It has become a national pastime.
Taking potshots at national football team players, I mean.
I know, I know. It is my pet peeve. But trust me, I have every reason to be fuming just now.
I can sympathise when the ordinary Nigerian takes aim at players when they don’t deliver, but I find it a bit rich when a member of government comes up to question the commitment and patriotism of football players.
What has got me going is a statement credited to Heineken Lokpobiri, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports following the Flying Eagles 0-2 loss to Spain at the Fifa Under 20 World Cup in Egypt.
Here is the quote before I go any further:
“This is a serious issue that we have to address as a nation. Our players must show greater commitment and sense of patriotism on the field. What is that thing that makes the Ghanaian player, or the Ivorian player, want to die on the field for his country, and the Nigerian player just strolls around lazily like he doesn’t care?
“There has to be a re–orientation of our players. We cannot continue to have palpitations anytime we are playing small countries, such as Venezuela. Perhaps, we should rely more on the home–based players and give them sense of belonging so they can compete well with the foreign–based for national team jerseys?”
Unbelievable!
First of all, I hope Lokpobiri was either misquoted, or was referring to two different games because anybody who says the Flying Eagles did not show commitment in either of those two games probably needs to go follow a different sport.
How does a team that does not show commitment dominate the opposition in possession terms and shots?
Nigeria was ahead in possession against Venezuela by 61 to 39%, and against Spain by 58 to 42%
In attempts on target, Spain were outshot 19 to 12 and Venezuela 20 to 14.
Our only problem was composure and precision in front of goal. That is the only reason both teams topped us in the stats that matter; goals.
Outside of dry numbers, we all saw those boys throw themselves into tackles, and win balls that they sometimes had no right to. We saw them press their opponents and hustle their way all over the park, and that is why they dominated possession, because their opponents were denied time and space on the ball.
So it beats me how anybody can question their commitment. Least of all a member of government.
Why our players don’t play with commitment? Oh please.
Without holding brief for the players, as I do not entirely disagree with the premise of his argument (in certain instances), I want to say that maybe Hon. Lokpobiri should look in the mirror for the answer to his question.
I believe there is a traditional Nigerian saying that goes something like “Fish wey wan spoil, dey start from head”.
The head in this case being the government that he is a part of.
Our Honourable Member should ask himself if the leadership has shown itself over the years, to be committed to the Nigerian people.
Thursday was Nigeria’s 49th Independence Day. How many Nigerians were actually, genuinely celebrating?
Facebook provides a near instant guage of people’s feelings and a huge proportion of the status messages I saw about Nigeria’s Independence do not bear reapeating.
Suffice it to say that for a country that parades itself as the ‘giant of Africa’, it is a sad reflection when its citizens ‘celebrate’ Independence by pointing out the things that don’t work in the country; which is basically everything.
We have friends from other countries and we see the status messages they post on their independence days about their countries. Few are anywhere as negative as what we read about Nigeria.
Hon Lokpobiri is a lawyer, so he is well versed in one traditional maxim of equity, that ‘One who comes into equity must come with clean hands’. Or more accurately, ‘One who seeks equity must do equity’.
The responsibility of our government and leadership is to provide us with motorable roads, functioning public schools, functional hospitals, provide water, provide electricity, security of lives and property, provide fire services and arrange elections for their citizens.
How many of these can the Nigerian government claim a pass mark in?
Electricity is virtually non-existent in the country. Only the very very poor do not have generating sets to supply their own electricity..
Public water stopped running decades ago. Now, most homes sink boreholes to get their own water.
Medical doctors go on strike on a regular basis asking for improved conditions and facilities in public hospitals. A simple case of eye surgery cost a former national goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe his life just a few days ago.
As for schools, University teachers are currently on strike. Our schools are in a state unfit for educational progress.
When they are open, that is.
Security of life or property is not guaranteed. A reporter was shot dead at his home less than two weeks ago, and as is usually the case, his killers will never be found.
There is a long list of people who have suffered the same fate, and not one assassin has been prosecuted or convicted.
Hon Lokpobiri comes from the Niger Delta, same as some of us. Yet, the major road that links the Western part of the country to our entire region area has been in a worsening state of rapid disrepair over the years, and continues to deteriorate by the hour.
Consequently, a journey from Lagos to Port Harcourt that should take no more than 7 hours at the most, now takes at least half a day.
And yet, a contract worth billions of naira was awarded for that particular piece of basic infrastructure.
We pay our taxes (and in case anybody wants to belabor the point, I have my e-tcc to prove it), and yet we still have to provide our own basic amenities. (Un)commited players included.
Our government had failed us at different (I should say, all) levels over the years, and Honourable Lokpobiri asks why our players don’t play with commitment?
Maybe he should also ask why Nigerians proactively seek citizenship of other countries, and would do just about anything to get them?
Why pregnant women do their damnedest to get out of the country and have their children abroad so they can be citizens of any country but Nigeria?
At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Nigerians proudly display their ‘foreign’ passports.
If we had a country to be proud of, would that be the case?
There are those who can call players out on their commitment, but members of government have not shown the commitment to the Nigerian people that would give them the clean hands to come to this particular equity where they can question the commitment of football players, or any other Nigerian citizen for that matter.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Siasia’s big test
Friday is the day that Samson Siasia takes his first major step on the road to being Super Eagles coach.
But it will not be until the end of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup that we will know whether or not he has done enough to be assured that when the time comes to look for the next Super Eagles helmsman, he will be the man to slide seamlessly in.
Or whether he will have to wait a while longer to get the tap.
For me, it is interesting to see how Siasia has progressed from 2005.
Some four years ago, he was an unknown quantity as far as coaching was concerned. I remember emailing him at the time while he was coaching kids at the Stars Soccer Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
I wanted to do an interview for KickOff. After the interview, we got to reliving old times and the conversation sort of moved to what he would like todo. In his typical, swashbuckling style, he told me he would like to coach one of the national teams.
Now, I have heard (and still hear) Nigerian coaches talk about coaching ‘any of the national teams’ and what I can say is that there is almost always a subservient tone to the statement, almost like the federation is doing them a favour by offering them the job.
But that was not the case with Siasia. When he said it, he did so with the brash, swashbuckling, almost arrogant confidence of a man who knew what he wanted and would brook no nonsense in getting it.
After that interview, and a few others that followed it from other sources, Siaisa was offered the Under 20 job. The rest, as they say, is history.
In that time, Siasia has won the African Youth Championships, won silver at the World Youth Championships, losing in the final to a team led by current World Player of the Year-in-waiting Lionel Messi, and then gone on to qualify for and win silver at the Olympic Games, again, losing only to a Messi-inspired Argentina.
But it is less what he has won, and how he has gone about it that has won him admirers all over the country.
Siasia has de-emphasised individual players, and emphasized the team. He has never been afraid to cut players, either for footballing or disciplinary reasons. Neither has he been afraid to take the establishment head-on in a bid to get what he needs to do his job.
It is a character trait lacking in most coaches of Nigerian extraction, and I daresay it is what has taken him thus far.
A classic illustration of this attitude happened early in the job, while he was still trying out players for the teams.
A certain veteran coach had not only suggested that Siasia was just a rookie coach and needed an ‘elder’ coach to essentially supervise him, but went ahead to show up at his team’s training session and tried to impose himself on players.
Siasia told him in no uncertain terms, to steer clear of his players. And if he had anything he wanted to tell the players, to pass it to him (Siasia).
That was the end of that coach’s interference in Sia’s teams. No other ‘veteran’ coach dared come near after that either.
It is a tribute to the young man’s self belief that even before he had achieved anything, he had the confidence to trust himself and his own instincts.
And it is that same spirit that has seen him win the hearts of the majority of Nigerians, and constantly draw the ire of those who run the game.
And that is why Siasia, rather than any of his players, will be the focus during this tournament for most Nigerians.
People want to see again, the man they expect, the man they desperately want, to take over as Super Eagles coach.
If he works his way to winning gold at this tournament, he will be a shoo-in for the job, and fans can sit back with a smug grin and tell the NFF ‘We told you so’.
If he doesn’t, and his team (God forbid) crash out early, expect to see a return of those strident calls for a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.
The only reason that hasn’t taken on life is simply because folks expect Siasia to be next in line.
We wait to see if this current class of Siasia boys will take their boss one step further.
His teams almost always seem to start slow during a tournament, but in the end, they find a way to get there.
Whether that might be the case at this particular competition, we will just have to wait and see.
But for Siasia, the goal is much more than this tournament.
Congrats to the semifinalists
This is sending a big hola to Kano Pillars, Heartland and Bayelsa United for reaching the semifinals of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.
I want to send it especially to Bayelsa, who looked all but out after the first three matches, but have clawed their way back to claim a place in the last four.
I must confess that of the three, the only team I expected to do well were Heartland. But I have been pleasantly surprised by the other two.
To think that two Nigerian clubs will play the semifinals of the Champions League is heartening. And I want to wish whichever one gets to the final the best of luck.
