The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pitch

  • JOHN OGU: Why I proposed to my wife on the pitch

    JOHN OGU: Why I proposed to my wife on the pitch

    Nigeria and Hapoel Be’er Sheva playmaker, John Ogu, made the biggest media headline not playing football for club or country. He got the attention of reknown cable networks, among them CNN, when he popped the ‘Will You Marry Me?’ question to his fiancée two years ago.

    Joined by his teammates after a memorable 5-2 league win, on the pitch, Ogu said he popped the question to a stunned Ada (now Ada Ogu) who covered her face while trying to fight back happy tears before thousands of Hapoel Be’er Sheva fans.

    Hear him:  “The credit really should go to my brother and friend, Anthony Nwakeame. We were in the dressing room and I asked him how best to propose to my wife. My idea was to pop the question at a restaurant during lunch or dinner.

    “But he told me that since we were playing the next day, I should speak to management and pop the question after the game in full glare of the fans. Right there, I spoke with the director and he said I could do it after the game. I was scared because I thought we might lose and we won’t be in a happy mood. But I accepted.

    “We won the game 5-2 and to my biggest surprise, the fans did not leave the stadium and my fiancée came forward and I went on my knees and popped the question. It was the finest moment of my life and my teammates and fans celebrated with us for hours.

    “My wife was pleasantly surprised too. Later, I received calls from my friends all over the world who saw it on television and even on CNN,” Ogu stated as he speaks more about is wife whom he calls his ‘best coach’ as well as his loving daughter in this interview with TAIWO ALIMI. Excerpts…

    Family life

    My wife is the greatest thing to happen to me. I remember how I proposed to her vividly because it was after a match. Her name is Ada Ogu and we have a daughter that I love very much. My wife is today my best coach. She watches all my matches and criticises me afterwards for what I did not do well. She is also passionate about the sport.

    As for my daughter, I don’t think I would like her to play football. Personally, I think football is too physical for women. My apology to all female footballers because I feel it’s meant for men. This is not to disparage ladies playing football. Her mum would like her to play tennis while I would like it if she plays basketball. But if she chooses football, I won’t stop her. I will not if it is her choice.

    Sunny side of Ogu

    I watch football and highlight of games whenever I want to relax. Football is my life and even when I’m relaxing I’m watching football. I watch football a lot. I watch past games and the best way for me to relax is to watch football. When I am tired I slot in a football tape and I feel energised. Football is it for me. I also like basketball.

    I used to see myself as a banker. But football just killed everything. If I wasn’t playing football I probably would see myself as a manager of a big bank in Nigeria.

    Pressure from family and friends

    I feel that very much. I understand that the country is hard and things are really tough. Even the young and coming players are too desperate and they often come at you begging for money. They can really be on your face and it is scary at times. When I was on the street playing football, it was tight too and sometimes it was so bad that I would steal my mum’s money to go to match venues. Sometimes I got transport fare from my coach, but the dimension that people go to now is even scary. I feel the pressure and I always do my best to help out.

    Formative years

    Like every other footballer, especially in this part of the world, I started from the street. I imbibed football passion from the street. We would move from our street to the next and to far ones while playing football and from there the passion just grew. God blessed me with a talent that could not be hidden and I have to show it to the whole world.

    Youth career

    It was at Starlet FC that I learnt all I needed to know about football as a teenager. It was here that I learnt the basis of football, how to kick the ball and a lot of other things that I needed to know as a kid. There are two coaches that I would never forget; Coach Atta, who hails from Calabar, the South South of the country, taught me the rudiment of the game while Coach Baresi (not real name) taught me that how to be disciplined and respect other players.

    We used to go to competitions where we played other teams and that helped me a lot. It was there that I met an ex-international who offered to help me go abroad. I spent some months in his camp and from there they arranged for me to travel to Europe and that is how I started my professional career. From there I moved to Portugal and was in Portugal for three seasons before I moved to Israel where I am today.

