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Just as an oddly shaped Christmas gift intrigues a young child before the wrapping comes off, next week’s Masters has whetted the appetite of fans and players because of its rich promise.

As the season’s first major, the Masters is always anticipated with more hope, speculation and hunger than any of the other three, and probably more so this year than ever before.

Former world number one Tiger Woods and defending champion Phil Mickelson, who between them have clinched six of the last 10 Masters titles, are both well short of their best form, leaving the April 7-10 event wide open.

Although neither Woods nor fellow American Mickelson can be discounted as likely contenders, the list of potential winners at Augusta National next week is as long as anyone can recall.

World number two Lee Westwood, third-ranked Luke Donald and big-hitting Dustin Johnson (12th) can all lay claim to being due a maiden major victory and that trio will hold high hopes when they tee off in Thursday’s opening round.

So too will the other reigning major champions; Britain’s Graeme McDowell (US Open), South African Louis Oosthuizen (British Open) and German world number one Martin Kaymer (PGA Championship). And the list does not stop there.

Veterans such as Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and 2000 champion Vijay Singh, PGA Tour winners like Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, plus a host of younger guns led by Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Ryo Ishikawa, are all capable of flourishing at Augusta National.

Aura of dominance

With Woods having lost the aura of dominance he enjoyed before his stunning fall from grace at the end of the 2009 season, each major now begins with a high proportion of players in the field holding genuine expectations of success.

“With Tiger going through his troubles and whatnot, it’s given the world a chance to view what golf might be like without Tiger,” said Northern Irishman McDowell, who won four tournaments across the globe last year.

“Golf is very healthy and we’ve got some really great, young talent coming through. But getting Tiger Woods back to winning golf tournaments, I think golf needs him back as well.”

Woods, a 14-times major champion who has lifted the prized green jacket on four occasions at Augusta National, has not triumphed anywhere since the 2009 Australian Masters.

His game suffered as he tried unsuccessfully to repair his deteriorating marriage last year while spending less time at practice than usual.

His divorce from his Swedish wife, Elin Nordegren, was finalised in August, and that same month he embarked on the fourth swing change of his professional career, with Canadian coach Sean Foley.

“This year, I felt like I’ve played my way into shape,” Woods, 35, said after tying for 24th at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. “I’ve played, I’ve kept progressing.

“Early in the year was disappointing because the conditions showed some signs of weakness that I had to work on. Now, it’s feeling very, very good.” Comfort factor

While Woods goes into next week’s Masters without his customary swagger following his recent barren run of form, he could hardly pick a venue where he feels more comfortable.

He is ideally suited to the par-72 layout, which was stretched to a formidable 7,445 yards for the 2006 Masters, making it the second-longest course in major golf at the time.

Woods still ranks among the longest hitters, has a superbly creative short game and is arguably the best putter of all time from inside 15 feet. He just needs to regain consistency.

Three-times champion Mickelson also relishes playing at Augusta National where his magical short game is a major factor.

“Coming back to Augusta National is such an incredible feeling, knowing that I’ve won the golf tournament, that I’ve had such success there and that I’m part of the history of the Masters,” the left-hander said.

“One of the reasons why I’ve been successful there is that when I drive through the gates, I have this feeling of confidence; that I know how to play the golf course; that I don’t have to play it perfectly; and that the strength of my game, which is short game, can often save or salvage rounds and pars for me and keep me in contention.”

Experience is always a prized commodity at the Masters and Ireland’s McIlroy expects the “usual suspects” to be lurking in the upper reaches of the leaderboard in the final round.

“It takes a while to learn the golf course and it takes a while to feel 100 percent comfortable on it,” he said. “The Masters is always going to be a tournament that everyone in the field feels that they can win, but I think you’ll still see the usual suspects up there on Sunday.”

The Super Falcons will today take on the Namibian women’s national team, the Brave Gladiators in a 2012 Olympics qualifier at the Abuja National Stadium.

Though victory is the major target, the Falcons will also be seeking to continue the goals harvest currently enjoyed by the country’s other national teams.

Last weekend was a good one for Nigerian football fans as the national teams found their scoring boots again; the U-23 Olympic team defeated their opponents 5-0 and the Super Eagles notched a heartwarming 4-0 and 3-0 victories over Ethiopia and Kenya respectively.