Incidentally, on the basis of what both sides have played so far, Pillars look the team better equipped to win the final.
I say this because their road record has been nothing short of remarkable.
And to win a final, that will be crucial.
Which is not to say, I support one team over the other. Just pointing out a simple fact.
Goodluck to all three.
Hopefully, at the end of the day, both CAF trophies will be comfortably ensconced in Nigeria.
But it will not be until the end of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup that we will know whether or not he has done enough to be assured that when the time comes to look for the next Super Eagles helmsman, he will be the man to slide seamlessly in.
Or whether he will have to wait a while longer to get the tap.
For me, it is interesting to see how Siasia has progressed from 2005.
Some four years ago, he was an unknown quantity as far as coaching was concerned. I remember emailing him at the time while he was coaching kids at the Stars Soccer Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
I wanted to do an interview for KickOff. After the interview, we got to reliving old times and the conversation sort of moved to what he would like todo. In his typical, swashbuckling style, he told me he would like to coach one of the national teams.
Now, I have heard (and still hear) Nigerian coaches talk about coaching ‘any of the national teams’ and what I can say is that there is almost always a subservient tone to the statement, almost like the federation is doing them a favour by offering them the job.
But that was not the case with Siasia. When he said it, he did so with the brash, swashbuckling, almost arrogant confidence of a man who knew what he wanted and would brook no nonsense in getting it.
After that interview, and a few others that followed it from other sources, Siaisa was offered the Under 20 job. The rest, as they say, is history.
In that time, Siasia has won the African Youth Championships, won silver at the World Youth Championships, losing in the final to a team led by current World Player of the Year-in-waiting Lionel Messi, and then gone on to qualify for and win silver at the Olympic Games, again, losing only to a Messi-inspired Argentina.
But it is less what he has won, and how he has gone about it that has won him admirers all over the country.
Siasia has de-emphasised individual players, and emphasized the team. He has never been afraid to cut players, either for footballing or disciplinary reasons. Neither has he been afraid to take the establishment head-on in a bid to get what he needs to do his job.
It is a character trait lacking in most coaches of Nigerian extraction, and I daresay it is what has taken him thus far.
A classic illustration of this attitude happened early in the job, while he was still trying out players for the teams.
A certain veteran coach had not only suggested that Siasia was just a rookie coach and needed an ‘elder’ coach to essentially supervise him, but went ahead to show up at his team’s training session and tried to impose himself on players.
Siasia told him in no uncertain terms, to steer clear of his players. And if he had anything he wanted to tell the players, to pass it to him (Siasia).
That was the end of that coach’s interference in Sia’s teams. No other ‘veteran’ coach dared come near after that either.
It is a tribute to the young man’s self belief that even before he had achieved anything, he had the confidence to trust himself and his own instincts.
And it is that same spirit that has seen him win the hearts of the majority of Nigerians, and constantly draw the ire of those who run the game.
And that is why Siasia, rather than any of his players, will be the focus during this tournament for most Nigerians.
People want to see again, the man they expect, the man they desperately want, to take over as Super Eagles coach.
If he works his way to winning gold at this tournament, he will be a shoo-in for the job, and fans can sit back with a smug grin and tell the NFF ‘We told you so’.
If he doesn’t, and his team (God forbid) crash out early, expect to see a return of those strident calls for a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.
The only reason that hasn’t taken on life is simply because folks expect Siasia to be next in line.
We wait to see if this current class of Siasia boys will take their boss one step further.
His teams almost always seem to start slow during a tournament, but in the end, they find a way to get there.
Whether that might be the case at this particular competition, we will just have to wait and see.
But for Siasia, the goal is much more than this tournament.
Congrats to the semifinalists
This is sending a big hola to Kano Pillars, Heartland and Bayelsa United for reaching the semifinals of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.
I want to send it especially to Bayelsa, who looked all but out after the first three matches, but have clawed their way back to claim a place in the last four.
I must confess that of the three, the only team I expected to do well were Heartland. But I have been pleasantly surprised by the other two.
To think that two Nigerian clubs will play the semifinals of the Champions League is heartening. And I want to wish whichever one gets to the final the best of luck.
Incidentally, on the basis of what both sides have played so far, Pillars look the team better equipped to win the final.
I say this because their road record has been nothing short of remarkable.
And to win a final, that will be crucial.
Which is not to say, I support one team over the other. Just pointing out a simple fact.
Goodluck to all three.
Hopefully, at the end of the day, both CAF trophies will be comfortably ensconced in Nigeria.
Eagles shame: Blessing in disguise for Premier league
The idioms are many. There is one about blessings hiding in disguises. There is another about silver linings hiding behind dark clouds. There is yet another about disappointments and blessings.
My drift is clear enough. Question is, who and what and how can we find any sort of blessing in the Super Eagles failure to beat Tunisia and essentially hand over their $10 million ticket to the World Cup away?
Not too many, but there is one I can think of with ease: the Globacom Premier League.
A new campaign kicks off this weekend, and I am looking forward to it, even though I am still on vacation in the USA and may not get to see any games.
As a football person, I know I am still heart-broken by the events in Abuja a forthnight ago, and can barely think about the Super Eagles now.
However, my love for football remains. My love for Nigerian football even more so. So if I can’t get my fix from the Super Eagles, I need somewhere else to turn, and the Premier League has the potential to fill that need.
There are a lot folks like me who are probably thinking the same way. Those who will want to watch the league as an alternative to the underperforming national team.
I remember back in the days of ‘Papa Eagles’, when they couldn’t win a game to save their lives. Our recourse was the league, and the junior national teams.
We can go back that way.
Already, there are those, like my young friend Matthew Edafe who would like nothing better than the to use players from the local league to play our international games, hoping that they do better than the ones who are currently there.
Of course I disagree with that opinion, based on precedent. But that is a discourse for another day.
However, the point is clear. We are naturally a fiercely patriotic people, even if we continue to live denial.
That is why, even when someone like my friend Michael Igoni slags off the Super Eagles every single day, he will leave everything he is doing, block off his calendar and sit in front of his television watching the Super Eagles squander two leads against Tunisia and nearly go down on his knees in supplication for them to win.
That is why others like him will lose their appetites after a gut-wrenching display like two weeks ago.
It is that patriotism, rather than the fact that there is comparable good football on display, that makes the likes of me and others troop to the stadia weekend after weekend to watch league games.
It is that patriotism that makes us me support Sharks through thin and thin. Yes, thin and thin because there has been little thick to support them through.
And it is that patriotism that we should take advantage of to go see our football games, starting this weekend, so that eventually, we can watch both the Super Eagles and the local league with equal fervour.
There are those who will dismiss this with all sorts of reasons, starting from the poor standard of play, running through the insecurity, via the dodgy refereeing and ending just about anywhere else.
I know the script, I have literally written some of it.
But my argument is that, it is our country. It is our league and it is, afterall, ours.
We can’t stay on the outside and slag it off. We can only do something from the inside. That means actually coming to see the games, and seeing how much improvement has been made rather than focus on the negatives, most of which are inaccurate second hand info anyway.
I do agree however, and like I said, I have written nearly a tome on it, that there are huge shortcomings, and this really is the crux of my piece today.
This is where the league organizers and club owners need to come in to ensure that they fill that void for football fans who need their weekly football fix.
Especially the club owners. Scratch that, club administrators.
So far, I have seen no evidence that they even know how to manage their clubs. Days to kickoff, clubs are still hiding their new signings, hiding their new coaches, hiding just about everything.
What makes football is information. What creates a buzz is outlandish, out-of-the-ordinary information. That is why Cristiano Ronaldo is a big draw today, because he went for 80 million pounds. That is why David Beckham is a big draw today. Because he signed for the LA galaxy for $250 million and earns roughly $37.4 million a year.
That is why Victor Ezeji, who was paid N7 million as sign-on fee by Sharks last season, should be a big draw. No other player in the league earned that much, as far as I know.
And Victor is a predatory fox-in-the box striker. Let’s not forget that he scored four goals in one game last season. Of course he should score more, and I do expect him to, with the right kind of players around him.
But it is less about Victor, and more about the access to information to give folks like my friend Mike Igoni something other than poor pitches, bad refereeing or poor security to talk about.
Let them discuss discuss Nigerian transfer fees at the same time they are discussing C-Ron’s and Becks’. Let them discuss his four goals as they discuss C-Ron’s and Beck’s free kicks.
Let them discuss the N12 million that Rangers say they paid Christian Chukwu as sign-on fee last season.
Let them discuss the spectacular goal that Joseph Eyimofe stunned Lobi Stars with last season. Or Akarandut Orok’s record-equalling goals last season.
It is all a matter of information.
The NPL need to get league stats out as soon as games are played rather than treating those like state secrets.
They also need to provide a comprehensive list of all the players in every club, with their bios, complete with dates of birth, etc.
Again, that is another issue I will return to another day.
Hoarding information, by both clubs and the league, needs to stop. now.
There is a lot we can do to promote this league and make it better.
Transparency across the board would be a good way to start.
