Super Eagles non qualification; Matters arising.

   This was the question on our lips yesterday night as we failed to conquer the Bafana Bafana of South Africa right in the Akwa Ibom stadium. Wetin deze boys dey play sef?!    Nigerians had lost hope of qualifying for AFCON 2015 until we went to Pont Noire and defeated the Congolese by two goals. After that victory, our dead hopes were resurrected. While optimists believed we were going to spank South Africa in Uyo and go ahead to qualify, pessimists went about their businesses with no iota of interest in Nigeria's qualification.
   From the start, it was obvious our defence was suspect. A massively unfit Kenneth Omeruo pairing with a sensible but snail like Azubuike Egwuekwe was a disaster waiting to happen. Efe Ambrose have not come to terms with the fact that he is first of all a defender before anything else. Juwon Oshinawan is energetic and ambitious. But is always in a hurry,and in an attempt at ball control always gave away the ball per second per second. It didn't take long before the Jacob Zuma boys struck. Rantie capitalised on a foul smelling defence to net a brace. Thanks to Nigeria's dependable goalie Vincent Enyeama, Rantie was limited to 'just' two goals. Ike Uche allowed his first touches to let him down. Emenike kept walking around the field like a barrel chested club bouncer checking on trouble makers. He didn't bite. Ahmed Musa had the mother of all opportunities to bury the game but he chose to turn the South African goalkeeper to a hero. Those misses eventually came back to haunt them. The technical crew should have had the guts to hurl Emenike and Onazi out. On Onazi, he is off form. Yes his work rate is still top notch. But football is not all about energy. If it was, men like Kanu Nwankwo and Peter Crouch will be selling water melon.
Nigeria doesn't have a sensible football structure in place. The stench of our football equals that of our politics. Talents abound in Nigeria. But it's not about the talents. The onus lies on the talented individuals to work hard. Talent is never enough to pave way for success. It's discipline, hard work and willingness to improve in a talented player that ensures success. Then, there should be a sane structure to harness the talents. Nigeria's football is rotten. Decayed. Dead. We are way behind presently. If Eagles play a bunch of pot bellied drunks gathered from an open bar in Mushin, victory isn't sure. It's that bad. I have said it on this streets before and I repeat; Stephen Keshi is not a bad coach,but when a coach invite players based on their loyalty to him than on current form there is a problem. Even Enyeama will stay put on the field in Ejide's absence knowing that the person to take over is Chigozie Agbim. Agbim is a sorry sight to behold in between the sticks. He doesn't instil the remotest confidence in his team mates. Keshi shot himself on the foot with his own gun. He should blame nobody. We know the NFF is notorious. Keshi knew this before he took over. As a supremo,take key decisions even if it goes against the whims of the NFF. Do that and when you run into problems with men from the glass house, Nigerians will rally round you.  We showed this during 2013 AFCON when they tried to ridicule him.
The next thing we will hear is that we are going back to the drawing board. Again?! Since I started Nigerian football we have gone back to this same drawing board on countless occasions. I am sure that drawing board is filled up by now. We need to get it right. Put a structure in place. Ensure that round pegs are in round holes.
   The biggest losers from our non qualification are the millions of Nigerians who were left disappointed. Still, NFF officials who have readied their bags and pockets for the pleasure trip of going to AFCON with families and girlfriends have lost out too. I will be the most disappointed person if Amaju Pinnick doesn't get It right. He looks straight enough. He should declare a state of emergency on our football.

Dynamics of Football in Nigeria.

Growing up in the peaceful University town of Nsukka in the eighties, my love for the game of football developed tap roots. Then again, if you grew up with parents who lay emphasis on academics then you understand how difficult it was merging the interest in football and academics. There were already people older then, whom I will constantly go to the Akanu Ibiam stadium to watch. Okechukwu 'Kabongo' Olerum, Fabian 'Gboko' Ugwu, Kalu 'Kalusha' Okpara, Onyebuchi 'Rocky' Adindu, Izu Owen Ogbonna, Ogonna/Chika Okeke, Badaru Umar, Uzo and Emeka Okorie amongst many more, were people i watched their game with keen interest. At the home front, my mother never spared the rod any time she felt I was giving more time to football than I allocated to my school books. But i took the koboko with all joy. Day dreaming about the game i had earlier always had a way of soothing the pains from my mothers cane and my sisters' jeers. My father? As long as I wasn't doing badly in school he didn't mind. In fact any weekend he was around he always came to my games. Then at home he will point out areas he felt I wasn't good at. He never agreed to my face that I could ball. But when overhear him brag to his friends about his son and his brilliant balling I always laughed.
I had very brilliantly gifted footballer friends whom we all shared the dream of going neck deep into the game after schooling. Osinachi Enekwe, Chukwuemeka Okolie, Chidubem Obio, Uchenna Igbo (blessed memory), Christian Eze, Nnamdi Odenyi were some of my childhood friends that had the potentials and the heart to play the game. Unfortunately, for one reason or the other, most of us are all seated in our various offices today, pot bellied. Not because we didn't give it our tightest shot, but because of 'the system'.
   The system in the country doesn't encourage controlled growth in the game. From a brief stint in the Nigerian League to an even shorter stint in Egypt, I gave it my best shot. So also did many of my friends. Now here are the intrigues; I graduated from the University in my early twenties, after my youth service programme in 2007 I pursued a career in football. A career that would have been illustrious if not for injuries and poor management. By 2009 I was asked to report to the Under 17 camp whilst they were preparing for U-17 world cup and fight for a place in the team. U-17! I was seventeen years of age almost ten years before that year. Note however, that i actually did not report to the said camp more because of an injury i was nursing than sanctimonious reasons. So I ask; how will football and academics merge? People have researched this and come up with solutions. But the ogas at the top wouldn't allow things work the way they should. This is one of the reasons I say that Kojo Williams is the best NFF President that never was. He would have ensured age integration in Nigerian football. Our Yemi Tella U-17 winning side of 2007, where are they? Christantus Macauley, Matthew Edile and co. Your guess is as good as mine as to why they have disappeared off the radar. They are either nowhere or in one obscure league somewhere in the world. I remember playing in the first edition of Shell Cup for secondary schools. That should be an avenue to scout players for U-17. Thank God we have gone past the times when we used to scout U-17 players from the Nigerian League. It was wrong, it is wrong and will forever be wrong! Show me a player,seventeen years of age playing in the local league and we will check how many seasons he has played in the league. Unless of course he started playing football from his mothers womb.Look at a player like Mikel Obi. He grew through the ranks. And at the right times too. That is what it should be. Yes, an over aged player will have more experience than an under aged player. But keep playing an over aged player against much younger and hot blooded players then rheumatism and arthritis will set in like a boss.
   Now that the NFF have been made an independent statutory body, efforts should be made at developing football at all levels,starting from the barest grass root. An enabling environment should be provided in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to make academics and football (sports generally) co habitable. In my humble opinion, if Wayne Rooney had been Nigerian, he would have either been a graduate of engineering, a garage tout or a footballer for BBC Lions of Gboko and this would have been his tenth season with the Gboko side. Why? The discouragement that comes from playing in the Nigeria league and worse sill, the hard nut case of living in Nigeria.
  From all indications, Amaju Pinnick seem to be working towards a better Nigerian footballing community. Hopefully, we will get there.

Ridiculing Nigerian football.