Going for goals

Perpetua Nkwocha, reigning Africa’s Woman Player of the Year is expected to lead the Falcons attack today as the team’s coach, Eucharia Uche, stated that she wasn’t be taking any chances. “We cannot underestimate the team (Namibia), we will approach the game with all seriousness because we want to win and win convincingly,” she said.

“We are ready for the Namibians. They cannot stop us from continuing the good run for Nigeria football. My girls are upbeat and in very high spirit and we will not let the nation down.”

Seven foreign-based players were invited by the coach for today’s match. They are; Effioanwan Ekpo, Emuje Ogbiagbevha, Rita Chikwelu, Onome Ebi, Ulumma Jerome, Helen Ukaonu and Faith Ikidi.

The largesse recently received from the President for their performance at the last African Championships is also expected to motivate the girls and particularly with a ticket to the Olympics up for grabs. The six-time African champions are thus expected to go full throttle against the Gladiators at the Abuja National Stadium pitch today.

The Falcons will also be using the qualifiers to prepare for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup that is scheduled for Germany in June.

In 2008 the Super Falcons hammered the Brave Gladiators 10-1 on aggregate in an African Nations Cup qualifier but that might be a tough score to repeat as the Namibians have improved and have promised to offer a stiffer contest today for the Falcons.

No pushovers

The Namibian coach, Jacqui Shipanga says aside any other thing; she believes the Super Falcons respect her team as it was obvious in their planning to field their best players in today’s first-leg qualifying match.

Shipanga said the fact that Nigeria assembled their strongest possible squad was a testament of her team’s recent rapid progress. Shipanga also added that her players were more than capable of holding their own against the Falcons.

“We are not called the Brave Gladiators for nothing,” said Shipanga. “If we can’t beat them, then we can learn from them.”

Also Queen Manga, captain of the Brave Gladiators said the positive morale in the team will push them to greater heights against their more experienced opponents today.

She told local Namibian reporters before departing for Nigeria that her teammates were in high spirits ahead of the first leg qualifier and the team is looking forward to showing the rest of the continent just how much they have progressed over the last few years.

According to Manga, the Brave Gladiators are feeling confident after comfortably seeing off neighbours Botswana 1-0 in a friendly last Saturday plus their narrow 1-2 loss against the highly rated Banyana Banyana in South Africa a fortnight ago. Manga said the team could even cause an upset against the Super Falcons.

Namibia are ranked 17th in African women’s football while Nigeria has occupied the top spot on the continent for years.

“We are not going there to lose,” said Manga, who is poised for her 34th cap today. Last time we were not well prepared. I feel that Sunday (today) will go very well for us. We are developing into a super team!”

While exuding confidence in their team’s ability to give a tough fight to the Falcons, Shipanga also stated that one of her team’s focuses is to reduce the 10-1 record the Falcons set in their last encounter.

Shipanga however admitted that a win against Nigeria would be difficult by any stretch of the imagination, considering the gulf in class between her youthful squad and the wealth of experience the Super Falcons currently boast of.

“The youngest player in our team is the 16-year old player from Eldorado High School, Albertina ‘Chicken’ Davis. She only started playing last year at the Zone VI (Youth) games. Now Albertina will have to play against Perpetua (Nkwocha), who is 35 years old and has participated in numerous World Cups. There is a 20-year gap between the players.

“The last time we played them we lost 10-1. I want us to improve on this performance if we can,” Shipanga said before leaving Windhoek for Lagos.

Theoretically, the Falcons and the Gladiators are only two stages away from qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

While the return leg for today’s match is billed for Windhoek in two weeks time, the winning team over the two legs will play the winner of the match between Ghana and Liberia.

Izetta Sombo Wesley from Liberia has been named as match commissioner for today’s game while the centre referee is Fadouma Dia, to be assisted by assistant referees Adia Isseu Cisse and Die Alse Sylla while the fourth official Amina Fall completes the list officials who are all from Senegal.

As the cricket national team prepares to compete on two fronts starting from April and then in May, one of the players that will have the burden of turning out a good performance is Femi Oduyebo of Federal Government College Warri Old Students Association (FEGOCOWOSA) cricket team.

Oduyebo came out of a selection process that had two training camps in Lagos before a final list of 16 players was released and the all-rounder was chosen for the team by the board of national selectors. The new captain of the team, Endurance Ofem believes that the selection process was thorough and that any one that made it into that final 16 list merited it.