In the meantime, I envy all you folks back home in Nigeria who will be going to the stadia this afternoon.
If you are one of those who do not watch Nigerian leaue matches, I hope that as you read this, you will make that decision today, right now, to go to the nearest stadium and see a game.
Go on, make that U-turn. Go to the stadium. It can’t hurt, surely.
And as you do so, pare a thought for me, who cant go.
And be sure to send me an email about it, or leave a comment.
My drift is clear enough. Question is, who and what and how can we find any sort of blessing in the Super Eagles failure to beat Tunisia and essentially hand over their $10 million ticket to the World Cup away?
Not too many, but there is one I can think of with ease: the Globacom Premier League.
A new campaign kicks off this weekend, and I am looking forward to it, even though I am still on vacation in the USA and may not get to see any games.
As a football person, I know I am still heart-broken by the events in Abuja a forthnight ago, and can barely think about the Super Eagles now.
However, my love for football remains. My love for Nigerian football even more so. So if I can’t get my fix from the Super Eagles, I need somewhere else to turn, and the Premier League has the potential to fill that need.
There are a lot folks like me who are probably thinking the same way. Those who will want to watch the league as an alternative to the underperforming national team.
I remember back in the days of ‘Papa Eagles’, when they couldn’t win a game to save their lives. Our recourse was the league, and the junior national teams.
We can go back that way.
Already, there are those, like my young friend Matthew Edafe who would like nothing better than the to use players from the local league to play our international games, hoping that they do better than the ones who are currently there.
Of course I disagree with that opinion, based on precedent. But that is a discourse for another day.
However, the point is clear. We are naturally a fiercely patriotic people, even if we continue to live denial.
That is why, even when someone like my friend Michael Igoni slags off the Super Eagles every single day, he will leave everything he is doing, block off his calendar and sit in front of his television watching the Super Eagles squander two leads against Tunisia and nearly go down on his knees in supplication for them to win.
That is why others like him will lose their appetites after a gut-wrenching display like two weeks ago.
It is that patriotism, rather than the fact that there is comparable good football on display, that makes the likes of me and others troop to the stadia weekend after weekend to watch league games.
It is that patriotism that makes us me support Sharks through thin and thin. Yes, thin and thin because there has been little thick to support them through.
And it is that patriotism that we should take advantage of to go see our football games, starting this weekend, so that eventually, we can watch both the Super Eagles and the local league with equal fervour.
There are those who will dismiss this with all sorts of reasons, starting from the poor standard of play, running through the insecurity, via the dodgy refereeing and ending just about anywhere else.
I know the script, I have literally written some of it.
But my argument is that, it is our country. It is our league and it is, afterall, ours.
We can’t stay on the outside and slag it off. We can only do something from the inside. That means actually coming to see the games, and seeing how much improvement has been made rather than focus on the negatives, most of which are inaccurate second hand info anyway.
I do agree however, and like I said, I have written nearly a tome on it, that there are huge shortcomings, and this really is the crux of my piece today.
This is where the league organizers and club owners need to come in to ensure that they fill that void for football fans who need their weekly football fix.
Especially the club owners. Scratch that, club administrators.
So far, I have seen no evidence that they even know how to manage their clubs. Days to kickoff, clubs are still hiding their new signings, hiding their new coaches, hiding just about everything.
What makes football is information. What creates a buzz is outlandish, out-of-the-ordinary information. That is why Cristiano Ronaldo is a big draw today, because he went for 80 million pounds. That is why David Beckham is a big draw today. Because he signed for the LA galaxy for $250 million and earns roughly $37.4 million a year.
That is why Victor Ezeji, who was paid N7 million as sign-on fee by Sharks last season, should be a big draw. No other player in the league earned that much, as far as I know.
And Victor is a predatory fox-in-the box striker. Let’s not forget that he scored four goals in one game last season. Of course he should score more, and I do expect him to, with the right kind of players around him.
But it is less about Victor, and more about the access to information to give folks like my friend Mike Igoni something other than poor pitches, bad refereeing or poor security to talk about.
Let them discuss discuss Nigerian transfer fees at the same time they are discussing C-Ron’s and Becks’. Let them discuss his four goals as they discuss C-Ron’s and Beck’s free kicks.
Let them discuss the N12 million that Rangers say they paid Christian Chukwu as sign-on fee last season.
Let them discuss the spectacular goal that Joseph Eyimofe stunned Lobi Stars with last season. Or Akarandut Orok’s record-equalling goals last season.
It is all a matter of information.
The NPL need to get league stats out as soon as games are played rather than treating those like state secrets.
They also need to provide a comprehensive list of all the players in every club, with their bios, complete with dates of birth, etc.
Again, that is another issue I will return to another day.
Hoarding information, by both clubs and the league, needs to stop. now.
There is a lot we can do to promote this league and make it better.
Transparency across the board would be a good way to start.
In the meantime, I envy all you folks back home in Nigeria who will be going to the stadia this afternoon.
If you are one of those who do not watch Nigerian leaue matches, I hope that as you read this, you will make that decision today, right now, to go to the nearest stadium and see a game.
Go on, make that U-turn. Go to the stadium. It can’t hurt, surely.
And as you do so, pare a thought for me, who cant go.
And be sure to send me an email about it, or leave a comment.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Eagles shame: Blessing in disguise for Premier league
The idioms are many.
There is one about blessings hiding in disguises. There is another about silver linings hiding behind dark clouds. There is yet another about disappointments and blessings.
My drift is clear enough. Question is, who and what and how can we find any sort of blessing in the Super Eagles failure to beat Tunisia and essentially hand over their $10 million ticket to the World Cup away?
Not too many, but there is one I can think of with ease: the Globacom Premier League.
A new campaign kicks off this weekend, and I am looking forward to it, even though I am still on vacation in the USA and may not get to see any games. Channelsurfing, atdhe, please help???
As a football person, I know I am still heart-broken by the events in Abuja a forthnight ago, and can barely think about the Super Eagles now.
However, my love for football remains. My love for Nigerian football even more so. So if I can’t get my fix from the Super Eagles, I need somewhere else to turn, and the Premier League has the potential to fill that need.
There are a lot folks like me who are probably thinking the same way. Those who will want to watch the league as an alternative to the underperforming national team.
I remember back in the days of ‘Papa Eagles’, when they couldn’t win a game to save their lives. Our recourse was the league, and the junior national teams.
We can go back that way.
Already, there are those, like my young friend Matthew Edafe who would like nothing better than the to use players from the local league to play our international games, hoping that they do better than the ones who are currently there. Of course I disagree with that opinion, based on precedent. But that is a discourse for another day.
However, the point is clear. We are naturally a fiercely patriotic people, even if we continue to live denial.
That is why, even when someone like my friend Michael Igoni slags off the Super Eagles every single day, he will leave everything he is doing, block off his calendar and sit in front of his television watching the Super Eagles squander two leads against Tunisia and nearly go down on his knees in supplication for them to win.
That is why others like him will lose their appetites after a gut-wrenching display like two weeks ago.
It is that patriotism, rather than the fact that there is comparable good football on display, that makes the likes of me and others troop to the stadia weekend after weekend to watch league games.
It is that patriotism that makes us me support Sharks through thin and thin. Yes, thin and thin because there has been little thick to support them through.
And it is that patriotism that we should take advantage of to go see our football games, starting this weekend, so that eventually, we can watch both the Super Eagles and the local league with equal fervour.
There are those who will dismiss this with all sorts of reasons, starting from the poor standard of play, running through the insecurity, via the dodgy refereeing and ending just about anywhere else.
I know the script, I have literally written some of it.
But my argument is that, it is our country. It is our league and it is, afterall, ours.
We can’t stay on the outside and slag it off. We can only do something from the inside. That means actually coming to see the games, and seeing how much improvement has been made rather than focus on the negatives, most of which are inaccurate second hand info anyway.
I do agree however, and like I said, I have written nearly a tome on it, that there are huge shortcomings, and this really is the crux of my piece today.
This is where the league organizers and club owners need to come in to ensure that they fill that void for football fans who need their weekly football fix.
Especially the club owners. Scratch that, club administrators.
So far, I have seen no evidence that they even know how to manage their clubs. Days to kickoff, clubs are still hiding their new signings, hiding their new coaches, hiding just about everything.
What makes football is information. What creates a buzz is outlandish, out-of-the-ordinary information. That is why Cristiano Ronaldo is a big draw today, because he went for 80 million pounds. That is why David Beckham is a big draw today. Because he signed for the LA galaxy for $250 million and earns roughly $37.4 million a year.
That is why Victor Ezeji, who was paid N7 million as sign-on fee by Sharks last season, should be a big draw. No other player in the league earned that much, as far as I know.
And Victor is a predatory fox-in-the box striker. Let’s not forget that he scored four goals in one game last season. Of course he should score more, and I do expect him to, with the right kind of players around him.
But it is less about Victor, and more about the access to information to give folks like my friend Mike Igoni something other than poor pitches, bad refereeing or poor security to talk about.