   Late 1999, Kojo Williams was made the head of the Nigerian Football Federation. He barely lasted for three months before he was booted out of office in a clandestine manner, widely condemned by Nigerians in the know of the running of Nigerian football. According to Zaria Sani, a board member of the NFF, Kojo Williams was booted out because "he failed to carry other board members along". Since that unfortunate incident, the only way Nigerian football has headed is downward. The Glass House is now more like a venue for reality television shows where there are constant evictions. Drama unending. Nigerian football administration have become a show of shame.

   CAF President Issa Hayatou told a Nigerian delegation on Friday that he was able to convince FIFA President Sepp Blatter not to wield the hammer on Nigeria that Friday. This he said,was because of the African Women Championship which Nigeria was supposed to play in the finals with Cameroun. Therefore,hammering Nigeria would be a major distraction for CAF, the sponsors and the participants. He made it clear to the Nigerian Sports Minister that the entire world is tired of the drama Nigerian football have become. In the meeting, which the multi lingual Paul Bassey interpreted the speech of Hayatou, the CAF Supremo told the delegation that they have till Monday, 27th October to sort themselves out. 

FIFA statutes clearly frown at civil courts and government interferences in football matters. After the world cup, a date for the NFF elections were scheduled, some board member convened before the said date and held an election. The outcome of the election was a Giwa led executive. FIFA frowned at it and insisted on an election on the agreed date. By late September an election was held and Amaju Pinnick emerged NFF President. Pinnick received congratulatory messages from both CAF and FIFA and then resumed work. Only for a Jos Court to sack the Pinnick led board and Giwa took over again. Before CAF and FIFA even got tired of our football movie, we Nigerians got tired. We are tired of being thrown around. We are tired of the show of shame and mediocrity exhibited in the Glass House. The Federal government have to wade in nicodemously and resolve issues. 

   In a 2010 BBC world service documentary, Africa Kicks, Kojo Williams said "the Nigerian government is afraid of change in football....we keep using over aged players to play under age competitions. Corruption has eaten very deep into football in the country". He is right. In fact I make bold to say that the board members as at then felt uncomfortable at Kojo's policies and needed him out. He in my opinion is the best NFF President that never was. Until we decide to bring in even the smallest honesty into football administration, our football will remain in the abyss. We have square pegs in round holes. Men and women who see football governing bodies as their private businesses will see to it that things are never done rightly. After all, the filth in a community is to the benefit of the chiefs. Instead of glorying in our vastly improved Nigerian league and the brand new stadium built by the pragmatic Akwa Ibom governor, Godswill Akpabio, we are watching movies by the football house. Appalling.

   Football, the singular unifying factor among Nigerians is dying. A gradual death. When it happens eventually, a lot will go wrong with the youths and members of the Nigerian football community. A stitch in time saves one million.

Keshi's sack; matters arising.

   The big boss, Stephen Keshi, was in the early hours of Thursday relieved of his duties as Super Eagles Supremo. Together with his crew, the big boss should be plotting his next move. Knowing The NFF and her famed clumsiness, be not surprised if Keshi head to court due to one breach or the other by the NFF.
   After super Eagles loss to Congo in Calabar, the hash tag #KeshiOut appeared on twitter. Somehow, it died down. The loss to Sudan reignited it again. Yesterday in Abuja, the Super Eagles beat the Sudanese in a surprisingly almost filled Abuja national stadium by three goals to one. A brace by Ahmed Musa and one by Aaron Samuel sealed victory.
There were rumours of a planned protest by Abuja fans prior to the match. A plan that was scuttled. The Super Eagles love playing in Calabar. There,they are under no pressure. Whatever the outcome of a match, the fans go home. Abuja fans pamper them. In fact I was surprised when I heard of the planned protest. That was quite unlike Abuja fans. In my humble opinion, Super Eagles matches should be taken to Lagos. Even them,wouldn't like the idea. Lagos football fans are fanatics. Tell the average Lagos fan that ticket for a Super Eagles match is ten thousand naira, he will hustle for the money and pay. But value for his money is a must have. Because to him, it's a no - story - investment.  The fans in Lagos will not forgive any player that subtracts a kobo from his gate fee. Erring players will receive missiles ranging from water sachets and bottles, pieces of anything hands can be laid on and even sun baked pieces of sh!t. The expectations of the faithful Lagos fan will make players sit up.
   On the issue of Keshi's sack,I think it's a wrong move. He was not sacked after our losses to Congo and Sudan, but was sacked after the return leg victory against same Sudan. Logically, morally and however else realistic you choose to look at it, the sack was a wrong move. Stephen Keshi had before the game, screamed to all Nigerians that he was being sabotaged. That some administrators were out to sabotage him. My humble opinion is that he has a valid point. Stephen Keshi is a very stubborn mule. I am sure this attribute contributed to his sack as some officials can't deal. He had to be removed,somehow. He didn't dance to the azonto of some people who consider themselves football oracles in Nigeria. However note that I am not saying his stubbornness is a good thing. No it is not. I have heard some of his colleagues complain that he doesn't take advises nor does he consult them. That is actually his own cup of tea. He decides such matters. I make bold to say that he was frustrated out of the seat. Those that understand the intricacies of football will know that if forces conspire to ruin a coach, he is as good as doomed. I am not in any anyway holding fort for Keshi. In my last post,I opined that Keshi is not the problem of Nigerian football. It is beyond him. He has been relieved of his duties. Fine. Watch Super Eagles qualify for the nations cup. Aren't we Nigeria again? We will qualify. I will be surprised if we don't. Every hand will now be on deck to ensure our qualification. Obafemi Martins and some other exiled players will return to the team. Some people who were regulars under Keshi might never see the Super Eagles camp again. We are starting afresh. I am sure Amodu Shuaibu will want to set up his own team,which is okay. But I think Pinnick is starting off wrongly. I think Keshi's sack have always been in in the pipeline. But how they chose to sack him after a victory is what hit me in the middle. We are back to square one. Every football administrators see Nigerian football as a lucrative business outlet. You get in, scatter a previous set up, set up yours, carry your loot and scram. No NFF President have ever taken a decision based on patriotism. No way! Where we go from here we don't know. They bicker and say all sorts when Nigerians rate foreign football higher than our football here but nobody has any bloody moral right to blame us. I watch the Nigerian league,week in week out. What do I see? Comedy and eye sore. I know the matches I expect to see real football and I never miss those ones. The rest are just super bloody comic relief. Kudos though, to the LMC for the little sanity and shape that the local league has taken due to their efforts. Nigerian football is generally rotten. Stagnant. Dead. But please we shouldn't bury it. An Igbo adage says that "ani a diro mma bu uru ndi nze" (the rot in the land is to the benefit of the chiefs). We know that people make money in chaos. Everywhere. But please consider millions of Nigerians whose hope they carry. Amaju Pinnick should try and be the first NFF President to run things with patriotism in mind. Otherwise the next time Nigerians gather in Abuja national stadium,it will be be for the funeral ceremony of Nigerian football. One like me though, will be in front of my television,seeing an EPL game with a chilled bottle of Campari and tilapia  barbecue.

Drowning Eagles, Keshi and the NFF.