Ofem said, “The 16 players were arrived at by the Selector’s Board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) after two hectic training phases which ended in Lagos on February 16, 2011.” “I think the selectors did a good job in arriving at the final list of 14 players and two alternate players,” Ofem continued.

Also the new coach of the team, Sean Philips said, “Though I was not part of the selection process, I am happy about the composition and we will have a chance when the tournaments start in April.”

A new name on the batting list

The inclusion of Oduyebo elicited this response from the new captain, “Oduyebo’s inclusion is a victory for hard work and perseverance.” Ofem also commended the new national invitee for an overall improved display in the season that just ended.

Ofem also used Oduyebo’s case as an example for the players that could not make the team at the moment and advised them to continue to work hard. “I will tell the players that the national door is not closed. Femi (Oduyebo) has worked hard this year and I am happy that he has been chosen for the national team.” Oduyebo started playing the gentleman’s game at 13 years old in Ogun State. “I started when I was in JSS 3 in 1996 in Sagamu, Ogun State”, Oduyebo stated.

Oduyebo who grew up in three states; Lagos, Ogun and Osun States revealed that it was a grassroots coach called Abayomi, who introduced the game to his secondary school, Makun High School. “I was playing football for my school when cricket was introduced. I left football for cricket because it is a gentleman’s game – no fighting and no rough play”, he said.

A problem that most sportsmen and women face in Nigeria is the inability to combine playing sports with a qualitative education, something that Oduyebo has been able to accommodate successfully.

In Oduyebo’s words, “If you are intelligent you will be able to play the game of cricket especially in Nigeria. Cricket is played on weekends and since I do have any classes – I planned my weekends for cricket and weekdays for education.”

Foundation at Rocks Cricket Club

His journey in the game has been a long but ultimately fruitful one. He started playing league cricket when he was in SS1. “I started playing in the league when I was in SS1. I played for Rocks Cricket Club of Abeokuta, I then moved to Foundation Cricket Club (FCC), Lagos, from where I joined my present team.”

After he was named into the national team, Oduyebo expressed his happiness but at the same time announced his ambitions for the green-white-green jersey. He said, “It has always been my ambition to play for the country and when I heard my name, I was the happiest person on earth because I had achieved a dream that seemed unachievable at a point in time.

“But that is the starting point, I hope to help the team win our games so that we can be a part of test-playing nations in the world.”

Nigeria is currently ranked 36th in the world and not listed as a test playing country.

He enjoyed watching the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which ended on Saturday and has been a keen follower of the games and hopes that one day very soon, Nigeria will become a test playing nation. One of the games that really thrilled him was the India vs. Ireland encounter in Mumbai. “It had everything for a one-day international (ODI). There were catches, sixes and drops – there was tension until the conclusion of the second innings.”

Oduyebo is third in a family of seven. He started his primary education in Ikoyi but was later transferred to Makun High School and to Akesan Grammar School Iperu, Ogun State. In 2005 he gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife to study Economics and graduated this year.

The motivation for the season

So many followers of the league commended the selectors for choosing the right-hander, saying that it showed that the league was improving and churning out better players. Oduyebo agreed but revealed that the motivation for him at the beginning of the season was to make sure that his team, FEGOCOWOSA, was not relegated. “I prepared purposely for my club this season because there were various jibes from guys that my club will be relegated and I told them it wouldn’t happen.

“It was a challenge that I prepared for not knowing that it would mature as a call to the national team.” Though he has experienced some horror moments on the way to become both a university graduate and a national team player, he will not trade the journey for any other. “It was a different ball game in the university compared to primary and secondary schools; where the love of the game kept you batting and bowling and the pressure of school work was not as intense as in the university,” Oduyebo disclosed.

“One bad experience I had was during this last semester at OAU. As an extra year student, I was maligned by some University of Lagos players and their lecturer, that I was no more a student, whereas I had an extra year to go – I could live with it because I appreciated the fact that they saw me as a threat to their winning the games at NUGA.

“Of course I did not like the attention and the slur it cast on my reputation, thankfully the misunderstanding was cleared up.”

There will be no such misunderstanding as Oduyebo gets ready to bat the opposition into submission in Botswana and then in South Africa. The squad is currently preparing for the Africa Premier League (APL) T-20 Division 2, which was supposed to take place in South Africa from April 22-28, 2011 but has been shifted till after the World Cricket League (WCL) Division 7 holding in Botswana from May 1-8, 2011. The national team players have procured visas for a two-week training camp in Benoni, South Africa and are billed to leave the country on April 13, 2011.