    Parental support

    To be honest, it wasn’t difficult to convince my parents to allow me go out play football. My dad and mom supported me fully and not once did they stop me from exhibiting this God given gift. But, again I knew this is what I wanted to do in my life right from my young age and all I needed to do was to know how badly I needed to do it. I’m lucky to have parents that gave me free hand and supported me. It is not all parents that do that but mine gave me more than 100 per cent support and thanks to them for it.

    Portugal experience

    The experience in Portugal was not devoid of bitter taste because it was my first real professional experience. There were tough moments and I remember that at a point my team played a match with eight players because we had to go without salary for four, five months.

    At that time, some players could not even sign their contract. But my agent had told me that I should be patient and that I would move out soon. It was a tough time but I learnt a lesson that defined me and would help me to face the future like a true winner.  For me, I had a contract with them and my agent said I should play and whenever I chose to move they would allow me leave as free agent.

    I decided to stay and play and in a particular match we played eight players against 10. It was a tough match for us but the experience toughened me. I know it happened for a reason and it is in my past now.

    Nigerian league

    I did not play in the Nigerian league before going abroad. But I would like to experience it before I end my career. I will come back home to play for a team in Nigeria. I think it is high time that we promoted our league. If you watch Brazilian players, they go back to their home country at a point in their career and play there.

    It is a way to give back and grow the league. I would rather come back to Nigeria to play than to play abroad without getting paid. This is the time to appeal to our ex-players to give back and help grow the league in Nigeria. That would help bring back the sponsor and the fans into our stadium. I’m 100 per cent sure that I will come back to play in Nigeria.

    Toughest team and player ever played

    I’ve played a lot of players. When I am on the field I see every opponent as good and so I don’t underrate them. I’ve played against brilliant players such as Xavi and Pirlo and I respect them. But football is a team play and therefore I play for my team members and they play for me too.

    Most Cherished career moments

    It must be winning my first professional title in Israel and wining it the following year again. The back to back thing simply freaks me out. I do no imagine that that I would achieve this so soon in my career. I am really happy to play in Israel. Winning the league shield back to back is a special one for me.

    Most disappointed moment

    So far, it is missing the World Cup. I was part of the team that qualified Nigeria for the last World Cup but I had issues with my club and that affected me badly. I did not make the final list to the World Cup for that reason. I can still remember how it feels to date.

    Racial abuse

    I’ve not experienced racial abuse in my career. I don’t really pay attention to that kind of things. I am more focused on trying to prove myself and helping my team win games. I have not come across it in my career and s I don’t know how it feels. It is really a bad though.

    I can’t imagine being called a monkey because I have dark skin. The closest that I have experienced in Israel is for fans to chant when they feel you have dived in the box to gain a penalty for your team.

    Retirement plans

    I would love to coach one day but it is still a long time to come. It is something for the future. In five, six years, maybe I would begin to look into that. But what I would really like to do is football management.

    That is what I have passion for. I see myself like a director of a club.

  • NPFL: pitch darkness

    It’s one of those days that Hardball is hobbled by headline. For a long moment, even hours, you just cannot put a handle on your title. Sometimes every bit of the piece may have taken their natural sequence and fallen into place but you still do not have a suitable head. Imagine having a headless body in your hands!

    But what you see above (NPFL: pitch dark) happens to be a passable alternative after toying with about half a dozen others. Of course NPFL stands for Nigeria Professional Football League; meaning top football as we know it in Nigeria today. Though there are other lower rung leagues, they may be said to be inconsequential compared to the NPFL which is the equivalent of the English Professional Football League, EPL.

    Now, the above title has been triggered by the recent retrogression of the Nigeria’s premier football league since the beginning of the current season. The local football managed by the League Management Company, LMC, has actually seen some modest improvement with the coming of the LMC in the last five years or so. But the modest gains are now being eroded gradually.

    For instance, since the beginning of the current season (which seems interminable and winding), football matches have disappeared from television as Supersports (the South African cable network) which aired it suddenly stopped. And there is no official reason till date. Why our boastful Nigeria Television Authority, NTA (Africa’s largest network) cannot air at least some local league matches, must be a technical mystery.

