Between the Devil. . .

Allard's comment on my 'Small world' post just reminded me that I had promised to tell the story of Ishiaku Ilyasu.

My apologies for forgetting. But, better late than never.

I knew Ilyasu Ishiaku when he played for Julius Berger.

As a midfielder, the young man was very combative, and scored some cracking goals too.

That was about three, four years ago and like in the Ezeala case, I was with KickOff magazine still. I am terrible with dates, unless I have something to use as a marker and right now am kinda lazy so I wont go back and do any checking.
Okay, I just did and it's really four years ago.



The story I am about to tell however, actually happened in 2004. Ishiaku (#28 in the pic above) had left Nigeria and was playing in Israel for a second division club. He was actually doing quite well and had scored a brilliant goal almost from the half way mark in a Cup tie and another fine individual goal.

I had downloaded the videos of both efforts from his club website. Those were the B.Y. days (ie Before YouTube).

I was looking to do a story on him, but I needed to speak to him and get some quotes.

Let me jump off the track a bit and give a lesson here to aspiring journos. In any story, quotes are king. Not only do quotes give your story credibility, they also make it more interesting to read, and have the added benefit of showing that you put in some work.

Anybody can sit down and write an article, but it takes someone with contacts to get the quotes necessary, and that is what sells your story. Not the amount of grammar you blow.

Back on track again. I had made a note to get Ishiaku's number and ring him to get his quotes on his goals and leading what amounted to an unfashionable club to the semifinals (I think, not sure anymore) of the national cup competition.

I wasnt having much success.

Reason being that I couldn't reach the young man. When he went on trials in Israel a few months before along with Emeka Akueme (then of Kwara United), he had called me from there and we chatted. But I think I lost his number after that and no one else seemed to have it.

It was frustrating.

And then voila! A gentleman walked into my office one day on Victoria Island and said he was a football agent. He told me he had come to talk about his player who was doing well in Israel.

I was willing him with everything I had to say Ishiaku. . .

I think it must have been that strong self will of mine, although I can see now it was God's hand working. But the gentleman brought the pics and lo and behold, it was the boy I had been looking for!

I could have done a jig right there and then!!

I had to check my calendar to be sure Christmas had not come early. It hadnt. But I was not looking this gift horse in the mouth, so I asked him to shoot, and he gave me contact number, pics and all. He informed me the semifinals would be coming soon and if I could do something on the lad ahead of it. He even told me it was Ishiaku who had told him about me as I was a friend of his.

At that point I could have said yes, even if it wasnt true. Kiddin. . .

Over half my job was done at that stage and I assured him that his boy would get his well-earned coverage.

The next day I rang Ishiaku and we had a long chat. My plan was to do something for the magazine, and then a preview just before the semifinal.

But here is where the story began to unfold.

Two days after that meeting, Mr Agent called me to say he hadn't seen the story on the KickOff website. I told him I had spoken to the boy and the story would be in before the semifinal, but my focus was on the magazine as I had a deadline to meet.

My guy was forced to come down to brass tacks. Apparently, my friend and his partners in Israel were looking to sell the lad on to a top club, and needed some Naija media coverage to add to the videos and cuttings from Israel.

His partners, obviously, had done their part (with help from Ishiaku's goals) by getting him in the papers in Israel. But they also needed some lines from Nigeria to add to that.

Did I mention that the boy had also appeared in an U23 game or two at the time? So they were looking to build up a CV. And Mr Agent had assured his partners that he could guarantee the Nigeria angle. KickOff of course, was the only online medium he could use at the time so he came to me.

After explaining all these to a gradually incredulous me, he assured me that there would be 'something' for me, and also later when the deal went through.

I was not angry. I wasn't. Truly. Just sad.

Dilemma is the only word I can think of to describe the situation I found myself in at the time. This lad had done well and deserved his fair share of copy, both print and online.

At the same time, I had an agent who had practically told his partners he could buy his way to getting copy for a player. It was a big problem. I had spoken to the boy and had a good story that would have been on the site in a couple of days and goodness knows he deserved his time.

But, how could I convince anyone that I wasn't doing it for the lure of the lucre on offer?

The answer was that I couldn't.

The consequences of putting that story out far outstripped whatever benefit it would have done to the player. The implication would have been that we were up for sale. That any agent could come and offer gratification to have his player hyped. And in this business, word gets around at the speed of light.

I probably would have had more people trooping in and offering 'something' so that this or that player could be 'promoted'. Say no, and it looks as if you are holding
out for a higher bid.

And then there was the issue of the foreigners. They would probably look at whatever other reports come out from us and think that someone else paid to have that there.
I wasn't going to stand for that.

So I made the difficult decision to drop the story.