   Bad pitch; the most notorious reason presented by apologists as to why the reigning African champions,the Super Eagles of Nigeria lost to Sudan on Saturday in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers. Since Nigeria won the 2013 edition of the African Cup of Nations, football in the country have taken a dip. Both on club and national team levels. Nigerian club sides have disappeared from mainstream continental championships and the Super Eagles have drowned. Pure and simple. Like Nigeria's Jay Jay Okocha rightly opined, football is dead in Nigeria. The game against Sudan was just a mere confirmation of this fact. After the AFCON victory, we went ahead to represent Africa at the Confeds in Brazil last year and had a decent outing, regrouped for the AFCON 2014 qualifiers and it has been disaster after disaster.
   Congo came to Calabar and tore us apart. They didn't just win, they outplayed and out muscled us. We went to South Africa and played out a draw. The loss to Sudan is a clear picture of the state of football in the country. Now to the details. The goal keeping set up of the Super Eagles is an interesting one. Enyeama is in my humble opinion, the best goalkeeper in Africa, and one of the best in the world. He is the only Super Eagles player that is worthy of a fans uprising to keep him in the team. Austin Ejide is an able deputy for him. Chigozie Agbim? The former Warri Wolves and Enugu Rangers shot stopper fall below what we expect in the Super Eagles. If indeed the third goalkeeper must come from the local league then we should be talking about Enyimba's Femi Thomas. I am an ardent follower of the Nigerian football league so I know. He has been very consistent between the sticks. So one wonders why Femi Thomas sits at home while Agbim remains Enyeama's second assistant. Our midfield in Sudan was a bunch of headless chickens. Stringing passes amongst themselves seemed a heavy task. Disjointed,to say the least. Our defence line went to sleep and the result was the Sudanese goal. Nigerians were left bitter.
   One school of thought blame the players. Others blame Keshi. The rest blame NFF. These people all have a part of the blame. The players played as if there was nothing at stake. I feel that was a rub off from Keshi. It's true that no coach sets out to loose a match. But it's equally true that players will in most cases exhibit the attitude the coach has,towards a game. A manager's seriousness translates to his players. Eg. Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Carlos Dunga etc. I dare say that the players weren't serious because Keshi himself didn't show a high level of seriousness too.
I wonder why exactly Keshi entered into the banter with his former striker,Ikechukwu Uche. I don't think it was necessary. An elder shouldn't be seen publicly bantering with a 'kid'. As it stands now, the player refuted all Keshi's claims. So who is right? Player or manager? The banter didn't do the image of the Eagles Supremo and the team itself well. It beats me why Keshi have blatantly refused to invite Kelechi Iheanacho to the Super Eagles. The case for him is not that he comes to take over from Mikel Obi, but that at least he becomes part of the team. Who knows, some minutes under his belt could show us what he can really do. He showed us a glimpse of what he can do in his pre season games with his club Manchester City. Even if he doesn't get match time, training with the more experienced players in the squad will help him learn the ropes.
   Amaju Pinnick is the new NFF Chairman. He is not new in football administration,having led the Delta state wing for a while. He should therefore know that he is carrying the hope of millions of Nigerians on his shoulders. NFF have always been deemed to be corrupt. He can change that notion. Since I was born, and now I am getting older I have neither seen, heard nor even imagined the NFF distanced from corruption. Fact is Nigerian football is dead. It didn't die after a brief illness. It died after a prolonged illness. And illness it was born with. And a death aided by corruption. The glass house have become an epitome of corruption. Most recently part of the glass house was gutted by fire. An incident that will need the intervention of my great grandmother to convince me it was an accident and not man made. Pinnick need to discard what has been, and get his own drawing board, map out how exactly he will run the Glass House. I remember how my northern brother, a mai ruwa, hugged me passionately (no homo) in one of our Beijing Olympic football match. Before I could say Jack Robinson he flew into my outstretched and celebrating arms. That is how we love football in Nigeria. That is how football unifies Nigeria. Something Amaju Pinnick should note.
   Our Eagles are no longer super. They are drowned. But we can get it right again. Even if Keshi is sacked like some people want,who takes over? The Keshi of today is not the Keshi of yesterday. Something went wrong. And it sipped into our football generally. I don't know what it is. But we need to find out. Because if we don't, even a post Keshi era won't be beautiful. Our dead football should be resurrected. And please, we should do so before the same people who killed it come out with the burial plans.
 

Super Eagles induced headache.

   I have heard people call our male national team the Super Chickens. But I have always tried not to. Even in the midst of very dreadful performances by the Super Eagles, I have maintained my cool and supported the team. After Saturdays white washing of the Super Eagles by the Congolese team, the 'Super Chickens' tag reared it's sarcastic head.
   The AFCON qualifier on Saturday was an eye opener to some Nigerians as regards the declining state of our senior male national team. In Brazil, the team was without form and void. Reminds me of how my father told me that my boyhood club ran around like headless chicken during a game we lost woefully. From administrative issues to onfield problems,we show cased our gross iberibe to the rest of the world. Other nations came to play football, we came to act drama.
   Immediately Vincent Enyeama pulled out of the game citing family issues,I knew we had lost a commander. Enyeama never shied away from running things from the goal post. Screaming at his defenders and putting everybody on their toes. This is not however, undermining the performance of his stand in and deputy, Austin Ejide. In fact I feel he wasn't bad on the day as people make it look. That game clearly showed us what we have always refused to admit but know; our defence line is crap. No organization. Their positional play leaves a lot to be desired. The second goal being a clear example.
Our midfield was not any better. Every top football side in the world that doesn't have one midfield bully should be able to string at least fifteen passes uninterrupted. But in our Super Eagles side, we neither have that bully nor are we able to string even five uninterrupted passes inside the core of the midfield. Uche Nwofor started ahead of Emmanuel Emenike for reasons best known to Keshi. The big boss is a good coach. Very fantastic one. But his managerial side begs questions. One wonders what a Chigozie Agbim is doing in the Super Eagles set up. I follow the Nigerian football league well. I watch the games I can,both in the stadia and on telly. Agbim is far from the best we have locally. Names like Enyimba's Femi Thomas and Sunshine Stars' Ikechukwu Ezenwa are way ahead of the fat and anonymous Chigozie Agbim. In fact I make bold to say that the best goalkeeper in the Nigerian League is Femi Thomas. It remains a mystery why he hasn't been called up. I may be wrong, but I think Stephen Keshi places player loyalty to him above player performance. There seem to be sacred cows in the team. The big boss,who I am a solid fan of have really given life to the saying that when a fly perches on your scrotal sac,you will realise there are better ways to resolve issues than violence. Discipline should be metted out across board.
 I find it amusing that some of us blame NFF crisis for the loss. Seriously? How does NFF presidency affect our performance? Is any player running for the glass house job? Then some other school of thought blame the playing turf. The same turf the Congolese played on too. The team lacked focus. They were busy doing absolutely nothing. Moreso, there was absence of any tactical input from the technical crew who looked on helplessly as we got battered. There is no player to single out for the heaviest criticism. The entire team were bullshitters on that day in Calabar.
   Could it be that diminishing returns has seen in? No way. It's too early. This team has not been stretched. Keshi and his crew should get the team up and running. What these guys fail to realise is that football is our way of life in Nigeria. It distracts us from our many problems and therefore should not be toyed with. A stitch in time saves nine.

World Cup Blues; 'Super' Eagles, effective German Machines and FIFA lies.

   The biggest football festival has ended. The FIFA World Cup 2014 final was played in the Maracana. A game in which a very effective German side emerged victorious over the Argentines.