    But the story is that while many African countries’ premier league are viewed live across the continent, Nigeria, the giant of Africa can be said to be playing football in the dark. This explains the title above, “Pitch dark”. NPFL must be among the very few major national leagues in the entire world today not aired on television; if not live, at least recorded. It’s so, so primitive.

    The straight analogy is playing football in the dark. And the dark result is that the league is fast becoming comical, if not farcical in which teams commit criminality on home turfs in the bid to win at all cost.

    Here is a sad checklist: hardly any away victories; referees toy with regulation time; probably more penalties are awarded here than in any other league; abuse of the offside rule and stopping of matches abruptly to stop a goal-bound move. A general criminal abuse of discretion by obviously compromised referees.

    The stench now stinks to the heavens that even LMC officials hold their noses. Some referees were axed recently. But that’s silly solution to say it nicely; let’s stop playing football in the dark. Simple!

  • Nigeria Pitch Awards name nominees Wednesday

    Organisers of the annual Nigeria Pitch  Awards, Matchmakers Consult International Limited, have concluded plans to organise a world press conference in Lagos on Wednesday ahead of this year’s edition of the Awards.

    President of Matchmakers Consult International Limited, Shina Philips, told thenff.com that the third Nigeria Pitch Awards will hold in the city of Kaduna on March 25 – hours after the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Egypt at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

    “We have perfected arrangements for the third edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards. All is set for us to hold the ceremony in Kaduna on Friday, March 25.

    “As a prelude to the Awards, and as we have been doing over the years, we will organise a world press conference in Lagos on Wednesday. Before that day, our partners, SIAO would have finished collation of the votes.”

    Philips said this year’s Awards ceremony would have several unique aspects, and that the organisers have already placed orders for the plaques to be given to winners.

    “The Nigeria Pitch Awards is known for its credibility and transparency, and these are values we would go to every length to protect.”

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State will be the special guest of honour, alongside a number of other governors. Special Achievement in football awards will be handed to several prominent Nigerians, including NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

  • Musa blames pitch,poor light for Lobamba draw

    Musa blames pitch,poor light for Lobamba draw

    •Eagles’ captain says Swaziland’ll fall in Port Harcourt

    Super Eagles captain and CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa is very optimistic that the team will definitely complete the job they could not finish in Swaziland.

    He is confident home support will be the deciding factor in tomorrow’s most anticipated game.

    His words: ” We  will be at home, they were in their home. At home we will have all our fans that will cheer us which will aid us to play well to win the game. Because we know the importance of the game.”

    Musa revealed that the Eagles did not think they would play a draw with the minnows from Swaziland. ” Unfortunately, I will not say I am happy with the result because we did not come here for a draw but to win. However, I am going to say it was a good game. The Swazi team played a very good game.”

    Musa was, however, confident the Eagles will surely wrap things up in Port Harcourt tomorrow to make the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers:

    “For me, football is all about challenges. I expected all that and I am happy with the way the game went. I don’t think that the Swazi team have a 50-50 chance when they come to Nigeria to play us. They are coming to Nigeria to meet us. It’ll be a tough game for them.Swaziland will have to get ready,”he said.

    Musa rated himself favourably in the first game but also revealed that the Eagles were handicapped in some areas: “For me, I played well enough. I don’t have any problem. As you can see the pitch is very small, the light is not what we needed. Because in Nigeria we cannot have this. From one end of the post you cannot see the other post. For me that is not standard light for playing at night,” he said.

  • Marketing pitch: Controversy trails emergence of winners

    Marketing pitch: Controversy trails emergence of winners

    Winning a business pitch in the public relations, media and advertising industry is not always a game of luck. So many things go into getting a business aside being a leading agency. In the last few months, some agencies have lost business while some have added to their portfolio. Controversy has also trailed the emergence of one of the firms. In all, it is different strokes for different folks, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Getting an agency to manage public relations, advertising, media or experiential marketing account is not always an easy task for brand owners. This is because it is a process that is cumbersome for both clients and agencies especially when an incumbent who understands the brand suspects that another agency might be hired. The agency will do whatever it could to retain the account.