Simple.

Life is good. . .

For me, yes. I do my best to enjoy each day as it comes. Not because I do not have my own fair share of troubles like everyone else, but because I am determined to make the best out of every situation.

Yesterday, I felt even better. Sorry, that was two days ago. I had just finished talking to my friend Chris Obodo (sorry if you are not a football follower). He had recently undergone an operation for a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury and was making good progress with his recovery.

For me that was great news. Especially to hear the sparkle in his voice. An injury like that (or any injury at all) is never a good thing.

I remember back when I was in Uni and competing in the Martial Arts. During one of our sessions, I dislocated my knee and and couldnt train for a long while. It was a bad time for me as I missed the NUGA prelims then, and another competition.

I was all jumpy and chumping at the bit, trying to get back in the dojo and onto the tatami in no time. So I can almost empathise with Obodo.

And then he told me he had received a call from another of our 'walking wounded' Chidi Odiah and he was back from injury.

Trust me, I promptly called Odiah up, and we had a long, long chat lasting nearly 45 mins (my fone bill!!!!)

He was really back in shape and feeling good--I could tell from the way the yeye boy was yabbing me! Or trying to (2 of us na PH boys so we know how far).

Anyway, bottomline is that I was happy for two of my buddies. Obodo still has some way to go before he can kick a ball again. But the fact that things are progressing well is good news.

As for Odiah, what a relief to know that that right full back position will be no problem, especially after the last game when Isaac Okoronkwo was played out of position and looked exactly like a fish out of water.

Ray Nnaji fights

I have never quite brought myself to like the man. Ray Nnaji, that is.

Somehow, his pesky attitude has never really impressed me. If anything, it tends to irritate me.

But today, Nnaji made my day. The gentleman (and I use that term very very loosely) was on Brila FM this morning challenging James Peters' declaration.

That is the first club boss to come out and so so. I am waiting for others to follow his example.

NFa Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba held a press conference in Abuja yesterday. I am surprised nobody took him to task for his, and Peters' statements.

Na wa o.

Ruled by Ignorance Pt 2

And then to the one that really gets my goat.

James Peters came up this week saying clubs who have players in the Flying Eagles could not use them for matches under threat of sanction!

My goodness!! Just how much lower are we prepared, or can we afford to sink???

Peters' reasoning is that they dont want the players getting injured before the World Youth Championship at the end of this month. oh, puh-leeeeaaasssse!

Injuries are part of the game and while nobody prays for a player to get injured, it has happened before and will happen again.

Besides, if a player must get injured, why not do so playing for the club that splashed out for his services rather than a national team that will look the other way as soon as they spot the first sign of injury.

I could name a list as long as my arm, but we all know the stories.

Clubs pay players sign-on fees, salaries, match bonuses etc. Some provide them with accomodation and even meals and sometimes medical services (ok, I know, I know. But you get the idea).

So where does Peters get off actually threatening these clubs that they will face sanction if they use THEIR OWN PLAYERS??

And this coming at a critical time in the season when clubs are fighting desperately, either to win a place in the Super Four, or to avoid relegation.

Will Peters and his NFA pay compensation to the clubs for the points they lose by not having their players? Or if those players get injured in the course of playing for the national team?

I plan to ask him that question the next time I see him.

My biggest surprise though, was not Peters' comments. It was the fact that no club chairman or coach has had the bottle to stand up to him. In trying to get reactions from club officials, I called just about everyone.

I expected outrage at the very thought. What did I get? Cowardly whimpers. Adokiye Amiesimaka was the only one who had the balls to call it for what it is. A clueless attempt to browbeat clubs.

I corrected him though. These people cannot be browbeaten by anyone. They have done it all by themselves. In the media we call it self censorship. There must be another word for people who cower in the face of such official bullying and tyranny. But I am so upset I cant think of anything just now.


So an employer is barred from using THEIR OWN employee because the James Peters says so? Funny, innit?

It would be if it wasnt so tragic.

As you can see, I have used James Peters throughout as the statement came from him. Here is hoping the NFA will do the right thing, and discredit such an outbreak of ignorance.

Then again. . .

Ruled by ignorance Pt 1

How did we come to a pass this sorry?

That our football is run by men who seem not to have the foggiest idea of how to do the job they are supposed to, and stick their foot in their mouth each time they open that particular orifice?

How does one explain this week's comments by both our Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Assistant Secretary General (Technical) James Peters.

BTW, I kid you not. That is James Peters official designation, as opposed to the former title of Head, Technical Department. Why use two words when four can do, eh? With brackets to boot. Thats our NFA for you.

Anyway, to what I was talking about. I'll start with Ojo-Oba. Our good friend (he calls himself a 'creation of the media' but I digress.