The Germans came prepared. Having built a £25 million Campo Bahia before the world cup started, it was evident to all that the team had a clear mission. Campo Bahia, which will double as a youth soccer retreat centre after the world cup, was built with climate of the team's world cup venues in mind. It has sixty five residential units, a training pitch, fitness centre and has a wonderful view of the beach. Telecommunications and IT facilities will also help locals beyond the world cup. This, in more ways than one helped the team bond into a formidable unit. They came with a team. A real team. With very disciplined players and manageable egos,they stormed Brazil. Joachim Lowe and his boys won the world cup on the back of an attack lethargic Argentina. The Argentines didn't Come to the party.
   Argentina, a Messi based team didn't turn up because Messi didn't turn up. However though, I think Messi is unfairly held responsible for the woes of Argentina. Other players should be able to show forth in the absence of a Messic performance. When Gonzalo Higuain failed to put Argentina ahead after a 'wonderful' German assist we knew the game was a delicacy prepared for German mouths. And midway through the second period of extra tine, Mario Gotze clinically finished off an Andre Schurrle assist.  That was it. The Germans had won the world cup in the presence of Chancellor Angela Merkel and under the full glare of a colourful Chris the Redeemer.
   I personally advise anyone whose life lack surprises to go through FIFA decisions. Once again, they goofed. The FIFA study group came up with and awarded the Golden Ball to Lionel Messi. In a competition where Arjen Robben shone like a million stars, Muller and Mario Gotze dazzled for Germany and James Rodriguez had an outstanding tournament, FIFA gave the honour to Lionel Messi who was largely anonymous in the knock out stages. Barring the assist to set up Angel Di Maria, Messi disappeared in the knock out stages. This however,does not remove the fact he is about the best player on earth. Just that he didn't have a beautiful world cup. One then wonders why FIFA gave him the golden ball. Aren't we used to FIFA goofs and surprises?O yes we are.
  Super Eagles. Yes. The Nigerian senior male football team. When all the facts are out about what actually happened in Brazil, we will talk. For now,they are still sharing money. Africa,except for Algeria, went to Brazil to share money. Continental shame.
  The world cup is over. One month of ecstasy. As the football community await the resumption of the various leagues, it's important to note that Brazil deserve an excellent salute. Twenty one gun shot salute for a wonderfully hosted world cup.

Vampire Diaries; the Luis Suarez page.

He is a complete striker. He scores, he defends, he runs and he works. Still,he bites. Luis Suarez is a striker whom every coach will want to have in his team and the type you won't want your rival to have. He is a threat to every line of defence. On club level and on the international stage. Ask English defenders for confirmation on this. This is one of the most sought after footballers. Presently, Real Madrid and Barcelona are trying to break bank for his signature. A young man who came to the world cup on the back of a successful premier league season. Yet, the man in the middle can't seem to stay off the headlines. Albeit negatively.
   In November 2010,while playing for Ajax, he received a seven match ban for biting Otman Bakkal of PSV Eindhoven.
April 2013,he was flogged with a ten match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
June 2014,he struck again. In the build up to a corner kick,he bit Italy's Giorgio Chellini on the shoulder.

Based on the footage,as he dug into Chiellini's shoulder,the Azzuri defender instinctively lashed out. Chellini clutched his shoulder while Suarez 'clutched' his face. Or rather,his teeth.
The initial action went unnoticed by the referee and as both players clutched their clutchables, the referee became as confused as the little boy spectator watching the game. International disgrace.
   The whole world wanted to see Suarez play at the world cup. Having lost Radmel Falcao to injury and with the prospect of seeing an off colour Edinson Cavani,we all got a scare when Suarez pulled up injured during their world cup preparations. The hope to see a fearsome South American striker was lost. But when we saw him on the bench in Uruguay's opener against Costa Rica,fears were allayed. The gangling attacker was back. He went on to send a woeful England back to meet the Queen,earlier than she would have liked. Truth be told. Luis Suarez had been on several occasions clattered by Italian defenders. But then that was no excuse for biting Chiellini. Unbelievable. The rest of the world didn't understand it when followers of the Dutch and English leagues covered their faces in shame during the biting incidents involving the Liverpool hit man. FIFA is expected to act on the incident. Suarez should be handed a lengthy ban. But I don't subscribe to the life ban some fans propose,not like their opinions or any other persons' matter to the football overlords in FIFA. He should be handed a lengthy ban. Longer than any he has ever received. Reason being that this was done on the world stage. Not everyone watch the Dutch league or the EPL. But people in caves find a way to watch the FIFA World Cup.  Just like the World Cup generate more television views,that biting incident generated more views than both previous biting incidents. A statement should be made by the world governing body. However, he shouldn't be banned for life. A lengthy ban and heavy fine should do. Thereafter,he should continue with his career. Luis Suarez needs help. I don't know in which form. But he sure needs help.
   One question that begs answers from this incident is; considering the fact that the top guns are after his signature, if he receives the ban from FIFA,how does it affect his market value? How interested will his suitors be after the whole debacle? Liverpool hierarchy will surely be debating on what to do with their star man.
   Let's keep his family away from all these issues surrounding the striker. They deserve respect and peace. Luis Suarez need to get a grip on himself. Whatever it is that makes him show how else his teeth can be put to use should be identified and put on proper check.

Super Eagles, Iberian demolition and the flying Dutchman.

The heat is on! Pressure is mounting! The FIFA World Cup 2014 is up and running. The football community is excited as she is once every four years. Brazil, the host nation opened the world cup account with a victory over Croatia. A game marred in controversy as Brazil were gifted a very saucy penalty kick which was duly despatched by Neymar Jr. Football fans the world over speedily got over the controversy as the balling continued. It had started!
   Spain,having beaten Netherlands in the 2010 edition in South Africa by a lone goal, were book makers favourites to lift the trophy. Alongside Germany and Argentina, Spain were favourites. Therefore, when the two teams were billed to play the opening game in the group, everyone was excited. It was billed to be a tickling game. One of high tempo. It didn't disappoint. Netherlands fell behind to a Xabi Alonso penalty,dubiously won by the Brazilian born Diego Costa,who was booed through out his time on the field. It seemed like the Iberians were cruising to a now traditional victory before the Louis Van Gaal team hit back. A Daley Blind drop from the left side of the field to the front of the penalty box was met by a flying Robin Van Persie who defied every available law to meet the ball with his head and lob it over the motionless Iker Casillas. What a goal! Absolutely beautiful! That was the equaliser and the beginning of the Dutch festival of goals as RVP got another goal, Robben got a brace after having Casillas crawl all over the box for one of his goals. Stefan de Vrij equally got on the score sheet. Spain had no answer to the Dutch questions and so ended the game. Spanish heads dropped.
Spain's Iberian neighbours,Portugal, were also taught a thing or two about football. Pepe,in a moment of madness and idiocy, head butted Muller who was on the ground clutching his face and was duly red carded. That was a turning point in the game as the Portuguese never came back into it. Muller went on to get a hat trick while Matt Hummels equally got on the score sheet. The Iberian demolition was complete.
   The Super Eagles of Nigeria were expected to run riot over Iran. However,that wasn't to be. The Iranians ran away with a point. No thanks to tactical inefficiency, lack of coordination and improper attitude. The Nigerian boss, Stephen Keshi decided to start the game with three defensive midfielders; Mikel Obi, Ramon Azeez and Onazi Ogenyi. It was never going to work. Who will attempt to open up the opposing defence with runs and passes? Who will link up play between the midfield and attack? Azeez was made to play in the hole. A tactic that failed woefully. The team was in total disarray. Thank the heavens for the Super good Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, who produced a fine save from a corner to deny the Iranians a goal. The Iranians rarely tested the goalkeeper. Having lost a reliable Godfrey Oboabona to an ankle knock, Nigerians kept praying that no serious threat would come the way of the defence now led by Joseph Yobo. The Nigerian team was very poor. One wonders how the team will fare with Bosnia and Argentina. Some school of thought opine that Keshi is a slow starter. One who eventually gets it right. Okay. But he shouldn't ride that luck for so long. The tactics and team selection need to change against Bosnia. Osaze should be in the starting eleven. Nigeria misses dearly the services of Sunday Mba or Nosa Igiebor. The lack of creativity in the team is so appalling. The team is very predictable.
Nevertheless, all hope is not lost. If Keshi gets his tactics right and the players give 100%, Nigeria can beat Bosnia and Argentina and even go ahead to qualify from the group. It's still possible. It all depends on Keshi and his boys. Nigerians are realistic people. They are not asking for the trophy. What they want is a decent outing, irrespective of the final outcome. A decent outing. Definitely not what was witnessed against Iran.
   It's the world cup. Savour every second of it. As we stay awake into the wee hours of the day to watch matches, I wish us all good health. It's for the love of the game. Our game. The most beautiful game on mother earth. Happy World cup!