    Going out to the market place is full of several risks and costs are also involved as brand owners try to impress the prospective brand. At the end, when pitches are concluded and winners announced, losers go home disappointed considering the prospect of the account, investment in external costs such as consumer research, animatics (for creative agencies), external artwork and the likes put into presentations. In the Nigerian marketing communication system, every agency is afraid to tell the media that the clients refused to pay pitch fee for fear of being blacklisted.

    These, perhaps, are the cases of losers and gainers in recent pitches in the last few months where some PR and advertising agencies have won and lost businesses as the winners commence work for the second half of the year.

    For MTN accounts adjudged one of the most juicy accounts in the telecoms sector, sometimes in March decided to review its marketing communication businesses. The incumbent, MarketingMix Ideas Limited, had for 11 years managed the business, supporting the brand with various communication solutions against some of the telco’s PR challenges in the country. Propelled by the need to reconfigure its PR strategy, the telco called for pitch early in the year and appointed new agencies-Brooks & Blakes and DKK Associates.

    The two agencies emerged out of nine that presented their pitch for the account. The other agencies that competed for the account include JSP Communications, Mediacraft & Associates, Black House Media (BHM) and Lead Communications. Others are Soulcom Communications, a subsidiary of SO & U,  and the incumbents –Marketing Mix and XLR8.

    It was gathered that a week later, precisely on March 26 and 27, few hours before the presidential election, presentations were made by the various agencies. Participating agencies were told to expect result one month after in line with global practice.

    Eventually, Brooks & Blakes and DKK Associates emerged winner. The emergence of these firms is still being debated by leading PR practitioners.

    DKK is being queried for winning a PR business while it is not a registered PR agency. While the controversy over the agency’s locus standi to manage a PR business, the winners have commenced work.

    Meanwhile, after losing the juicy MTN PR business, XLR8 is not stranded.  The agency recently won Guinness Nigeria corporate brand account. Its emergence followed an extensive selection process that included an open pitch for credentials presentations followed by panel discussions. Taking over the account from The Quadrant Company (TQC), its Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, said: “Throughout the selection process, we were impressed by XLR8’s industry and market knowledge and we feel confident that the organisation possesses the wherewithal to add value and provide support as we partner to achieve our business objectives.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of XLR8, Calixthus Okoruwa said: “Any organisation that has been able to build a brand and sustain its iconic status for more than 250 years deserves all the respect and adulation it gets.

    “We are indeed, humbled by this opportunity to be of service to this formidable organisation and will continue to seek to justify the confidence which it has reposed in XLR8.”

    The Guinness PR business is split into two-Corporate and Brands. While XLR8 manages the corporate Brooks & Blake will continue to handle the brands portfolio.

    Etisalat Nigeria PR pitch result is yet to be announced. About six agencies are currently on the hot seat waiting for Etisalat to decide. The agencies are The Quadrant Company, the incumbent agency on the account, Chain Reactions, Brooks and Blake, XLR8, MediaCraft and C&F Potter Novelli. C&F.

    C&F is the pioneer agency on the brand before the business moved to TQC three years ago.

    “The struggle for Etisalat’s PR account could be a straight fight between TQC and C & F. The two agencies parade robust profile and seem to understand the brand more than their counterparts,” one sector analyst said.

    However, having won the MTN PR business, Brooks & Blakes appear to be making tactical withdrawal from the race.

    Meanwhile, so much business has also moved in the advertising industry from one agency to the other. Releasing its pitch result recently, Airtel arrived at the agency of choice from a list of five agencies invited for the main pitch. After credential presentation, it was gathered that Insight Communications, Centrespread Advertising and Noah’s Ark Advertising were selected winners ahead of the pack of agencies that contested for the creative business. According to reports, the telco, however, arrived at the final two winners and would be custodians of the business, after the review entered into the financial stage. This warranted prospective handlers to submit and defend their financial requirements with a view to availing the client opportunity to align demands with its realistic budgets and financial projections. Airtel certified Centrespread and Noah’s Ark to manage the brand’s creative in Nigeria at least for the next two years.