Let them discuss discuss Nigerian transfer fees at the same time they are discussing C-Ron’s and Becks’. Let them discuss his four goals as they discuss C-Ron’s and Beck’s free kicks.
Let them discuss the N12 million that Rangers say they paid Christian Chukwu as sign-on fee last season.
Let them discuss the spectacular goal that Joseph Eyimofe stunned Lobi Stars with last season. Or Akarandut Orok’s record-equalling goals last season.
It is all a matter of information.
The NPL need to get league stats out as soon as games are played rather than treating those like state secrets.
They also need to provide a comprehensive list of all the players in every club, with their bios, complete with dates of birth, etc.
Again, that is another issue I will return to another day.
Hoarding information, by both clubs and the league, needs to stop. NOW.
There is a lot we can do to promote this league and make it better.
Transparency across the board would be a good way to start.
In the meantime, I envy all you folks back home in Nigeria who will be going to the stadia this afternoon.
If you are one of those who do not watch Nigerian leaue matches, I hope that as you read this, you will make that decision today, right now, to go to the nearest stadium and see a game.
Go on, make that U-turn. Go to the stadium. It can’t hurt, surely.
And as you do so, spare a thought for me, who cant go.
And be sure to send me an email about it, or leave a comment.
There is one about blessings hiding in disguises. There is another about silver linings hiding behind dark clouds. There is yet another about disappointments and blessings.
My drift is clear enough. Question is, who and what and how can we find any sort of blessing in the Super Eagles failure to beat Tunisia and essentially hand over their $10 million ticket to the World Cup away?
Not too many, but there is one I can think of with ease: the Globacom Premier League.
A new campaign kicks off this weekend, and I am looking forward to it, even though I am still on vacation in the USA and may not get to see any games. Channelsurfing, atdhe, please help???
As a football person, I know I am still heart-broken by the events in Abuja a forthnight ago, and can barely think about the Super Eagles now.
However, my love for football remains. My love for Nigerian football even more so. So if I can’t get my fix from the Super Eagles, I need somewhere else to turn, and the Premier League has the potential to fill that need.
There are a lot folks like me who are probably thinking the same way. Those who will want to watch the league as an alternative to the underperforming national team.
I remember back in the days of ‘Papa Eagles’, when they couldn’t win a game to save their lives. Our recourse was the league, and the junior national teams.
We can go back that way.
Already, there are those, like my young friend Matthew Edafe who would like nothing better than the to use players from the local league to play our international games, hoping that they do better than the ones who are currently there. Of course I disagree with that opinion, based on precedent. But that is a discourse for another day.
However, the point is clear. We are naturally a fiercely patriotic people, even if we continue to live denial.
That is why, even when someone like my friend Michael Igoni slags off the Super Eagles every single day, he will leave everything he is doing, block off his calendar and sit in front of his television watching the Super Eagles squander two leads against Tunisia and nearly go down on his knees in supplication for them to win.
That is why others like him will lose their appetites after a gut-wrenching display like two weeks ago.
It is that patriotism, rather than the fact that there is comparable good football on display, that makes the likes of me and others troop to the stadia weekend after weekend to watch league games.
It is that patriotism that makes us me support Sharks through thin and thin. Yes, thin and thin because there has been little thick to support them through.
And it is that patriotism that we should take advantage of to go see our football games, starting this weekend, so that eventually, we can watch both the Super Eagles and the local league with equal fervour.
There are those who will dismiss this with all sorts of reasons, starting from the poor standard of play, running through the insecurity, via the dodgy refereeing and ending just about anywhere else.
I know the script, I have literally written some of it.
But my argument is that, it is our country. It is our league and it is, afterall, ours.
We can’t stay on the outside and slag it off. We can only do something from the inside. That means actually coming to see the games, and seeing how much improvement has been made rather than focus on the negatives, most of which are inaccurate second hand info anyway.
I do agree however, and like I said, I have written nearly a tome on it, that there are huge shortcomings, and this really is the crux of my piece today.
This is where the league organizers and club owners need to come in to ensure that they fill that void for football fans who need their weekly football fix.
Especially the club owners. Scratch that, club administrators.
So far, I have seen no evidence that they even know how to manage their clubs. Days to kickoff, clubs are still hiding their new signings, hiding their new coaches, hiding just about everything.
What makes football is information. What creates a buzz is outlandish, out-of-the-ordinary information. That is why Cristiano Ronaldo is a big draw today, because he went for 80 million pounds. That is why David Beckham is a big draw today. Because he signed for the LA galaxy for $250 million and earns roughly $37.4 million a year.
That is why Victor Ezeji, who was paid N7 million as sign-on fee by Sharks last season, should be a big draw. No other player in the league earned that much, as far as I know.
And Victor is a predatory fox-in-the box striker. Let’s not forget that he scored four goals in one game last season. Of course he should score more, and I do expect him to, with the right kind of players around him.
But it is less about Victor, and more about the access to information to give folks like my friend Mike Igoni something other than poor pitches, bad refereeing or poor security to talk about.
Let them discuss discuss Nigerian transfer fees at the same time they are discussing C-Ron’s and Becks’. Let them discuss his four goals as they discuss C-Ron’s and Beck’s free kicks.
Let them discuss the N12 million that Rangers say they paid Christian Chukwu as sign-on fee last season.
Let them discuss the spectacular goal that Joseph Eyimofe stunned Lobi Stars with last season. Or Akarandut Orok’s record-equalling goals last season.
It is all a matter of information.
The NPL need to get league stats out as soon as games are played rather than treating those like state secrets.
They also need to provide a comprehensive list of all the players in every club, with their bios, complete with dates of birth, etc.
Again, that is another issue I will return to another day.
Hoarding information, by both clubs and the league, needs to stop. NOW.
There is a lot we can do to promote this league and make it better.
Transparency across the board would be a good way to start.
In the meantime, I envy all you folks back home in Nigeria who will be going to the stadia this afternoon.
If you are one of those who do not watch Nigerian leaue matches, I hope that as you read this, you will make that decision today, right now, to go to the nearest stadium and see a game.
Go on, make that U-turn. Go to the stadium. It can’t hurt, surely.
And as you do so, spare a thought for me, who cant go.
And be sure to send me an email about it, or leave a comment.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Eagles: The big disappointment
I am still shell-shocked.
And this is inspite of the fact that I know that it is not all lost. This is a game of football and until the fat lady sings, there is still every chance that the Super Eagles can make it to the World Cup in 2010.
However, I have lost confidence in this crop. Coming from me, that is a lot of admission.
A lot of people have asking me what happened last Sunday. It is a question I have asked myself over and over and over again. Still, it's like looking into a bowl of murky water.
On the Saturday before the game, I sat in the stands watching the team's final training session, and I went away confident that there was no way they could not win.
Why?
Because I saw players running as if their lives depended on it.
I saw players pushing their way forward in midfield, with Mikel Obi even taking a few shots at goal that found its way to the target.
I saw players crunching their way into tackles like they would be flogged if they didnt. It was so bad that Dele Adeleye almost took Obinna Nsofor's ankle off in one tackle.
There was a feeling of chomping at the bit, as if they couldn't wait for the game to come to show their stuff.
On game day, everything turned limp.
In the past, we would complain of lack of preparation, of owed bonuses, of unrefunded flight tickets, of this, of that. I have even pointed to a lack of support from fans and media in the recent past.
But this is one instance where none of the above came into the picture.
This was one instance when it was all down to the players and the coaches to leave their mark on the field.
Sadly, it turned out to be the one day that they imploded, miserably.
In looking back at the whole series, my firm belief is that there is a serious leadership issue in the squad, from top to bottom.
Games like this call for the strength of character of a Chukwu, a Keshi, an Oliseh or an Amokachi on the pitch.
We didnt have any of those.
A captain who can turn even a group of poorly-motivated players into determined lions on the pitch.
A captain who can enforce compliance with one withering look. We didn't have that.
Kanu is too nice to everyone, playing the protective big brother. Joseph Yobo, his assistant, seems to believe that every player is big enough to know when to do the right thing and will prefer not to be the one to wield the whip.
At the top, the coach has found himself so emasculated by the manner of his appointment and the need to stay in line, that in the midst of trying to earn the trust and respect of his players, he has lost sight of the need to enforce his authority.
What this has led to is a team with no clear direction. Every player believes he is a 'star' and so he rules his own personal fiefdom.
On a night when we needed someone to take control of that team on the pitch, we had no-one.
And the price was steep.
However, I am not one to advocate panic measures. We have two games to go. Two games in which we can qualify or not. Firing the coach and disbanding the team as has been suggested in some quarters is not the way to go.
Besides, knowing our Federation, they would probably appoint James Peters while they take the next six months globe-trotting for a foreign coach and then end up giving us Jo Bonfrere.
In the meantime, we would probably get beaten to the Nations Cup spot by both Kenya and Mozambique.
Let Amodu continue, until the last game, and then we can say our goodbyes, if he fails to qualify us.
As it stands, I don't believe this team, playing the way they did last week, can do it.