Ola Brasil!

Every four years, the 'rest of the world' stand still at this time of the year. Businesses slow down a bit. Market women hang aloof as they can't comprehend the hype behind the period. Find your way into Ariaria market in Aba, Tejuosho market in Lagos or Ogbete market in Enugu, you find many world cup analysts. Leaving their shops unattended to, they gather in front of the shop of the most fanatic of them, pull of their shirts,exposing either an acutely hairy,protruding stomach or a saggy singlet that used to be white . That is where you hear all sorts of things about the players. How one witch in Germany is responsible for some players injury; how one native doctor from Ghana said he is behind Ronaldo's injury; how some players are actually from Congo or Nigeria and not from the countries they are lining up for. Very funny stories. But I tell you, that is what makes the world cup what it is; beautiful.
   During this period, I deliberately look outside the window to see if people are going about their businesses as usual. I see a couple of them and then I wonder to myself, "are these guys human beings?" World cup period is NOT business as usual! It's more than that. Omo...its the world cup! It happens once every four years. This period, wives will see less of their husbands, girlfriends will cry for their boyfriends attention, kids will sacrifice their cartoon channels for Super sports. Men will eat less and drink more. Football and Campari is one of the best combinations you will ever find...Lol...
   The next one month is going to be eventful. For the decades I have spent on earth, the world cup period has been my happiest. The hype is everywhere in Nigeria. Nigerians and football! We love the game to a fault. We drink, eat and sleep football. It's in the DNA of every Nigerian. We have kept loving the game despite the way NFF have kept messing with our heads over the years. Yes. Our faith in the game is that large. We have waited for the world cup. We have been waiting for four years. Those years seemed to us like an eternity. Those years between the World Cup in South Africa, 2010 and today must have been one thousand years! But then...the wait is over. It's today!
   To every Nigerian,African and indeed, every human and even aliens, Happy World Cup. Ola Brasil!

Super Eagles and the World Cup.

The World Cup have crept up on us. The biggest football fiesta is here again. Tension is high. Adrenalin is pumping. Nations are lining up expectations for their respective national teams. Nigerians are not an exception. We have seen the Super Eagles on display especially against Scotland and the United States of America. We are far from impressed,but still hopeful.
   After failing to qualify Nigeria for AFCON 2012, the then coach, Samson Siasia was duly relieved of his position and Stephen Keshi took over the reins. He was able to gather Nigerian ballers together and formed a beautiful team. Despite the AFCON 2013 victory, the team was viewed by most,and yours sincerely, as a team still under construction. Nigerians were once again brought over to the side of the team after years of perpetual heart break. Emotions were high. The players became instant heroes with us. Stephen Keshi was viewed as a saviour. I have always been a fan of Stephen Keshi. From his playing days to his managerial today. So much that I celebrated his emergence as Super Eagles Supremo. We qualified for the 2014 world cup,but not without solid fight from the Ethiopians,who were seeking for their first world cup outing. But then,we qualified.
   Observers always knew that selecting players for the mundial was going to be headache for Keshi. With so many players at his disposal, we envisaged a dilemma. He released his list of thirty players first. Then subsequently released his twenty three man list. Some part of the Nigerian football community hadn't recovered from Ike Uche's absence in the first list before being hit by Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi's exclusion. Discussions and arguments arose. Especially where a certain Michael Babatunde, Joseph Yobo and Shola Ameobi were concerned. Michael Babatunde and Shola Ameobi because of their technical abilities and then Yobo,with an everlasting question as to his contribution. I honestly don't know what it is between Keshi and Yobo. But whatever it is,I hope it doesn't rob Nigeria of any game at the world cup. Maybe Keshi is doing for Yobo,what Westerhof did for him in 1994; help with amassing caps,with absolutely no contribution onfield. Some will argue he was selected for the sake of experience. That's the crap of a life time. Mikel Obi, Osaze and Enyeama can offer offer that perfectly. So I don't see exactly how Yobo's own will be different. If that was why he was selected,then he made a mess of it in the USA friendly. He was pathetic. As the most experienced player and defender on field,he couldn't run the show. Nigeria's defence was in shambles. I don't know how the rest of the country sees it but we have come to trust a central defensive pairing of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo. In midfield, Mikel has to be at his best. He has to give 100%, if not, wahala dey. Their has to be someone pulling the strings in the midfield. I think we need one special person to sit and dictate pace and direction from the midfield. Its something Onazi or Mikel can do. I prefer Onazi to do that so Mikel can rove. But with Onazi's constant surge upfront which exposes the defence and leaves the midfield open, we have a problem. That duty should be delegated to someone. And that person must do it.
We don't know what Keshi has up his sleeve but it better be beautiful. I am sure no realistic Nigerian expect the Super Eagles to emerge the winners but a place in the semi finals is not an abomination. But with what we have seen of the team in the last two friendlies, we need to get our acts together. A miracle would not be out of place too. But then you have to work hard,do your bit before expecting any kind of help. Keshi should relegate Yobo to the bench. Play his team. I am a die hard fan of Keshi. A Keshi believer. It's so bad that whatever Keshi does in the team is okay by me. But I am still trying to lie to my senses that his selection and tactics against USA was the the right one.
   A friend told me that Keshi has nothing to prove. Self deceit. He has an awful lot to prove. If Vincente Del Bosque and Felipe Scolari have something to prove then Keshi has a tanker load of stuff to prove too. Football is a lifesaver for the average Nigerian. Even the meanest ones will always have an eye on the television set to know what becomes of the Eagles in Brazil. Keshi should get it right. Listen to his conscience and the soul whisper of over one hundred million Nigerians and give us a nice outing. Like earlier said,no realistic Nigerian expects the team to emerge world champions. All we desire is a decent outing. But who knows...just maybe we could go on to win the championship! Haha...a one full month public holiday await us if that happens. Orgasmic feeling! In Nigeria,we eat and drink football. Keshi,NFF and the players know this. So I guess they won't toss the minds of Nigerians.