    In the same way, Centrespread is expected to use the business to improve its rating and pedigree in the industry especially after a lull occasioned by the loss of some senior hands. It was gathered that the  agency has since commenced a reorganisation and repositioning  aimed at creating a youthful brand out of the over three decades old agency.

  • We played on a difficult pitch- Odion

    We played on a difficult pitch- Odion

    •Happy to break the goal scoring jinx

    Watford of England forward Odion Ighalo has showered encomiums on his teammates for working hard on a difficult pitch to ensure they beat visiting The Les Sao of Chad in the first qualifying match of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) decided at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Saturday.

    Ighalo, whose goals helped Watford gain promotion to the Premiership in England in the past season confessed that the pitch of the Kaduna Stadium was difficult for good football. But he argued that the Nigerian players had no excuse to complain since they are professionals who should adapt in any situation.

    The Watford star in an exclusive chat with SportingLife in Abuja yesterday disclosed, “We actually did our best against Chad to squeeze out 2-0 victory despite the fact that, that wasn’t one of our best performances we could give. We fought hard as a team. We worked hard and we made sure we ran for every ball and at the end hard work paid off although we played on a difficult pitch. It wasn’t easy for you to play one touch there but we still work our ways out to beat Chad and won the three maximum points at stake in the match. It was a very important step for us towards qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The former Lyn Oslo of Norway striker, however, expressed happiness for scoring via a spot kick to open his goal account for the Super Eagles since he was capped by the Chief Coach Stephen Keshi. He vowed to continue from where he stopped against Chad to score in the next game he would play for Nigeria.

    “I would say I am relieved for scoring my first goal for the national team but I always put the team performance ahead of personal performance. As we won yesterday, even if I don’t score I will be very grateful to God. But to crown it up the team won and I scored which I am very happy for. As a striker I want to score goals that would boost my confidence.

    “I was very happy when I scored my first goal for the Super Eagles and surely it will boost my confidence and encourage me to work hard. I am happy to score the goal yesterday (on Saturday)”, Ighalo told SportingLife in Abuja yesterday.

  • Catching fun on the pitch

    Catching fun on the pitch

    Students of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) displayed their soccer skills during the weeklong contest for the Dean’s Cup. The football fiesta was organised by the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA). SUNNY IBEH (200-Level History) reports.

    All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. This saying aptly describes the action of Arts students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who suspended their studies penultimate week for soccer. It was the 2014 Dean’s Cup and students displayed their soccer skills.

    The fiesta featured male and female teams in the faculty’s 10 departments. The grand finale of the tournament was held on last week Tuesday, after the teams scaled through the group and knock-out stages.

    The final match, which was billed to start at noon, began a few hours behind schedule because of the weather. The event began with the female final match. It was the second time female students were allowed to participate in the tournament.

    The fixture was between the Indomitable Amazons of History Department and the Lions of International Studies and Diplomacy (ISD). There was a buzz when History Department’s skipper Natasha Nwanze scored the first goal.

    Ten minutes later, Zazi Idodo of the ISD scored the equalising goal to balance the game. The first half ended in a tie. The second half started amid chanting and cheers by the spectators.

    At 65 minutes, Sylvia Eneoguru of the History Department scored another goal, killing the morale of the opponents.

    At the 89th minute, Indomitable Amazons’ Juliet Chinwuba netted another goal, which finally weaken the ISD team. The match ended 3:1.

    History Department made history as the only department in the faculty that has won the trophy back-to-back.

    The final match of the male category kicked off immediately after the female game ended at 4pm. The match was between ISD and Theatre Arts Department. The game ended in favour of ISD, which had two goals in the first 20 minutes. The Theatre Arts had one goal.

    After winners emerged from both categories, the officials dressed the players and their coaches with gold and silver medals.

    To mark the feat, the ISD Department planned a victory party. Natasha told CAMPUSLIFE the goal was a dream comes true for her.

    “We are basking in the euphoria of our victory at the Dean’s Cup. For me, the goal I scored is a dream that has come true,” she said.