But if they sober up, realise the enormity of the shame they have brought to this nation, and make a monumentally determined effort to right this particular wrong, then maybe, just maybe, there could be some hope.
I had a chance to speak with some of the guys in the days after the game, and I could see genuine remorse.
But how long that will last, I do not know.
Hopefully, long enough for us to fluke our way to the World Cup. As it is almost unthinkable that in the first, and maybe only World Cup to be held on our continent in our lifetimes, Nigeria will not be present.
If Amodu does qualify us, he would have earned the right to lead the team to South Africa and should be allowed to go.
After that, we can start making long term preparations. To do that, we have to ask ourselves what we plan to achieve, how we plan to do that and who the best man is to take us there.
In the interim, let us lick our wounds and show the players we are unhappy with them.
We gave them everything, and they failed us. Maybe it is time for the fans to protest in their own way, by boycotting their next home game.
Let the fans sit at home and watch the game, and let the team play in an empty stadium.
Maybe then, they will realise just how hurt we have been by their lack of effort.
And this is inspite of the fact that I know that it is not all lost. This is a game of football and until the fat lady sings, there is still every chance that the Super Eagles can make it to the World Cup in 2010.
However, I have lost confidence in this crop. Coming from me, that is a lot of admission.
A lot of people have asking me what happened last Sunday. It is a question I have asked myself over and over and over again. Still, it's like looking into a bowl of murky water.
On the Saturday before the game, I sat in the stands watching the team's final training session, and I went away confident that there was no way they could not win.
Why?
Because I saw players running as if their lives depended on it.
I saw players pushing their way forward in midfield, with Mikel Obi even taking a few shots at goal that found its way to the target.
I saw players crunching their way into tackles like they would be flogged if they didnt. It was so bad that Dele Adeleye almost took Obinna Nsofor's ankle off in one tackle.
There was a feeling of chomping at the bit, as if they couldn't wait for the game to come to show their stuff.
On game day, everything turned limp.
In the past, we would complain of lack of preparation, of owed bonuses, of unrefunded flight tickets, of this, of that. I have even pointed to a lack of support from fans and media in the recent past.
But this is one instance where none of the above came into the picture.
This was one instance when it was all down to the players and the coaches to leave their mark on the field.
Sadly, it turned out to be the one day that they imploded, miserably.
In looking back at the whole series, my firm belief is that there is a serious leadership issue in the squad, from top to bottom.
Games like this call for the strength of character of a Chukwu, a Keshi, an Oliseh or an Amokachi on the pitch.
We didnt have any of those.
A captain who can turn even a group of poorly-motivated players into determined lions on the pitch.
A captain who can enforce compliance with one withering look. We didn't have that.
Kanu is too nice to everyone, playing the protective big brother. Joseph Yobo, his assistant, seems to believe that every player is big enough to know when to do the right thing and will prefer not to be the one to wield the whip.
At the top, the coach has found himself so emasculated by the manner of his appointment and the need to stay in line, that in the midst of trying to earn the trust and respect of his players, he has lost sight of the need to enforce his authority.
What this has led to is a team with no clear direction. Every player believes he is a 'star' and so he rules his own personal fiefdom.
On a night when we needed someone to take control of that team on the pitch, we had no-one.
And the price was steep.
However, I am not one to advocate panic measures. We have two games to go. Two games in which we can qualify or not. Firing the coach and disbanding the team as has been suggested in some quarters is not the way to go.
Besides, knowing our Federation, they would probably appoint James Peters while they take the next six months globe-trotting for a foreign coach and then end up giving us Jo Bonfrere.
In the meantime, we would probably get beaten to the Nations Cup spot by both Kenya and Mozambique.
Let Amodu continue, until the last game, and then we can say our goodbyes, if he fails to qualify us.
As it stands, I don't believe this team, playing the way they did last week, can do it.
But if they sober up, realise the enormity of the shame they have brought to this nation, and make a monumentally determined effort to right this particular wrong, then maybe, just maybe, there could be some hope.
I had a chance to speak with some of the guys in the days after the game, and I could see genuine remorse.
But how long that will last, I do not know.
Hopefully, long enough for us to fluke our way to the World Cup. As it is almost unthinkable that in the first, and maybe only World Cup to be held on our continent in our lifetimes, Nigeria will not be present.
If Amodu does qualify us, he would have earned the right to lead the team to South Africa and should be allowed to go.
After that, we can start making long term preparations. To do that, we have to ask ourselves what we plan to achieve, how we plan to do that and who the best man is to take us there.
In the interim, let us lick our wounds and show the players we are unhappy with them.
We gave them everything, and they failed us. Maybe it is time for the fans to protest in their own way, by boycotting their next home game.
Let the fans sit at home and watch the game, and let the team play in an empty stadium.
Maybe then, they will realise just how hurt we have been by their lack of effort.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Nigeria Premier League: #1 in Africa?
Once again the Nigeria Premier League is celebrating a rating as the 'best league in Africa'.
I have warned before and I will say it again, celebrating an award this dubious does no good for us as a league and as a country.
There is no doubt that the Globacom Premier League has made big strides in the past few years, but we are still a long way short of even coming close to the being the best league in West Africa, let alone Africa.
A lot of folks claim that the award comes from FIFA. That is a blatant lie. FIFA does not and have never done club ratings. FIFA only rates national teams.
This so called rating comes from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) based in Germany, where it is generally derided and its statistics ignored by a wide range of serious mainstream media and football people.
This is how the IFFHS is described:
“In a wide range of media there is massive doubt about the significance of IFFHS rankings and elections.
German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur abstains from publishing news relating to the IFFHS.
Karl Lennartz, a sports historian from Cologne, Germany, calls the organization "obscure", describing it as a one man show of its chairman Alfredo Pöge.”
May I also add that this is the same outfit which named Egypt's Mohammed Aboutreika World's Most Popular Player for two consecutive years; 2007 and 2008!
In that 2008 award, FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo was a distant 21, and his runner-up Lionel Messi was 24th.
Kaka was 29th. Need I say more? Yes I will.
Second place went to Sporting Lisbon's David Suazo of Honduras and Brazil's Marcos picked up third place with El Merreikh's Faisal Sido grabbing fourth!
Yes, Sudan's El Merreikh, no less. That's a player I can bet that most people reading this have never even heard of. And he was in fourth place ahead of the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka.
Much as I like Aboutreika and believe he deserved the African Player of the year award ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor, this surely,is taking the piss!
I could go on and on about the dubious awards thrown about by the IFFHS, but I won't.
Is it any wonder that the only place where this so-called award is celebrated, is in Nigeria?
Have we seen these reports in any other media outside of Nigeria? Even the ones outside of the mainstream? No.
I will say again, our league has seen tremendous improvements in the past few years.
But, and I continue to say this, we are nowhere near being the best.
Our clubs are run amateurishly. There is a lack of organisation at almost every level. There is zero marketing.
Club 'administrators' hardly know the first thing about administering clubs, and worse, the football is not exactly eye candy.
Such is the state of training and lack of technique, that the last time we saw a player move directly from here and walk into a top European side was Finidi George in 1993.
Now, the overwhelming majority have to go to small clubs in backwater leagues to 'unlearn' all the bad habits they have picked up from here before they are ready to make an impression with the big clubs.
Final word, lets stop celebrating dubious awards and knuckle down to the real business of making our football work.
When that time comes, we will not need any funny-monikered organisation to tell us we are where we want to be.
I have warned before and I will say it again, celebrating an award this dubious does no good for us as a league and as a country.
There is no doubt that the Globacom Premier League has made big strides in the past few years, but we are still a long way short of even coming close to the being the best league in West Africa, let alone Africa.
A lot of folks claim that the award comes from FIFA. That is a blatant lie. FIFA does not and have never done club ratings. FIFA only rates national teams.
This so called rating comes from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) based in Germany, where it is generally derided and its statistics ignored by a wide range of serious mainstream media and football people.
This is how the IFFHS is described:
“In a wide range of media there is massive doubt about the significance of IFFHS rankings and elections.
German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur abstains from publishing news relating to the IFFHS.
Karl Lennartz, a sports historian from Cologne, Germany, calls the organization "obscure", describing it as a one man show of its chairman Alfredo Pöge.”
May I also add that this is the same outfit which named Egypt's Mohammed Aboutreika World's Most Popular Player for two consecutive years; 2007 and 2008!
In that 2008 award, FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo was a distant 21, and his runner-up Lionel Messi was 24th.
Kaka was 29th. Need I say more? Yes I will.
Second place went to Sporting Lisbon's David Suazo of Honduras and Brazil's Marcos picked up third place with El Merreikh's Faisal Sido grabbing fourth!
Yes, Sudan's El Merreikh, no less. That's a player I can bet that most people reading this have never even heard of. And he was in fourth place ahead of the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka.
Much as I like Aboutreika and believe he deserved the African Player of the year award ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor, this surely,is taking the piss!
I could go on and on about the dubious awards thrown about by the IFFHS, but I won't.