Ronaldo; Papa ndi egwu!

   E chekata la m ihe m ga e kwu maka nwa amadi a aha ya bu Ronaldo de Lima, onu e kweghi m ikwu ihe o bula. Kedu nke a ga e kwu ghara ibe ya. Nwa no ofuma. Ihe o na a gba na ukwu di egwu. Ka o ihe ya na umu ada n'eme. Otu o bula e si kwu o ya,Ronaldo bu nna ndi egwu niile.

   Nwa amadi a si na ala ndi egwu, Brazil, obodo Chukwu tere mmanu n'ihe gbasara asomumpi boolu. Ronaldo a gbaala boolu, nuo ya ka a kpuru a chia ma rie ya ka anu mbe. Nzuko boolu obula daputara mgbe o na a nu nko,onye o bula choro I hu ya n'ihu ogu. N'ozo di ka ibe ya,nwa amadi ahu na a nukwa nko n'onu. Mgbe onye egwu mgbe ochie bu Pele koro ya onu gbasara ibu ya,ihe o koro ya bu Pele mere onye nna ahu ka o je zoo n'ohia nkakwu. O ji onu dee ya ka akwa. Ka o si a gba n'ukwu bu ka o si a e kwu n'onu ma bukwara ka ya na ihe gbasara umu nwanyi si e me. Hiohiohiohio...a nwuola m n'ochi!..nwoke di nko...nwoke di njo ihe!
   Ndi otu n'ahu maka egwuregwu boolu n'uwa niile gbaa gburugburu a na a kpo FIFA, ndi ojoo e ji wuruwuru wee mara turu ya ugo a na e to ndi egwu puru iche. Ka akuko si wee koo,Ronaldo nwere mgbe o buuru umu ato o huru ka umu ada wee lakpuo n'ime ulo ezumike.  Mgbe o ruru na I ku aka,o huru na ndi o butere a bughi umu nwanyi! Ha niile bu umu nwoke! Kai! Nwa amadi a bere akwa ariri n'ihi na o kwuru ugwo enwe a kponye ya adaka.  O fee n'isi ma kwuo ha ugwo ha a laa.
   Na a gbanyeghi, Ronaldo,nna ndi egwu niile bu onye uwa niile na a kwanyere Ugwu. Site na ogbako egwu Inta Milan, ruo Madridi ma jeruo na ala Brazil,uwa niile na a kwanyere ya Ugwu.
Ka a na a kwado asomumpi iko mba uwa na ala Brazil, anyi niile na e chete ya bu onye egwu.
   Na ngwucha, e ji m n'aka na o nweghi onye tabiri onu mgbe o na a gu ihe a. Ka Chineke chebe anyi niile...isee!

No World Cup Party for Samir Nasri.

   Having had a very fantastic season with Manchester City, Samir Nasri was expected to be at the fore front of Le Blue's world cup campaign this summer. The attacking midfielder shone like a million stars for the Sheik Mansour team as they lifted the EPL trophy. That was not to be, as France manager, Didier Deschamps had other plans.
   By the time Samir Nasri broke into the French national team, he was seen as a future of the team. His contemporaries, Hartem Ben Arfa and Karim Benzema were a part of the fold too. Ben Arfa,however, failed to live up to the billing as series of disciplinary issues came up against him, time and time again. However, same disciplinary issues have not failed to trail Nasri too. The former Marseille and Arsenal man also have a catalogue of cases against him. In November 2008, during the French team's camping exercise for the European tournament, he was involved in a bust up with William Gallas. In his biography, Gallas alleged a disruptive influence in the team. Though he named no name,observers felt the unnamed man to be Nasri. During his days in Arsenal, he one day sat on Thierry Henry's seat on the bus and refused to stand. An action viewed by many as disrespectful. One,I attach very little to. He wasn't picked for the 2010 world cup in South Africa by Raymond Domenech. By the time Laurent Blanc took over, he extended an olive branch to him, and called him back. A gesture not extended to Jeremy Toulalan. Himself, the most consistent french midfielder. During Euro 2012,he was embroiled in a verbal fracas with journalists. After that period he continued playing for France. It is alleged that during the world cup play offs, he was inside another mist of problems. I guess that was the height of it for Didier Deschamps.
   Several players will not be on the pitch in Brazil. Isco will be out for Spain. Kaka and Robinho out for Brazil. Gael Clichy out for France. Ike Uche out for Nigeria. Nasri isnt the only one dropped. But of all,he is the one that had the most outstanding season. Noteworthy is the fact that David Ginola and Eric Cantona were dropped for the France '98 World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons. What followed is now history. The truth is that the manager is the supremo of a team. If he feels a certain player will be a disruptive influence in his team then he drops him. This is because when such a player is still taken along and an issue arises from him directly, the manager will be the one to take the heat. Reference should not be made to Wayne Rooney and how Sir Alex Ferguson successfully moulded him because that was club level of football. In that level of the game, a player has many months at his disposal to make amends for acts of indiscipline or mistakes. This is the world cup. It wraps up under one month. One incident is enough to wreck a team's chances. Ask France. 2010 world cup in South Africa is one French faithfuls will want to forget in a hurry.
   I therefore think that Didier Deschamps should be left to live with the consequence of his action. Every coach wants discipline and commitment in his team. That is why they won't hesitate to drop any player they feel will be a bad influence in the team. Though I am one of the few that want to see Nasri line out for the Blues and Ike Uche for Nigeria, it's a decision for the coach. He lives with the consequence. Good or bad.

Manchester City; worthy EPL Champions.

Football,as was said and confirmed over the years,is about the best thing that happened to mankind.
 The three factors that make football the beauty it is; drama, statistics and history were in the front running of things during the recently concluded BPL season. From the beginning,a lot was expected. At the end, the season didn't disappoint. With Fullham, Cardiff and Norwich City relegated, next season promises the usual excitement that comes with the English Premier league.  The highlight of the season has to be Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea that gifted Chelsea her first goal in the game and eventually, put Manchester City in the driving seat for the trophy. Manchester United in her first season of the post Ferguson era were hugely disappointing as the stars failed to shine. A season that for them,culminated in the eventual sacking of Mr. David Moyes from the managerial reigns at Old Trafford. Arsenal's failure to recruit a lethal striker in both windows saw their title hopes fizzle off despite being top of the pile for most of the season. Chelsea? Mourinho himself blew it. Realistically speaking, the sale of Juan Mata which seemed a good decision at the beginning, didnt end like that as Oscar,the preferred,lost form acutely and failed to shine. Liverpool,though with a rampaging attacking duo of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, failed to make goals count even as their defensive deficiencies kept showing up, game after game. With City's recruitment of Alvaro Negredo, who offered depth to an already devilish striking force of Kun Aguero and Edin Dzeko, their was no way in Jupiter Manuel Pellegrini wasn't going to make an impact in his first season in the English Premier League. Yaya Toure, arguably the best midfielder in the world, apologies to FIFA ratings,ensured City remained on course. For their fans,it was a beautiful season.  With David Silva and co, Yaya ran the show, and with such beautiful melody. For football fans, it's the end of a glittering season. City indeed are worthy champions of the English league. No doubt.
 As the football community await the wraps in other European leagues, the champions league final comes to mind. Then the mother of them all;the FIFA World Cup! Football fans live by the day. Knowing fully that a ceremony beckons,all the way from Brazil. We can't wait. It's simple; we all love football.