The Emir of Katsina Charity Shield has been named winner of the prestigious Polo Aficionado Tournament of the Decade award.

The statement, officially posted by Polo Aficionado, a media organisation, which has organised the award for years, is the latest to emerge from the decade 2001-2010 best achievers roll.

This prize surely is a major fillip to Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club, which inaugurated the tournament in 2003 in honour of former Emir of Katsina, Muhammadu Kabir Usman, and Access bank which has sponsored the tournament for the past four years.

Eight years on from that maiden edition, and more than N100m in philanthropy mainly to UNICEF, the Emir of Katsina Charity Shield has decidedly made its mark as the premier polo charity event, which this award has superlatively authenticated.

In a triangular contest with its closest rivals, Lagos and Kaduna tournaments, the choice of the Charity Shield in the end, apparently looked easy for the Polo Aficionado panel. For competition, content and added value to Nigerian and international polo, the Charity Shield at handicap 22 out of a possible 40 has been in a league of its very own as Nigeria’s highest handicap polo tournament in the past decade.

Such dizzying handicap level also means it has consistently attracted the very top players from around the world, including stars of the mighty Argentine Open such as Silvestre Donovan (handicap +8), Diego White (+7) and Alejandro Astrada( +8). In the 2006 edition, superstar Augustin Merlos (+10) became the first ever premium rated player to play on Nigerian soil.

Altogether more than 150 foreign professional and amateur players from more than ten different countries have participated in the Charity Shield since 2003, a number five times greater than those of its rivals combined. About 30 foreign players (male and female) played in the 2008 tournament alone while visitors from more than twenty countries have also attended through the years.

When it comes to projecting Nigeria on the world polo landscape, Charity Shield is top of the bill. The distinction doesn’t end there. With a regular pool of five to six teams the Charity Shield also poleaxes its rivals for entries. Car prizes for Most Valuable Players and cash rewards for winners and runners-up definitely make other tournaments look somewhat inferior but when you consider that the Katsina Charity Shield also commands a N1m entry fee, you begin to understand why it is up there alone, not only as the most prestigious polo event in Nigeria but also as the most exclusive tournament in Africa.

As has been the case in the past, this award is expected to significantly increase the sponsorship value of the Charity Shield. Fifth Chukker polo captain, Babangida Hassan Usman Katsina concurs: “The award is clearly a validation of our efforts through the years in trying to create a world class facility for world standard polo. Nothing has been more gratifying than having all these well travelled players and visitors come to you and say how wonderful their experience at Fifth Chukker has been. I believe our sponsors will also be elated for this tremendous recognition of their support”

Man of the decade

In another development, Polo Aficionado has also posthumously given the Man of the Decade award to the late Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Usman who passed on in 2008.

Usman was an iconic figure in Nigerian polo for much of his life having played and retired at the highest levels of the domestic game with a +5 handicap. When he succeeded to the Katsina throne in 1981, he also inherited the life presidency of the Nigerian polo Association from his father Usman Nagogo, arguably Nigeria’s greatest polo legend.

His reign and tenure witnessed the biggest ever expansion of polo in the country especially with the establishment of private clubs and the hosting of continental and world polo championships largely by Fifth Chukker.

The last decade of his eventful reign also witnessed his 25th coronation anniversary in 2006. Incidentally, a lifetime achievement award scheduled for 2008 was scuttled by his demise early that year.

In 2009, The Kaduna Polo Club unveiled a massive pavilion named after the late royal father. The Man of the Decade award celebrates the momentous polo career of the emir’s life as well as his last decade during which record milestones were achieved and surpassed mostly at his instance.

The 2011 Emir of Katsina Charity Shield is scheduled to gallop off from May 26 to June 5; again teams and players from Nigeria, Argentina, the United States and South Africa will be matching talents and wits for the different prizes on offer.

But, inevitably, it is the Charity Shield with another scintillating parade of world class professionals that has got polo fans salivating at the guaranteed prospect of yet another high goal extravaganza.

In two days time, quarter-final matches of the UEFA Champions League will take place in stadia across Europe.

Excitement is building up in the run up to the games, which will see the remaining eight clubs jostling for places in the last four.