Is it any wonder that the only place where this so-called award is celebrated, is in Nigeria?
Have we seen these reports in any other media outside of Nigeria? Even the ones outside of the mainstream? No.
I will say again, our league has seen tremendous improvements in the past few years.
But, and I continue to say this, we are nowhere near being the best.
Our clubs are run amateurishly. There is a lack of organisation at almost every level. There is zero marketing.
Club 'administrators' hardly know the first thing about administering clubs, and worse, the football is not exactly eye candy.
Such is the state of training and lack of technique, that the last time we saw a player move directly from here and walk into a top European side was Finidi George in 1993.
Now, the overwhelming majority have to go to small clubs in backwater leagues to 'unlearn' all the bad habits they have picked up from here before they are ready to make an impression with the big clubs.
Final word, lets stop celebrating dubious awards and knuckle down to the real business of making our football work.
When that time comes, we will not need any funny-monikered organisation to tell us we are where we want to be.
Okocha: The Unnecessary debate
I can't believe we are actually having a nationwide debate on the merits or otherwise of having former skipper Austin Okocha return to the Super Eagles!
I dont know how, where or when this debate began. Irrespective, it now seems to have creeped up on all of us, enough that it has become a national issue.
Pretty soon, it will get so that we might just see somebody in authority slyly 'advise' national coach Shuaibu Amodu to 'try' Okocha.
Shocking.
The very fact that we are having this debate, to me belittles our nation.
Do not misunderstand me. I admired Jay Jay, not a little and I still do. He also happens to be someone I am honoured to call a friend.
But as far as I am concerned, he has done his bit, done it very well and got to the end of the road. Full stop.
We do not need him back on the field, at least not, in a playing capacity.
This is the time for us to make a job of what we have with the personnel we have available.
The argument for his return has been that the team lacks a creative midfielder.
I mean, just how lazy can the argument get? We need a creative midfielder, go get Okocha. That simple. Get Okocha and all our midfield problems will be solved. Gbam!
In that case, why stop at Okocha?
A lot of people have pointed out, and rightly so, that the team haven't been scoring goals as they should.
So, we need a free-scoring striker. Let's go un-retire Yekini.
Heck, haven't we been going on and on about 'wing-play'? Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke are still available. Lets call them up too.
Oh, and weren't we complaining about problems in defence?
Go get Uche Okechukwu and/or Taribo West.
That's how ridiculous this whole Jay Jay argument is.
By the way, we seem to be collectively afflicted with a variegated combination of selective myopia and short-term amnesia.
Was Okocha not involved in our 2006 World Cup qualifiers? How did that pan out?
In one breathe we talk about retiring Kanu, in another we are asking for Okocha.
The same man who has not played any sort of competitive football in over two years, which makes him way unfit for the rigours of an African campaign.
Maybe we would have to get the NFF to give him a contract with a European club, or get hm to play for Enyimba, then fast-track him into the Super Eagles.
And at his age, and current fitness level, what would he really do except be what we call a 'short one'?
If, by some stroke of miraculaous misfortune, we get Jay Jay back into the team, his spirit could well be willing, but it will be extremely tough for that willingness to be backed by a body slipping gradually into decrepitude.
I saw Jay Jay play last week in that MTN African Legends game. And while the skills were still there, it was clear to see that some critical things had gone. He misplaced passed a few times and had a few issues with his timing.
These are things that come naturally with age and not playing regularly, and it is clear that it Jay Jay is at that point.
The same people who are calling for him now, would be the first to tear him to bits when he fails to live up to the high standards they will, naturally, hold him up to.
And then his legacy would be ruined forever.
I dont think even Okocha wants that for himself.
I know I certainly don't.
I dont know how, where or when this debate began. Irrespective, it now seems to have creeped up on all of us, enough that it has become a national issue.
Pretty soon, it will get so that we might just see somebody in authority slyly 'advise' national coach Shuaibu Amodu to 'try' Okocha.
Shocking.
The very fact that we are having this debate, to me belittles our nation.
Do not misunderstand me. I admired Jay Jay, not a little and I still do. He also happens to be someone I am honoured to call a friend.
But as far as I am concerned, he has done his bit, done it very well and got to the end of the road. Full stop.
We do not need him back on the field, at least not, in a playing capacity.
This is the time for us to make a job of what we have with the personnel we have available.
The argument for his return has been that the team lacks a creative midfielder.
I mean, just how lazy can the argument get? We need a creative midfielder, go get Okocha. That simple. Get Okocha and all our midfield problems will be solved. Gbam!
In that case, why stop at Okocha?
A lot of people have pointed out, and rightly so, that the team haven't been scoring goals as they should.
So, we need a free-scoring striker. Let's go un-retire Yekini.
Heck, haven't we been going on and on about 'wing-play'? Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke are still available. Lets call them up too.
Oh, and weren't we complaining about problems in defence?
Go get Uche Okechukwu and/or Taribo West.
That's how ridiculous this whole Jay Jay argument is.
By the way, we seem to be collectively afflicted with a variegated combination of selective myopia and short-term amnesia.
Was Okocha not involved in our 2006 World Cup qualifiers? How did that pan out?
In one breathe we talk about retiring Kanu, in another we are asking for Okocha.
The same man who has not played any sort of competitive football in over two years, which makes him way unfit for the rigours of an African campaign.
Maybe we would have to get the NFF to give him a contract with a European club, or get hm to play for Enyimba, then fast-track him into the Super Eagles.
And at his age, and current fitness level, what would he really do except be what we call a 'short one'?
If, by some stroke of miraculaous misfortune, we get Jay Jay back into the team, his spirit could well be willing, but it will be extremely tough for that willingness to be backed by a body slipping gradually into decrepitude.
I saw Jay Jay play last week in that MTN African Legends game. And while the skills were still there, it was clear to see that some critical things had gone. He misplaced passed a few times and had a few issues with his timing.
These are things that come naturally with age and not playing regularly, and it is clear that it Jay Jay is at that point.
The same people who are calling for him now, would be the first to tear him to bits when he fails to live up to the high standards they will, naturally, hold him up to.
And then his legacy would be ruined forever.
I dont think even Okocha wants that for himself.
I know I certainly don't.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Ownership question for NFF: Sharks, Dolphins and others
About two years ago, before Dolphins were relegated to the National First Division, I raised a question with NFF Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba with respect to the single ownership of Sharks FC and Dolphins FC. Both clubs are owned, funded and administered by the Rivers State Government through the office of the Commissioner of Sports.
This is in clear and flagrant violation of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations which I have included in full below.
Art 9 FIFA Club Licensing Regulations
Introduction
This criteria defines the minimum legal criteria for licence applicants.
It is of fundamental importance that the sporting integrity of club
competitions be protected.
To that end, FIFA and the confederations reserve the right to intervene and to take appropriate action in any situation in which it transpires that the same natural and legal person is in a position to influence the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in the same club competition.
L.03 A Ownership and control of clubs
The licence applicant must submit a legally valid declaration outlining the ownership structure and control mechanism of the clubs and confirming the following:
No natural or legal person involved in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of the club, either directly or indirectly:
a) holds or deals in the securities or shares of any other club participating in the same competition;
b) holds a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights of any other club participating in the same competition;
c) has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of any other club participating in the same competition;
d) is a shareholder and alone controls a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights of any other club participating in the same competition pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club in question;
e) is a member of any other club participating in the same competition;
f) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in the same competition;
g) has any power whatsoever over the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in the same club competition.
This declaration must be executed by an authorised signatory no more than three months prior to the corresponding deadline for its submission to the licensor
(cf. F.01).
Ojo-Oba assured me at the time, that the NFA (as they were then) would look into the situation and resolve it as soon as possible.
Two years on and counting, we haven't heard a pipsqueak from the Glass House.
Looks like our NFF's understanding of the word 'soon' is different from that of us mere mortals.
In those years, Dolphins have been relegated and are now back in the Premier League where they will compete against Sharks in the coming season, at the very least.
Also in those intervening years, both clubs have featured in the Nigerian Cup competition.
They might not have come head to head at the national level, but they have met on almost every occasion at the state level.
The Port Harcourt teams are not the only ones involved in this. Just across the pond in Bayelsa, we have a similar situation with Ocean Boys and Bayelsa United.
And over in Oyo State, the government owns, funds and administers Shooting Stars and Crown FC.
Now, there are those who will argue that the case in Bayelsa is not quite so clear cut. Ocean Boys are actually owned by Brass Local Government Area while Bayelsa United are owned by the state government.
This would have been all well and good if it the money lines were all properly delineated. But that, unfortunately, has not been the case, as we have seen over the past two seasons.
Bayelsa State have practically funded Ocean Boys, and it is not like there has been any subterfuge regarding how the funding has been routed.
It hasn't gone to the local government account, and then funneled to the club. Money has simply been handed down to the club administrators directly from the state government.
I also know there have been representations made to the government to take over the club completely.
Do we blame the clubs? Or the governments who own them? Maybe. They are expected to study the regulations before applying for registration.