How Monsieur Wenger lost the plot.

As at November 2013, Gooners the world over were already celebrating the Barclays Premier League victory. I have a lot of them as very close friends. I reminded them of the word, dejavu. That if certain steps are not taken, the victory they so clamour for will zoom past them like a Ferrari on a nylon tarred road. For nine horrible years, Arsenal and her fans have had to endure an agonising trophy drought. Since the era of the Arsenal invincibles, Gooners can't actually say what a trophy looks like. It has been we - nearly - won syndrome. This is despite having one of the best managers in the game. A revolutionary manager. The Strasbourg born tactician is on the black book of Arsenal fans. They no longer care to know how beautifully Arsenal is playing or how much money Wenger makes for Arsenal. Rightly so,they want trophies.
   As at November/ December 2013 and even early 2014, Arsenal was top of the English Premier League. Thanks to the fracas in Old Trafford caused by his contemporary, David Moyes, the Scot who took over from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Wenger doled out uncharacteristic cash for Mesut Ozil. This singular action seemed to restore the faith of Arsenal players and and fans alike. They believed their time had finally come. Truth be told,the team clicked. But a Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers led Chelsea and Liverpool respectively and a player quality rich Manchester City kept to their tail and sniffed along. Something was clear. Arsenal was top of the pile. Another thing was clear, Arsenal needed a world class striker. At least one. Preferably two. I mentioned severally that if Arsenal were to remain top of the league by end of March 2014, they will win the EPL. What was however screamed in silence was that it wouldn't probably happen unless Wenger break the bank for a Suarez or Rooney like kind of striker. One not goal shy. Not afraid to break a bone or two. Arsenal hoped to sign Rooney who was unsettled at a point. But for Wenger's insulting pea pricing of Rooney, who knows,maybe the 'white Pele' would have switched Old Trafford for the Emirates. By January window, every realist expected Wenger to buy a quality striker. He brought in someone. Who? Suarez? Ronaldo? Aguero? Ike Uche? No! He brought in Kim Kardashian. I beg your pardon, Kim Kallstrom. Yes. Kallstrom! Jeeeeeez! That was a real shocker but It was for real. Monsieur Wenger brought in the thirty one year old Swedish midfielder on loan from Spartak Moscow. By the end of the transfer window and no striker came in, Arsenal lost the title. Yes. They lost the title on January 31st 2104. Piers Morgan, a realistic celebrity Arsenal fan knew this and didn't spare him.
Another truth; NO team could have won the 2013/2014 EPL with a strike force of Oliver Giroud and Yaya Sanogo. Even fifteen more Ozils cannot help such a team. Arsenal boast of a deep midfield. But nonchalant displays like the one on show yesterday against Everton at Goodison Park where they were white washed by the Martinez tutored boys 3 - 0 is their greatest undoing. Goals from Naismith, Lukaku and an own goal from the former Everton man himself, Mikel Areta were enough to do the damage. Everton is presently one point shy of Arsenal and still have a game at hand. As it is stands, either Arsenal or Everton can be the fourth team to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League. They still have the FA cup to contest for though.
   Arsenal not buying a quality striker in the January transfer window dashed their hopes of the EPL title...again. 571635079cb4721a3476be19da2452291c14bb659a33962438

Fracas in Old Trafford.

   Old Trafford faithfuls have scratched off every strand of hair on their bodies due to frustration. Since the electric Sir Alex Ferguson left, things have not been the same for fans of the club,home and abroad. And rightly so, too. Things have gone from bad to worse in the last couple of months. The team languishes in 7th position; an unfamiliar situation. The team keeps loosing at home to otherwise considered minnows. This is however ongoing even as the club keeps signing endorsement deals, which is not what the fans want to hear. They want results. On field results. Not endorsement deals.
How did the club get to this position?
   Towards the end of last season, Sir Alex Ferguson announced that he will retire at the end of the season. An announcement that shook club faithfuls to the marrows. The United dugout without Sir Alex was simply unimaginable. People had become so used to seeing the gum chewing legendary tactician in the dugouts that his absence was simply unthinkable. Thoughts and arguments began to arise as to who will eventually take over from the clever Scot. Jose Mourinho was mooted. But considering Mourinho's normadic nature and his always frosty relationship with other clubs, realistic fans knew Mourinho wouldn't be a viable option. Every member of the Red Army wanted Pep Guardiola, the erstwhile Barcelona gaffer, but he had earlier signed a contract to lead Bayern Munich. Fergie and the Manchester United board were never going to be short of options. A few pundits noted the fact that Fergie's shoe was going to be inches too big for whoever was eventually chosen. Eventually, Fergie and the United board settled for David Moyes, Everton boss. It was never going to be easy for him.
   United started the season on a sour note. Loosing matches they will ordinarily have won. Throwing away valuable points. Old Trafford, which used to be a fortress for United became a promo ground for visiting clubs. Ironically, David Moyes' former club, Everton, was doing better than United. Fans became uneasy. But Moyes had and still have one thing going for him; he was chosen by Sir Alex, who appealed to fans before he left to stick to their new manager irrespective of results. That he will eventually get it right. That singular appeal by the perceived legend settled a lot of nerves. David Moyes is however lucky that he is in a team like Manchester United. In another club he would have received d boots. However, the Scot shouldn't ride his luck for longer than considered necessary. There are some things he can do to better the lot of United.
   He should stamp his own game in United. The team has until recently, been playing the Sir Alex Ferguson way. He should bring in his own key players. Stamp his game and authority in the team. Players like Alex Buttner, Tom Cleverly, the now discarded Anderson, The highly inconsistent Nani and Chris Smalling are some players fans don't feel are worthy of a United shirt. Also, some of the older players should make way for either the younger ones or incoming ones. Rio, Vida, Giggs and Evra should be eased out. Most of all, Moyes should disabuse his mind of the Everton mentality. He should realize he is now in Manchester United. One of the biggest in the world. Not Everton. He should  equally convince his core players that he is capable of leading the team. Rooney's contract should be sorted out and Van Persie's mind settled. He should go about United his own way. I honestly didn't expect him to do well with United this season. Though I didn't expect the school boy errors he makes with his selections and tactics sometimes. That said I expect Moyes to come good next season. Get better or even to his best by upper season. Only time shall tell if he remains at the helm of affairs in Carrington in the next couple of years. Otherwise, presently, there is fracas in Old Trafford.

FIFA Ballon d'Or. Echoes and opinion.