With two English clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea billed to clash on Wednesday at the Stamford Bridge, football fans in Nigeria are bracing themselves up for a delicious fare to be served by two of England’s leading football clubs.

Other matches in the quarter-final fixtures include the encounter between nine-time champions, Real Madrid and flamboyant English side, Tottenham Hotspurs, the clash between defending champions, Inter Milan of Italy and Schalke 04 of Germany and the much anticipated match between Barcelona FC and the irreverent Shakhtar FC of Ukraine, which put highly rated Roma of Italy to the sword in the round of 16.

Viewing centres across Lagos are bracing up for the expected surge of customers. One venue where excitement is expected to reach feverish pitch is the Heineken Planet House located on Victoria Island in Lagos.

The Planet House resumed in February for the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League, and presented an opportunity for some lucky fans and consumers of the Heineken brand from various cities across the country to be united with other invited guests to witness sublime football.

The guests, who cut across business leaders and loyal consumers who secured invitation from a multi-city recruitment from in-bar locations in six major cities outside Lagos namely: Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Ibadan, Kaduna and Port Harcourt clearly relished the experience.

One such fan was Ihieaka Ikechukwu, an ardent follower of both local and international football. Aside his passion for the round leather game, his leisure period is mostly spent with friends after a busy day’s schedule at pubs where he relaxes with friends to unwind.

It was one of such days late in January in the coal city of Enugu that he had an encounter with the Heineken Champions Planet activation team at the bar location. While other lucky consumers were rewarded with branded souvenirs on that night, Ikechukwu was luckier because, the lucky dip draw earned him the right to watch the UEFA Champions League second round knock out matches at the prestigious Heineken Champions Planet with all an expense paid trip to Lagos on match days.

The real deal

At first, the young man could not see any big deal in this because he and his friends have always watched matches at various viewing centres in the city where they share their passion for their various clubs. However, since the trip to Lagos was not going to cost him anything, he opted for the adventure.

“Initially, I thought the whole thing was a farce because I would have loved to win one of their very attractive souvenirs instead of coming to Lagos to watch football matches that I could have watched at home or with friends at numerous viewing centres located around my area.

“I was reluctant but with both flight and accommodation expense already booked, I opted to have the ‘Planetary’ experience I had read in the papers and watched on television over the years,” he said.

For Ikechukwu and some others from other locations who left their hotel rooms for the Heineken Champions Planet to savour Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over mighty FC Barcelona at the Emirates stadium in February, they have been given an opportunity to feature in the draw for the five lucky consumers that will be selected to watch the final match of the competition live at the Wembley Stadium in London on May 29 this year.

The Heineken Champions Planet is in its fifth season and for the first time last September, ventured into the group stages matches with the aim of creating more exciting viewing experience where football lovers can enjoy all the matches.

The Heineken brand in Nigeria has for the past five years given Nigerian football fans an opportunity to watch and experience the UEFA Champions league in a premium viewing experience.

This is the first time since it began four seasons ago that the Heineken Champions Planet is going into full scale nationwide invitation of consumers in some major cities across the country.

Much excitement is expected in today’s top of the bill clash between table toppers, Ebun Comets and staunch rivals, Dodan Warriors, as the regular season of the Nigeria DSTV Premier Basketball League continues.

The coach Ayo Bakare-tutored Comets side defeated Warriors by two points the last time out, as they rallied to a 83-81 points victory and Bakare who also doubles as the national women’s team coach, says it would be a big plus to achieve a double over the Warriors this season.

“We are prepared for the game; I hope to have get another victory over them but Warriors is a good side and I expect a good fight,” he said.

No mistakes

However, coach Adeka Daudu of the Warriors team, said his players has learnt from the loss to Comets and hopes to right the wrongs today.

“They were the better side last time, they got away with a two points win, so we are hoping that this time, we would look at the errors that we made and move on. We actually gave them too much respect but we will not make the same mistake this time around,” he said.

Daudu ruled out any special incentive or motivation for his players ahead of today’s game as he pointed out that it was just like any other game. “It is like any other game, though the players have been waiting for such big games, they have been talking about the game and I am sure it will be nice game for all.

“There is nothing like a special game,” he continued. Daudu however appealed to fans to throng the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, venue of today’s match to come and have a feel of local basketball at its best.