On his return from China where he had gone to witness the FIFA Women's World Cup draws, Ojo-Oba insulted our collective sensibilities by claiming that theteam's Head coach Ntiero Effiom had no business in China as the draws were a 'purely administrative matter'

In that case, maybe Ojo-Oba might want to explain to us what the other national coaches were doing there? Or maybe they have usurped the administrative functions of their various FAs perchance?

Draws are meant to give coaches a chance to assess the opposition managers, speak to those they are likely to organise friendlies with, check out facilities for their teams like hotels, training pitches, playing pitches, distances, meals etc.

At the same time, it gives organisers a chance to get media quotes from the coaches and players (those who can attend).

Let me tell Ojo-Oba in case he does not know. At a draws ceremony like this, people like him are not the draw (pun fully intended). It is the players and coaches who are the media draw, as we want to know their thoughts on the teams in their group and their expectations etc.

The following countries had their coaches present at the draws: Germany, Japan, England, USA, Sweden, Norway, Australia, China (ok, they are the hosts I concede), and Denmark.

For those who werent present, the people who went there to perform administrative tasks like Argentina and New Zealand (both represented by their respective Heads of Women Football) and Korea (represented by their youth team coach), all spoke on the draw.

Our friend Ojo-Oba did not say anythin to the press about Nigeria's chances or expectations even. Makes you wonder if he went there at all.

If Ojo-Oba had told us that money was the problem, it would have been understood. But to say the coach had no business at a World Cup draws is taking the biscuit.

I feel embarrassed for him.

I feel even more embarrassed for the coach who let himself be tossed around like this. These are the kind of situations where he should at least make a case for himself. he would have learnt more, and made quite a few contacts by being at the draws than by sitting at home waiting for the NFA to 'approve' his 'programme'.

Shame.

And Jerrilyn survives--again!

I'll put a caveat here.

Jerrilyn has come to be a very good friend of mine, but given a choice between her and Jodie, friendship would have surely taken a seat way back at the end of the hall.

To say I was shocked at the elimination of Jodie would be a gross understatement. I was STUNNED! I had my mouth open for all of at least five minutes!

Begging your pardon, I get ahead of myself.

What I am talking about, for those who may not know, is the show 'West African Idols'. Last Monday's results show saw Jodie evicted.

Yes. Jodie.

The young girl that everyone admits is probably the best singer in the competition, along with Timi.

Once again, Jerrilyn survived. If our Liberian Girl the first two evictions, it was almost understandable. But then she seemed to lose confidence along the way and bungled her lines about three weeks ago.

On that occasion, even she thought she was going home. Infact, she actually told me she had her bags packed and ready to say goodbye. But, surprise, surprise, Uche was the one voted off.

Her performance picked up the next week, but there were still confidence issues. Again, she thought she was heading home. This time however, it was to be the tall Mercy (there is a story there too, but that will be later).

At last Sunday's show, Dede could barely utter a word and simply called her Houdini for all her escape acts. If he was speechless then, I imagine he would have been dumbstruck to the point of apoplexy after Monday saw Jodie going home.

To be honest though, I am beginning to fear for Jerrilyn.
People were surprised by her outlasting Uche. They would probably have been slightly indifferent about Mercy.

But Jodie??????

This was a girl who regularly brought the roof down each time she sang. Her only less than perfect performance was last Sunday, but she did not deserve to go, not even on the basis of that.

The fans wont like her exit, and the blame will fall on Jerrilyn. I fear that she may even get booed this week. It was borderline last week at Planet One. The applause for her was just polite and the critique from the judges was hailed by the audience. I fear the fangs will be bared this week and our Liberian Girl will suffer boos from the audience at Planet One.

Even worse for her will be the relationship with her fellow contestants. If they feared for their places before, Jodie's exit will now almost certainly frighten the bejeezus out of every single one of them.

Eric's tears would not have been just for Jodie alone.

Will Jerrilyn still find it comfortable living in that Idols house? I doubt it. Cloying would be an understatement. Her housemates are going to make life even more difficult for her. Maybe we will see the first case of an idol voluntarily withdrawing from the competition.

So the question must be, how does Jerrilyn do it?

Of course she doesnt vote for herself. Africa votes. And therein, I think, lies the issue.

My gut feeling that most of the votes come from Nigeria and Liberia. The rest of Africa dont look like they can be bothered as they have no contestants there.

So the only explanation is that the whole of Liberia's votes go to Jerrilyn, while the Nigerian votes are split among the rest.

For instance, I gathered from sources that the week Uche was eliminated, Jerrilyn polled the second highest number of votes!

And that was the week when she performed really poorly.

But Jodie? Nah, I cant take this.