   Once again, the FIFA ballon d'or have come and gone. Ending months of speculations on who takes what home. The media and football community had been in a frenzy in the last couple of months over the awards. FIFA,one of the largest generators of available funds once again rolled out a legendary ceremony.
   The arguments had been rife. It was really an enjoyable period for football lovers. Arguments and banter over the print and electronic media. Street corners were not spared of the unending arguments. It raged on and on. But all that was laid to rest when FIFA crowned the Real Madrid and Portugal talismanic player,Cristiano Ronaldo, the best player on the planet for 2013. He beat of competition from Barcelona's greatest, Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.
   Under the original Ballon d'Or which was determined by journalists, Franck Ribery would have won the title as he polled 80 of the journalist votes. Miles ahead of what Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi came up with. But that wasn't to be as there had been a marriage of convenience in 2009 where the organisers of the award agreed to a merger with FIFA to align the award into a single one. A merger someone like me loathes with a passion. I have in recent times, ceased to be a fan of the award. This is because I believe it has become more of a popularity contest than what it should be. I believe the criteria for the award is wrong. I believe that since football is a team sport,the award should be made to be based on that singular factor and not the popularity contest it has since become. Topic for another day though. In 2010, Wesley Sneijder had a fantastic season with Inter Milan,horning a treble. While the journalist section voted him the best,the FIFA criteria ensured Lionel Messi won it. I have no confidence in the Sepp Blatter led FIFA. Same confidence I don't have in the present Alhaji Issa Hayatou led CAF. Or even worse. Their inconsistencies, horrible decisions and sit - tight attitude being hugely responsible. But because of the love for the game,we can never abandon football.
  Zlatan Ibrahimovic deservedly won the Puskas award for his goal against England. That goal still spreads a smile on the faces of those that saw it real time. A stunning beauty of a goal!
To the mother of them. FIFPRO eleven. I know it is voted for by footballers themselves. But we all remember vividly when Mario Balotelli claimed he hadn't heard of Jack Wilshere and Nicklas Bendtner claimed he didn't know Andre Arshavin until he signed for Arsenal. Does that mean we know footballers more than the footballers themselves? Because that is what it seems like,based on this FIFPRO crap. One may want to ask what Dani Alves is doing on the list? Alves? Lahm should have easily been slotted into the right full back position and David Alaba into the left full back. And Alves duly returned to Barcelona. Yaya Toure is my first pick for any midfield. Beast of a player! He commands the midfield with ease. Also, Ilkay Gundogan ran the Dortmund midfield very effectively while Schweinsteiger ran the Bayern midfield like a General. These are worthy mentions. Xavi and Iniesta,fantastic players any day,made the list on reputation. Also,Sergio Ramos was not even Real Madrid's best defender last term. Dortmund's Subotic or Bayern's Dante should have had that spot. My opinion.
   That said,apart from the outlined decisions, the ceremony itself was a beauty. The general organisation is laudable. The organisers deserve an award themselves. The gala makes a huge mockery of what is obtainable in Africa where the CAF organised Glo CAF awards is more of a comedy.
   We continue into the year with the belief of a beautiful season. Football leagues beckon and somewhere in the year, the always magnificent FIFA World Cup is lurking! Orgasmic!!

Glo CAF Awards; matters arising.

   The host city was Lagos. A large metropolitan city. The most bubbling city in Africa. The amount of human and vehicular traffic in Lagos is simply mind blowing. When Nigeria was slated to host the awards for this year, followers of the game in Africa predicted the host city to be Lagos.
   CAF, considered a notorious ring by most Nigerians,owing to the decision by the Alhaji Issa Hayatou led CAF to award Samuel Eto'o Africa's best over Nigeria's Jay Jay Okocha remains fresh in the mind of most Nigerian football followers. A decision considered as daft by most. Not knowing that the hypocritical CAF will show their colours again this year. The rate at which the football community keep loosing confidence in FIFA and CAF is on a steady. Reasons being the sit tight approach by the Presidents of the associations and ridiculous decisions taken by them at various points.
   The general organisation of the event begs questions. Personally,I switched on to the Super sports channel broadcasting the event only to switch back to my very captivating 'Arrow' series I had been watching for some days.
Yaya Toure is in my opinion,the best footballer in Africa. His commanding presence on the field is simply a delight. His strength, insight, awareness,ball usage and passing ability is just a beauty to behold. To the vast majority,it was going to be a straight battle between Yaya Toure and Nigeria's John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea holding midfielder had a marvelous 2013. From the AFCON victory where he shone like a million stars,to his Chelsea EUROPA Cup exploits and then his commanding presence for the Super Eagles at the FIFA Confeds, the player was considered a contender. For inexplicable reasons, a lot didn't reckon with Didier Drogba to win the CAF POTY. Himself,a past winner, the former Chelsea hit man who now ply his trade in Turkey was least expected to win it. I remember a certain year, it was a straight one between Jay Jay Okocha and Samuel Eto'o. The Camerounian striker won the award,even though Okocha was the favourite. A reason was cited by CAF apologists; Eto'o won trophies and Jay Jay did not. Okay. We took it,not with a pinch of salt but with a trailer load of it. Yesterday,based on Chelsea's exploits and Nigeria's AFCON victory,Mikel was expected to scoop the award. But as usual,hypocritical CAF showed up again. This time the mooted reason was that Yaya is 'a better player'. A statement that is very true. Yaya is a better all round player. Mikel won trophies. CAF lies! I don't have a problem with the choice of the excellent Ivorian as the winner. What I hate is CAF's two facedness. It's simply annoying. Create a standard and follow it to the latter. Simple.
   Mohamed Aboutrika deservedly won the Africa based best player. The Egyptian play maker who had just retired from football beat Sunday Mba to the award. Kelechi Iheanacho won the best promising player category. He is a player that is expected to grace the game to the highest level. It must be said however that the saga involving himself, father and agent hasn't helped his career. Stephen Keshi won the best coach award too. In all,what we applaud in the award ceremony is the initiative itself.
I seriously begrudge CAF on the criteria. The association should outline criteria and stick to it and not waver like cloth hung to dry.
That said, Yaya Toure is the best player in Africa. The continent does not have another player in his mould. He deserves the award he won to the disappointment of people who follow CAF and her policies. I doubt if CAF and FIFA will ever get things right. Their inconsistencies is a modern day myth.
   Congratulations, Yaya Toure, Stephen Keshi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Mohamed Aboutrika and other recipients of the award. We revel in the beauty of the game while awaiting repentance of football governing bodies. Repentance some people still hope to see. But one,that with the present crop of administrators, I have ruled out. Completely

Football Groove Year,2014.

   We thank God for the football filled 2013. From the various leagues around the world, to the African Cup Of Nations,to the UEFA tournaments, FIFA Confederations Cup etc. Countries like Nigeria and Brazil had a beautiful 2013 owing to AFCON and Confed victories respectively. While clubs like Bayern Munich, Al Ahly, Kano Pillars etc had a fantastic year. Indeed, the God of soccer was at the very best,an ever soothing presence in the lives of the down trodden and massively oppressed citizens of the World who use football as an escape from realities.
   2014 was approached by football lovers with smiles as it promises to be a beautiful year in their lives. The German, Italian and Spanish leagues are expected to resume after the New year celebrations, the UEFA Champions league kicks off from the knock out stages, the CHAN Championship kicks off and the EPL continues. Further down the year, the mother of them all, the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil. Undoubtedly the biggest football fiesta in the world,the FIFA World Cup is expected to be full of pomp and pageantry. In addition to the football artistry itself, Brazil is every travellers choice destination. Therefore, the long and beautiful beaches are expected to be besieged by tourists. Aside football, the samba country is known for her wonderfully created female folks with their particularly famous Brazilian hairs. I guess all these will in one way or the other form part of the tourist attractions on show by the Amazon country.
   God has through football, made a way for the masses. In the face of abject poverty, football puts smile on their faces. Though it is a game loved by every class,the passionate ones are mostly found within the middle and lower classes, as the nouveau rich and maliciously corrupt political class are busy hatching evil oppressive plans. We all look forward to a football laden year. A place in the stands in Brazil will not be out of place for some of us.
In every corner of the world, football fanatics (like me) are rubbing their palms together in glee,praying for a beautiful 2014 as the games lined up are just too mouth watering. It's simple; we all love football.