“It will be a good way to relax after Saturday’s election; my team is good at entertaining the crowd and Sunday will not be any different,” he finished.

Contests in the DSTV league are getting tougher, as teams jostle for points to brighten their qualification for the Final Eight playoffs slated for June as some teams also battle against relegation.

In December 2002, when violence broke out between Christians and Muslims in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna, over 200 lives were lost including the parents of Nigerian forward, Victor Moses.

Not yet 12 years old at the time, the young Moses was expectedly shocked by the ghastly event and for many years alienated himself from his country of birth.

That was until a few weeks ago, when he made up his mind to return to the country after getting a call-up to the Super Eagles ahead of last Sunday’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia, as well as Tuesday’s friendly international against Kenya.

The 20 year old, who had remained in England since the 2002 riots, didn’t get to play any part in the two games owing to his eligibility status, – having previously played for England at youth level- but he remains ready to play for the country of his birth despite the ghosts of his past.

“It feels good to be home after all these years but it’s not so easy forgetting about what happened,” Moses informed NEXT in Abuja, a day after the Super Eagles whipped the Ethiopians 4-0.

He added: “I still think about Mom and Dad but I have forgiven those responsible for their death as I gain nothing by holding a grudge against them.”

Prodigious youngster

A devout Christian, Moses first came into prominence in the latter part of 2009, when a run of five goals in eight games for Crystal Palace saw him emerge as one of the most sought-after youngsters in England during the January 2010 transfer window.

This culminated in a £2.5 million transfer to Premier League side Wigan Athletic on the last day of January. And six days later, Moses, who is comfortable as a winger or point man, made his debut for the Latics as a substitute against Sunderland.

Before then however, in 2007, Moses was a member of the English U-17 side, which got to the final of the UEFA Under 17 Championship in Belgium where they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Spain who went on to feature, that same year, in the final of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in South Korea, where they lost to Nigeria on penalties.

In Belgium, Moses finished as the tournament’s top scorer and continued with his fine goal scoring form in South Korea where he also finished as England’s top scorer with three goals, including a brace in the Young Lions’ 5-0 win over New Zealand.

His tournament however ended abruptly in the 2-1 group phase win over Brazil no thanks to injury, but England went on to win their round of 16 clash with Syria 3-1, before losing 4-1 to Germany in the quarter finals.

He thereafter went on to feature for England at U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels but playing for Nigeria always seemed to be at the back of his mind, especially after he was approached by Super Eagles handler, Samson Siasia.

Fervent desire

“I’ve always wanted to play for Nigeria,” he continued. “Yes, I have played for England at youth level and there was a chance I would someday play for the senior national team, but after carefully weighing the options available to me, I had to pick Nigeria.

“The manager (Siasia) made it quite clear that he wanted me and I was moved by that. It’s not every day you get a visit from the manager of the Super Eagles and he was able to convince me that my future was with Nigeria.”

Going by events at the national team’s training sessions prior to the game against Ethiopia, it was obvious to all that Moses was going to play a part in the game against the East Africans until news filtered in that he was not eligible for the game.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play against Ethiopia, as I wasn’t eligible for the game, but that was no fault of mine. I do believe it will be rectified before the next game, which I believe is against Argentina.

“That will be a very interesting game and it would be special to make my debut against a team like Argentina. I wanted to play against Ethiopia but we can’t go against the rules.”

FIFA palaver

Having previously played for England at youth level, FIFA’s Players Status Committee requires correspondences from all parties involved before confirming Moses’ eligibility for Nigeria.

Moses, according to the FIFA Committee, has to notify FIFA of his intention to play for Nigeria. At the same time, the English FA has to concur to a release, while the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has to express their willingness to accept the player as a full international.

The Nigerian FA however commenced the process of getting Moses eligible for the Super Eagles only on the Wednesday leading up to the game against Ethiopia but the time was too short for FIFA to do anything about the situation.

“We wrote to FIFA notifying them of our intention to use him but they informed us that there are certain conditions that should be met before he could play for us,” disclosed acting secretary general of the NFF, Musa Amadu in an interview with NEXT.

“These include a letter from Moses indicating his intent to switch nationality, as well as one from us, and another from the English FA confirming that Moses had not played for their senior team.

“We have to get all of these documents together and send them to FIFA. By the time we do all of these, he will be available to play for the Super Eagles, but I am sure all will be sorted out before our next match,” he added.