But the bigger share of the blame should be apportioned to the NFF, who really should be the enforcers of these regulations.
NFF officials cannot claim not to know about this regulation. Afterall, they are the custodians of the football laws at national level.
Infact, it would be a bigger shame if they so much as claim ignorance of that.
Beyond that however, is the question of what the Federation should do about the situation before the new season kicks off.
Dolphins and Sharks CANNOT be allowed to play in the Nigeria Premier League or Federations Cup under the prevailing circumstances.
Neither can Ocean Boys or Bayelsa United. Or, 3SC and Crown in next year's Federation Cup.
Am sure there has got to be a few more examples in other states. But the NFF will have to act.
Each of these states will have to sell off one of these clubs. And while handing it over to one of its local government areas would have looked the easy option, the example of Bayelsa United and Ocean Boys means it is not exactly a workable idea.
The local governments will always run back to the state to get funding for their clubs.
And the NFF doesn't seem to be in any position to put in and enforce mechanisms to ensure that a clear line exists between state and local government funding.
One of the clubs will either have to be sold, or disbanded. And before the start of the new season.
I have already written to FIFA about the situation.
Hopefully, they take action, as the NFF obviously won't.
This is in clear and flagrant violation of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations which I have included in full below.
Art 9 FIFA Club Licensing Regulations
Introduction
This criteria defines the minimum legal criteria for licence applicants.
It is of fundamental importance that the sporting integrity of club
competitions be protected.
To that end, FIFA and the confederations reserve the right to intervene and to take appropriate action in any situation in which it transpires that the same natural and legal person is in a position to influence the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in the same club competition.
L.03 A Ownership and control of clubs
The licence applicant must submit a legally valid declaration outlining the ownership structure and control mechanism of the clubs and confirming the following:
No natural or legal person involved in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of the club, either directly or indirectly:
a) holds or deals in the securities or shares of any other club participating in the same competition;
b) holds a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights of any other club participating in the same competition;
c) has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of any other club participating in the same competition;
d) is a shareholder and alone controls a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights of any other club participating in the same competition pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club in question;
e) is a member of any other club participating in the same competition;
f) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in the same competition;
g) has any power whatsoever over the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in the same club competition.
This declaration must be executed by an authorised signatory no more than three months prior to the corresponding deadline for its submission to the licensor
(cf. F.01).
Ojo-Oba assured me at the time, that the NFA (as they were then) would look into the situation and resolve it as soon as possible.
Two years on and counting, we haven't heard a pipsqueak from the Glass House.
Looks like our NFF's understanding of the word 'soon' is different from that of us mere mortals.
In those years, Dolphins have been relegated and are now back in the Premier League where they will compete against Sharks in the coming season, at the very least.
Also in those intervening years, both clubs have featured in the Nigerian Cup competition.
They might not have come head to head at the national level, but they have met on almost every occasion at the state level.
The Port Harcourt teams are not the only ones involved in this. Just across the pond in Bayelsa, we have a similar situation with Ocean Boys and Bayelsa United.
And over in Oyo State, the government owns, funds and administers Shooting Stars and Crown FC.
Now, there are those who will argue that the case in Bayelsa is not quite so clear cut. Ocean Boys are actually owned by Brass Local Government Area while Bayelsa United are owned by the state government.
This would have been all well and good if it the money lines were all properly delineated. But that, unfortunately, has not been the case, as we have seen over the past two seasons.
Bayelsa State have practically funded Ocean Boys, and it is not like there has been any subterfuge regarding how the funding has been routed.
It hasn't gone to the local government account, and then funneled to the club. Money has simply been handed down to the club administrators directly from the state government.
I also know there have been representations made to the government to take over the club completely.
Do we blame the clubs? Or the governments who own them? Maybe. They are expected to study the regulations before applying for registration.
But the bigger share of the blame should be apportioned to the NFF, who really should be the enforcers of these regulations.
NFF officials cannot claim not to know about this regulation. Afterall, they are the custodians of the football laws at national level.
Infact, it would be a bigger shame if they so much as claim ignorance of that.
Beyond that however, is the question of what the Federation should do about the situation before the new season kicks off.
Dolphins and Sharks CANNOT be allowed to play in the Nigeria Premier League or Federations Cup under the prevailing circumstances.
Neither can Ocean Boys or Bayelsa United. Or, 3SC and Crown in next year's Federation Cup.
Am sure there has got to be a few more examples in other states. But the NFF will have to act.
Each of these states will have to sell off one of these clubs. And while handing it over to one of its local government areas would have looked the easy option, the example of Bayelsa United and Ocean Boys means it is not exactly a workable idea.
The local governments will always run back to the state to get funding for their clubs.
And the NFF doesn't seem to be in any position to put in and enforce mechanisms to ensure that a clear line exists between state and local government funding.
One of the clubs will either have to be sold, or disbanded. And before the start of the new season.
I have already written to FIFA about the situation.
Hopefully, they take action, as the NFF obviously won't.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Do we really need a Presidential Task Force?
Okay now. This is bordering on the ridiculous.
A Presidential Task Force on the 2010 World Cup? And comprising 12 members! Whatever is coming next?
What I have found shocking is not even the constitution of the committee, but the overall lack of scrutiny, not just of the necessity of such a committee, but also of the possible motivation behind it and how it dovetails into existing structures. For the record, I do not support the decision. Except it means that the Federal Government is disenchanted with the present NFF board and is looking to ensure drastic, far reaching changes at the next elections. Now, that would be more like it.
So first off, what will the Task Force do?
Everybody knows that I have been and continue to be a strong critic of the current NFF board. For the simple reason that I expect the people who run our football to be held to the highest possible standards, and the current posse just dont cut it.
One thing they cannot be faulted for however, is the way they have handled this qualification campaign, from an administrative point of view.
Where in the past we would harp on inadequate preparation, this time, the Super Eagles have played friendly matches on every FIFA window with a full, first team squad.
Neither have we heard a pipsqueak about ticket refunds or match bonuses.
Invitation letters have been sent out on time, to both players and their clubs simultaneously.
Further, they actually found about about, and prepared for the artificial turf in Maputo well ahead of time and made preparations to get the Eagles acquainted with the surface.
I would be interested in hearing what else they could have done that they didnt do, that the Task Force will do better. From a technical perspective, will the Task Force take over the coaching duties from Amodu? Or will they headhunt and appoint a new coach?
Or maybe, they can take over from the players? Since there are 12 of them, we can have a starting team plus coach from among the members?
Otherwise, what exactly is the job of the Task Force supposed to be?
Apparently, the only thing I can think of is to ensure that the players are made aware that the President takes more than just a passing interest in their current campaign and ensure that they are sufficiently motivated to play with passion and pride for their country.
Acting on that assumption, I would say we needed just one, but no more than three people, for a one-off mission. Governor Chibuike Amaechi and two others would have been just fine.
I have a lot of respect for Governor Amaechi. I covered the Rivers State House of Assembly during his first term as Speaker, and the calm, unflustered but dignified manner in which he kept that House together was worth seeing first hand, the mark of good leadership.
His subsequent elevation to governor has brought these qualities to national attention. I rate him along with Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola as the standout administrators of the current dispensation.
So yes, he would do a fine job as President Umar Musa Yar'Adua's envoy to the team. And if we needed others, I would go for two ex-internationals. One from the past and one from the recent past. Segun Odegbami and Sunday Oliseh would have been my picks.
The choice of Odegbami easily explains itself. Oliseh not so easily, so let me explain.
Sunday Oliseh was one of the best leaders the Super Eagles ever had. He had the genuine interest of his teammates and his country at heart, and brooked no nonsense from either players or administrators.
When the Super Eagles were in danger of missing out on World Cup 2002, Oliseh rallied the troops and ensured that everyone pulled together to do what was neccessary to get there.
He understands how to get the best out of players just by his presence, and also knows how to reach them with a word or two.
Plus, he is gathering administrative experience from working at a European clubside, and I believe it will be only a matter of time before we start looking to his likes to lead us out of our present state of administrative inertia.
That, right there, is our very own Michel Platini.
This is the team that, for me, should have been put together to visit the players solely for this three-match series and let them know exactly what their President expects of them, and find out what they require to deliver on that expectation. And Mr President himself should have then made arrangements to be at the Kenya game (even sit down with the players prior to the game, either at Aso Rock or at their camp), to drive the message home.
That should have been that, and I have absolutely no doubt said message would have sunk home and things changed. As it is, no matter how hard it is denied, the Task Force IS second-guessing the NFF. It makes no difference that the NFF President is a member. I would suspect that it is to counter any suspicions of 'interference' that would lead to those hackneyed threats of 'FIFA ban'.
But my take? We never needed a 12-man committee, and certainly not for the qualifying long haul.
A Presidential Task Force on the 2010 World Cup? And comprising 12 members! Whatever is coming next?
