is against itself can stand. Just as any football team that encourages in-fighting can’t achieve victory.  This is the time for the elite to think Nigeria first in all that they do. This is also the time for the common folks to stop being willing tools in any agenda that could bring the country down. As the saying goes in my part of the country, “It is not everyone that knows the beginning of a war that would live to recount it”. God bless Nigeria.

    Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

  • DEHINDE AKINLOTAN: Football is a way of life for me

    DEHINDE AKINLOTAN: Football is a way of life for me

    When United States-based ex-international Dehinde Akinlotan left the shores of Nigeria in the late 80s, he had made it into the big league of Nigerian footballers. He played for Nigeria in the 1983 U-21 FIFA World Cup in Mexico and the 1984/85 Olympic qualifiers. In the U.S, he played professionally for Boston Bolts, 1988-1990, in the American Professional Soccer League All-Star. He did not depart the field as he went on to study Physical Education at Brooklyn College, and is today a youth coach in Texas. Given his history and perception, Akinlotan has tipped Nigeria to do well at the next World Cup in Russia. He speaks with Taiwo Alimi.

    Growing up

    I grew up in Ebute Metta, Lagos, and at age of six, I was always roaming about the street playing football and in organised street soccer tournament. I met Yisa Sofoluwe, Akin PankiPanki, and a host of other players that come around to play such tournaments. My parents did not want me to play football. As a matter of fact, I get the beating of my life every time I go out to play football. It got to a point that I moved out and visited occasionally to tell them how things were going.

    After my primary education, I went on to secondary school at Agunbiade Victory High School in Abeokuta.  There I represented Ogun State in All-School Sports both for my school and the state. I played for clubs like Wema Bank, Savannah Bank, Ogun Rockets, National Bank, and later moved to Abiola Babes where I was called to the Junior Eagles, as it was called back then.

    National teams

    Football is a way of life for me and probably every youngster back then and getting to play for a top team in Nigeria then was very difficult because the coaches and managers were always looking for good, disciplined and dedicated players. I always play the game to enjoy myself and every team I played for both in Lagos and Abeokuta knew that I was a dedicated player. One day, I got an invitation letter to join the Junior National team (Junior Eagles) with some other footballers from all over Nigeria. On getting there, I met players like Paul Okoku, Segun Olukanni, Femi Olukanni, Dahiru Sadi, the late Ali Jeje, Samson Siasia, Manu Garba (the now flying Eagles coach), the late Christopher Anigala, Muyiwa Motajo, Raymond King, Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Oti Amaechi, etc, It was a camp of skilled and talented footballers from all over the nation and you had to always prove yourself worthy of the competitions ahead and also cope with both the positive and negative sides of the game. I managed to go through the rough edges of the camp given that I was one of the shortest strikers in the camp, and each and every day I had to work my butts off to belong in the last count.

    Life at the Green Eagles camp then wasn’t easy. In the camp then, you had players like the late Muda Lawal, Steven Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Demola Adeshina, Sunday Eboigbe, Bright Omokharo, Clement Temile, Benji Nzeakor (Workshop) Ikechuckwu Ofoje, Patrick Okala (RIP), Ayo Ogunlana, Fatai Amao, Paul Okoku, Humphrey Edobor, Tarilla Okorowanta, and Sunny Ikuagwu.

    Football and education

    At first, combining football with education wasn’t easy but with determination I was able to do so. When I gained admission into college/university here in the States, It was like hell putting two most important things of my life together at the same time; that is attending classes and being able to play football. And you cannot skip football practice or classes because you got the scholarship for both, but it all became a success with the help of the Athletic Director of the school who put me through rigorous tutoring classes.

    Career high and low points

    The high point in my career was playing in the World Cup and meeting star players like Van Basten, Dunga and Bebeto.  Also, fulfilling my dreams of going to the university and succeeding in getting a scholarship to study at Boston College in the US. The low point in my career was the turning down of an apprenticeship with the Crystal Palace football Club in England, who at the time wanted me to stay and work with the team but I was misled to reject the offer.

    Life after football 

    I am still very active in football, only this time around I am on the other side as a certified coach with the United States Soccer Federation and also working as a coach/trainer at Houston Express Soccer Club in Texas. I have taken groups of boys U-16 and U-17 boys on a football tournament to England, Germany, and Spain.

    World Cup qualification

    I keenly follow Nigerian matches and sometimes we gather together to see the games. I see some level of confidence in our game and in the boys, which is exactly what we need to do well at the World Cup. The team is infused with the young and the old and that is good for us. Going to the World Cup, I expect the Nigerian FA to be on top of their act. The FA must put up friendly matches that will get the team ready. There are few FIFA free-windows between this period and the World Cup in June 2018 which gives the team less time to prepare adequately for the tournament. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should organise quality friendly matches for the team and also ensure that the current squad executes the last qualifier against Algeria for enhanced blending. I expect them to do well.