Amadu isn’t alone in that regard as Siasia is equally hopeful that the Wigan forward will be available for the friendly game against Argentina on June 1 in Abuja, as well as the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia four days later in Addis Ababa.

Bright future

“He is a very humble young man,” said Siasia. “But he’s also good and has age on his side.

He added: “He has a bright future ahead of him and if he remains focused on his career, he will definitely be in the Super Eagles for a very long time.” Playing for the Super Eagles for a very long time is definitely on Moses’ mind. But one other thing that’s also preying on his mind is getting the team back to the top of the footballing tree; a task he believes is possible considering the array of stars at the country’s disposal.

“With all the top players in this team it’s surprising that we are not so highly rated,” he continued. “There’s (John Obi) Mikel, (Joseph) Yobo, (Osaze) Odemwingie, (Taye) Taiwo, and so many other good players in this team.” “There are so many good players spread all over Europe and it’s obvious that this is going to be a great team. He added:

“With the plans the manager has in store for this team, I think it won’t be long before the rest of the world begins to pay attention to us. I am so glad to be here in the company of these wonderful players.”

Last Sunday, Samson Siasia made his competitive debut as coach of the Super Eagles with a game against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia at the National Stadium, Abuja. The game, a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, ended in a 4-0 victory for the Super Eagles, which they followed up with a convincing 3-0 drubbing of Kenya’s Harambee Stars two days later in an international friendly, also decided in Abuja.

In both games, the Super Eagles displayed time and again, flashes of good football to the delight of many Nigerians, most of whom were expectedly optimistic regarding the team’s future under Siasia, who coincidentally, was a pivotal member of the last Super Eagles side to have endeared itself to Nigerian football fans.

That was the Super Eagles side of the early half of the 1990s who, under the tutelage of Dutchman Clemens Westerhof, terrorised Africa and the world in general with a brand of football that was probably only inferior to that of the Brazilian side of that era. Westerhof’s team, although not filled to the brim with ‘world-class’ players in the sense of it, always gave a spirited performance during matches regardless of the level of opposition and in the process earned themselves a reputation, which transcended the length and breadth of the African continent.

Westerhof’s Super Eagles side also scored goals in torrents, while conceding goals in trickles. This past week, the Super Eagles, under Siasia, created scoring opportunities time and again against the Ethiopians and Kenyans, and even finding the back of the net seven times altogether. For a side that had in the past number of years found the art of goal scoring as difficult as the proverbial camel passing through the eye of a needle, the Super Eagles displayed a style of attacking football that was reminiscent of Westerhof’s all-conquering side, which raises the question: Are the Super Eagles truly back or is all these just a flash in the pan?

Past and present

“Now that was a side that knew how to score goals, and did so with reckless abandon,” said former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju, who was a key member of Westerhof’s Eagles team. “We didn’t have all the big names but we scared every team that played against us.

“We were a team and didn’t depend so much on individuality. That is what is still lacking at the moment with this team but we must not forget that this is a team that is rebuilding.

“They have a new coach and the players haven’t gotten used to the way he would want them to play. There are also a lot of new players in the team so we all have to be patient and give them time to get to know each other. “But they have started well, and if they continue like this it won’t be long before the world begins to take notice of Nigerian football,” added the former Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Salamanca of Spain midfielder. It is also an opinion that is shared by Mainasara Illo, who was the chairman of the local organising committee of the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup.

“This is a team in development and the coaches have done a good job,” said Illo. “I believe with time, this is going to be a very great team.” The games against Ethiopia and Kenya were characterized by early goals by the Super Eagles with Peter Utaka opening scoring under a minute in the former, and Ahmed Musa grabbing Nigeria’s first goal in the latter encounter against the Harambee Stars.

Another thing both games had in common was the inability of the Nigerian side to finish off the opposition in the first half only to emerge from the dressing room after the half time interval with renewed vigour culminating in a second half goal feast. “I guess credit has to go to the coach for telling them the right thing during the break, which was why they came out firing at all cylinders in the second half,” said Emeka Ezeugo, also a member of Westerhof’s Super Eagles side. “But they still have a long way to go before any comparisons can be made (with Westerhof’s Super Eagles team). He added: “The players are still trying to understanding one another and the midfield isn’t quite as domineering as it should be. But this is a new team, under a new coach and I believe with time, they will get to that level.”