What I have found shocking is not even the constitution of the committee, but the overall lack of scrutiny, not just of the necessity of such a committee, but also of the possible motivation behind it and how it dovetails into existing structures. For the record, I do not support the decision. Except it means that the Federal Government is disenchanted with the present NFF board and is looking to ensure drastic, far reaching changes at the next elections. Now, that would be more like it.
So first off, what will the Task Force do?
Everybody knows that I have been and continue to be a strong critic of the current NFF board. For the simple reason that I expect the people who run our football to be held to the highest possible standards, and the current posse just dont cut it.
One thing they cannot be faulted for however, is the way they have handled this qualification campaign, from an administrative point of view.
Where in the past we would harp on inadequate preparation, this time, the Super Eagles have played friendly matches on every FIFA window with a full, first team squad.
Neither have we heard a pipsqueak about ticket refunds or match bonuses.
Invitation letters have been sent out on time, to both players and their clubs simultaneously.
Further, they actually found about about, and prepared for the artificial turf in Maputo well ahead of time and made preparations to get the Eagles acquainted with the surface.
I would be interested in hearing what else they could have done that they didnt do, that the Task Force will do better. From a technical perspective, will the Task Force take over the coaching duties from Amodu? Or will they headhunt and appoint a new coach?
Or maybe, they can take over from the players? Since there are 12 of them, we can have a starting team plus coach from among the members?
Otherwise, what exactly is the job of the Task Force supposed to be?
Apparently, the only thing I can think of is to ensure that the players are made aware that the President takes more than just a passing interest in their current campaign and ensure that they are sufficiently motivated to play with passion and pride for their country.
Acting on that assumption, I would say we needed just one, but no more than three people, for a one-off mission. Governor Chibuike Amaechi and two others would have been just fine.
I have a lot of respect for Governor Amaechi. I covered the Rivers State House of Assembly during his first term as Speaker, and the calm, unflustered but dignified manner in which he kept that House together was worth seeing first hand, the mark of good leadership.
His subsequent elevation to governor has brought these qualities to national attention. I rate him along with Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola as the standout administrators of the current dispensation.
So yes, he would do a fine job as President Umar Musa Yar'Adua's envoy to the team. And if we needed others, I would go for two ex-internationals. One from the past and one from the recent past. Segun Odegbami and Sunday Oliseh would have been my picks.
The choice of Odegbami easily explains itself. Oliseh not so easily, so let me explain.
Sunday Oliseh was one of the best leaders the Super Eagles ever had. He had the genuine interest of his teammates and his country at heart, and brooked no nonsense from either players or administrators.
When the Super Eagles were in danger of missing out on World Cup 2002, Oliseh rallied the troops and ensured that everyone pulled together to do what was neccessary to get there.
He understands how to get the best out of players just by his presence, and also knows how to reach them with a word or two.
Plus, he is gathering administrative experience from working at a European clubside, and I believe it will be only a matter of time before we start looking to his likes to lead us out of our present state of administrative inertia.
That, right there, is our very own Michel Platini.
This is the team that, for me, should have been put together to visit the players solely for this three-match series and let them know exactly what their President expects of them, and find out what they require to deliver on that expectation. And Mr President himself should have then made arrangements to be at the Kenya game (even sit down with the players prior to the game, either at Aso Rock or at their camp), to drive the message home.
That should have been that, and I have absolutely no doubt said message would have sunk home and things changed. As it is, no matter how hard it is denied, the Task Force IS second-guessing the NFF. It makes no difference that the NFF President is a member. I would suspect that it is to counter any suspicions of 'interference' that would lead to those hackneyed threats of 'FIFA ban'.
But my take? We never needed a 12-man committee, and certainly not for the qualifying long haul.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Amodu: Judgement Day or Salvation?
Nigeria versus Republic of Ireland.
This is just another friendly, right?
Wrong, wronger, wrongest!
It is Shuaibu Amodu's version of Terminator. This could turn out to either be his Judgement Day, or Salvation.
Ominously, in the film franchise, the former comes before the latter. Amodu should hope that will not be the case with him.
For a plethora of reasons, some feasible and others totally unreasonable, Amodu has not quite warmed his way into the heart of the average Nigerian football fan.
Whether he will ever do so remains a big doubt, but if he is to even start along that path, then Friday is the day.
Amodu may have won six games on the trot during the first phase of group qualifying games, but that has not convinced the overwhelming majority.
It is why there is such a panic ahead of the June qualifiers.
His tactical knowledge has been put under over a hundred million microscopes , his man management has come under question, and his team have been accused of playing some of the blandest and uninspiring football of any Nigerian football team ever.
Some of the discontent has also centred around Amodu's seeming reluctance to employ anyone other than his 'usual suspects' in friendly games, in order to foster competition.
A follow up to this is the accusation that Amodu has been unable to get his team to play with passion and committment in the green white green.
That, infact, was the biggest complaint following the 0-0 draw against Mozambique in March; that a draw, even a loss could have been tolerated if the players had shown a willingness to shed their blood on the pitch.
It was the same complaints in friendly games against Austria (1-1), Colombia (0-1) and Jamaica (0-0), that there was no passion in the team.
Whether the team agree with this or not appears to be immaterial to the fans, and most commentators.
And so Amodu has an opportunity to start the process of wooing the Nigerian football public anew.
The first of what is expected of Amodu's team on Friday night has already been forced on him.
Key players have withdrawn for varying reasons, leaving the coach with litte option but to go for the mostly untried and untested.
That means the likes of Dickson Etuhu, Yusuf Mohammed, Dele Adeleye, expected debutants Sone Aluko and Adefemi Olubayo as well as Joseph Akpala get a chance to impress and do their best to dig Amodu out of what looks to be an endless rut.
The second may also follow directly from the first. With so many 'new' players expected to be in the team, a fresh energy is expected.
What the fans want to see is a group of players hassling and harrying the opponent, refusing to shy away from tackles, infact, digging into tackles, moving the ball at speed, passing the ball well, running rather than strolling back to cover when they lose possession and generally putting themselves about.
With everything just seeming to follow along from the other, the next expectation follows naturally from the preceding ones: Amodu must show that he has the tactical ability to switch things around as he plays what is essentially a new crop of players.
If all this happens, can the coach and team expect a fresh romance with the Nigerian football public?
Maybe, but there are no guarantees.
However, they will have the comfort of at least knowing they did all they were required of.
Win or lose, the fans just want their Super Eagles to show passion and committment on the pitch.
This is just another friendly, right?
Wrong, wronger, wrongest!
It is Shuaibu Amodu's version of Terminator. This could turn out to either be his Judgement Day, or Salvation.
Ominously, in the film franchise, the former comes before the latter. Amodu should hope that will not be the case with him.
For a plethora of reasons, some feasible and others totally unreasonable, Amodu has not quite warmed his way into the heart of the average Nigerian football fan.
Whether he will ever do so remains a big doubt, but if he is to even start along that path, then Friday is the day.
Amodu may have won six games on the trot during the first phase of group qualifying games, but that has not convinced the overwhelming majority.
It is why there is such a panic ahead of the June qualifiers.
His tactical knowledge has been put under over a hundred million microscopes , his man management has come under question, and his team have been accused of playing some of the blandest and uninspiring football of any Nigerian football team ever.
Some of the discontent has also centred around Amodu's seeming reluctance to employ anyone other than his 'usual suspects' in friendly games, in order to foster competition.
A follow up to this is the accusation that Amodu has been unable to get his team to play with passion and committment in the green white green.
That, infact, was the biggest complaint following the 0-0 draw against Mozambique in March; that a draw, even a loss could have been tolerated if the players had shown a willingness to shed their blood on the pitch.
It was the same complaints in friendly games against Austria (1-1), Colombia (0-1) and Jamaica (0-0), that there was no passion in the team.
Whether the team agree with this or not appears to be immaterial to the fans, and most commentators.
And so Amodu has an opportunity to start the process of wooing the Nigerian football public anew.
The first of what is expected of Amodu's team on Friday night has already been forced on him.
Key players have withdrawn for varying reasons, leaving the coach with litte option but to go for the mostly untried and untested.
That means the likes of Dickson Etuhu, Yusuf Mohammed, Dele Adeleye, expected debutants Sone Aluko and Adefemi Olubayo as well as Joseph Akpala get a chance to impress and do their best to dig Amodu out of what looks to be an endless rut.
The second may also follow directly from the first. With so many 'new' players expected to be in the team, a fresh energy is expected.
What the fans want to see is a group of players hassling and harrying the opponent, refusing to shy away from tackles, infact, digging into tackles, moving the ball at speed, passing the ball well, running rather than strolling back to cover when they lose possession and generally putting themselves about.
With everything just seeming to follow along from the other, the next expectation follows naturally from the preceding ones: Amodu must show that he has the tactical ability to switch things around as he plays what is essentially a new crop of players.
If all this happens, can the coach and team expect a fresh romance with the Nigerian football public?
Maybe, but there are no guarantees.
However, they will have the comfort of at least knowing they did all they were required of.
Win or lose, the fans just want their Super Eagles to show passion and committment on the pitch.
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