    The Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA) president, Jeffery Arinze, described the success of the event as a divine intervention despite hiccups encountered in the planning. He said: “It is just God. We planned as humans and through his powers, it becomes a success.”

    On his part, the association’s Public Relations Officer, Stanley Amasianya, hailed Director of Sport for his “unrelenting effort” towards the success of the events. He advised other faculties to emulate the association.

    “I am happy that the tournament went as planned. The Director of Sport must be commended for this feat, which is as a result of his commitment towards the reality of the event,” he said.

     

  • Okocha rips into Esuene Stadium pitch

    Okocha rips into Esuene Stadium pitch

    ormer Nigeria national team captain Austin Okocha is not impressed with the quality of the playing surface at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    The Super Eagles play their home games at the stadium and many have criticised the pitch, particularly after the African champions’ 2-3 defeat to Congo in a 2015 African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier last Saturday.

    Okocha, who scored 14 goals in 75 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2006, watched Nigeria’s game against South Africa in Cape Town on Wednesday and was quick to make comparisons with what he saw in Calabar.

    “(Nigeria versus South Africa). Beautiful compared to the Calabar match. How green grass can transform (and) beautify a match. Also allows players to express themselves,” Jay Jay wrote on Twitter via his account @IAmOkocha.

    Okocha’s comments about the pitch have not gone down well with the Cross River State government, owners of the U.J. Esuene Stadium.

    Commissioner for Sports Patrick Ugbe said the pitch in Calabar is not in bad shape.

    “The pitch is in good condition. It is a work in progress. We are in the process of resodding the pitch,” Ugbe told supersport.com.

    He also revealed that the Cross River State government only allowed the Super Eagles to play on the pitch against Congo “in the interest of the nation”.

    “It was in the interest of the nation that we allowed the match to be played on that pitch in the first place because we are obviously working on it.

    “The coaches (of Nigeria and Congo) saw the pitch before the match and they expressed satisfaction with the state of the pitch so I don’t know what the issue is all of a sudden”.

  • Emordi assures of league title

    Emordi assures of league title

    Kano Pillars Technical Adviser Okey Emordi has said he is confident that the team’s aspiration to retain the league trophy is going to be achieved at the end of the season.

    The former Rangers manager expressed optimism after guarding his side to a 1-0 victory over Abia Warriors in the Week 25 Glo Premier League encounter at the Kano Pillars stadium on Saturday to maintain top position on the league table.

    “With what my boys are doing so far I don’t think we would be disappointed at the end of the season. From the way things are going we are having everything going on as planned,” Emordi told SportingLife.

    Emordi praised Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the good people of Kano State for his support to the team.

    “The government’s support is the best motivation that is encouraging players whenever they are on the pitch.”

  • Aper Aku stadium: Expatriates commences work on the final stage of the playing pitch

    Expatriates who specialise in coconut fibre are currently working on the Playing pitch of Aper Aku stadium, the home of Lobi stars in Makurdi.

    When Sportinglife visited the stadium , workers were seen laying the shock absolving system, preparatory for sand, then, coconut fibre and cock before the grassing.

    Shock absorbing system on a football pitch enhance the performance of players and keep it cooler. It’s also gives comfortability players and reduce injury. However, Sportinglife observed that the stadium contract had no provision for springer which control ball behavior.

    MR. Ebi Egbe, the contractor handling the upgrading of the Aper Aku told sporting life that ,his firm would use the period of the completion of the stadium to and the state government to installed springers in the stadium .

    Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN) Comrade Uja Emmanuel advised the Benue state government as a matter of policy to extend the contract to covering maintenance and installation new running track for a period of 10 years to for proper monitoring .

    Comrade Uja stated that from experience , government spent billions on projects but lack of maintenance led to decay of same projects .

    The SWAN chairman advised Governor Gabriel Suswam to used the National Stadium Sulurere, Lagos, as an example ,which was one of the best ,but now in decay for lack of proper maintenance and extend the contact for the upgrading of Aper Aku to cover maintenance.

    Governor Gabriel Suswam said he would give soccer loving people of Benue state a new stadium as a parting gift of his administration .