Positive change

The duo of Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Inter Milan’s Joel Obi manned the Super Eagles’ midfield, at least from the start, in the games against Ethiopia and Kenya as Siasia opted for a 4-2-4 formation which transformed into a 4-4-1-1 formation whenever the side lost possession to the opposition. But unlike in the recent past, like at the 2010 World Cup under Lars Lagerback, as well as at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, where the Super Eagles defended deep in their half while depending on oftentimes ineffective counter-attacking moves, Siasia’s side pressed the opposition across the pitch beginning from the very moment they lost the ball. Siasia was pleased with the performance of his side in both games but knows there is still a lot of work to be done. “I am happy with the way they played but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Siasia said.

“We struggled in the midfield, especially in our first game against Ethiopia who outnumbered us in that department. He added: “But we made some corrections in the game against Kenya and by the time we get to play more games, they’ll get used to the way we want to play, which involves closing the opposition down and not giving them any room to operate.” It was a view corroborated by former Nigeria international Chukwuma Akuneto, who is currently a coach at English league side, FC United. “The Super Eagles did very well especially in the area of repossession of the ball,” he told NEXT from his base in England. “They played high and wide and knew that they didn’t have to wait for the opposition to lose the ball before attacking.

They forced them to lose the ball. “The attackers and midfielders piled a lot of pressure on their defenders and as result they lost the ball very close to their goal area as was the case against the Kenyans,” recalled Akuneto regarding Nigeria’s opening goal against the Harambee Stars where Inter Milan’s Obi intercepted the ball before Victor Anichebe laid the ball across the area for Ahmed Musa to open scoring. He added: “We were also forcing them to launch long balls into our area because of the high line of defence which made them feel threatened but credit must also go to the defenders for keeping their concentration all through the games.”

The future

The quartet of Joseph Yobo, Efe Ambrose, Taye Taiwo and home boy, Chibuzor Okonkwo manned the Nigerian defence line and provided good cover for goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba whose confidence would no doubt have been boosted with the clean sheets he kept in those games, especially in the absence of first-choice goalie Vincent Enyeama. For Yobo, it was another opportunity to play with another central defensive partner after pairing with Michael Odibe in the 2-1 friendly win over Sierra Leone, and the duo of Danny Shittu and Rabiu Afolabi during the 2010 World Cup, as well Dele Adeleye, who was his regular partner during the World Cup qualifiers. Although Ambrose churned out an acceptable display in the games against Ethiopia and Kenya, the situation might change in the coming months especially if England-based Nedum Onuoha opts to pledge his international future to Nigeria.

Recent reports suggest that Onuoha is seriously considering pledging his future to the Super Eagles, but having earlier failed to do that after being approached earlier by Siasia, he will need to take the initiative if he plans on featuring for Nigeria. “I went to him.

I drew the first blood, so it’s left for him to come back to me and tell me that he wants to play,” Siasia informed NEXT in Abuja. He added: “I’m not saying that I don’t want him, but the decision rests with him. If he wants to play, he has my number. So he can reach out to me and tell me he wants to play for Nigeria.” Having Onuoha in the Super Eagles, coupled with the likes of Italy based Obiora Nwankwo, Lukman Haruna, Nosa Igiebor and Nnamdi Oduamadi, who all shone like a million stars for the Nigerian U23s in their 5-0 win over Equatorial Guinea, could go a long way in transforming the Super Eagles into world-beaters in a few years time. But much more still needs to be done if Siasia’s team will in years to come, be comparable to Westerhof’s all-conquering side.

“In football, to create a team that is all-conquering you have to first start by building team and fan confidence,” wrote former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh on his blog site following the win over Ethiopia. “First step is getting several positive results; second, improve the manner of getting those results; then comes titles or set goals and achievements.

“It took the last successful Eagles time to build and lots of trials and errors to get to the top and this new breed should be given that too and with the victory against Ethiopia, we might be on the right track,” added the former Ajax and Juventus ace who played for nine years for the Super Eagles, from 1993 to 2002.

Westerhof arrived in Nigeria in 1989 and five years later, led Nigeria to a first ever World Cup appearance. A few months earlier, in 1994, he led Nigeria to the Cup of Nations title in Tunisia. Siasia has only been on the job for three months, but it is unlikely that he will have the luxury of time Westerhof had back then