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The
Samson Siasia-led Super Eagles technical crew on Tuesday had the full
complement of invited home based players to work with as the team
continued its preparations ahead of next month’s invitational
tournament in the United States of America.

Unlike Monday’s
training session, which came up in the evening, the team on Tuesday
trained twice – once in the morning and the other in the evening – at
the practice pitch of the National Stadium in Abuja.

Also, unlike Monday’s session, which had only 14 players in attendance, Tuesday’s training had 26 players in attendance.

However, only 25 of
the players worked with Siasia and his assistants as Valentine Nwabili
was nursing an injury. The injury is, however, mild and the fullback,
who already has a couple of caps with the national team, is expected to
resume full training with the team later today.

Siasia gets car

Meanwhile, the
Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday evening presented Siasia with
his official car, a 2010 model of the Ford Taurus. The NFF also
provided the Super Eagles coach with a chauffeur.

The short ceremony,
which took place at the Glass House secretariat of the NFF, was
presided over by NFF president, Aminu Maigari, and in attendance were
other board members of the NFF including 1st vice president, Mike Umeh;
technical committee boss, Chris Green; Shehu Adamu, Deji Tinubu, as
well as referees committee boss, Muazu Suleyman.

Speaking at the
handing over, Maigari noted that the NFF has now fulfilled its pledge
to give Siasia the same first-class treatment that had been accorded
expatriate coaches of the Super Eagles in the past.

An elated Siasia
beamed widely as he stepped into the state-of-the-art machine and was
driven by Maigari, before he thanked the NFF for the gesture.

“Honestly, I am overjoyed. I thank the NFF for this car and I
promise that we will earn results on the field that will make everyone,
every Nigerian, happy,” said Siasia.

It is not of him
that wishes, or of him who is running and wants to wins, but of God,
who bestows his mercy on whomsoever he wishes. The news of the death of
Gideon Njoku came to me as a very disheartening shock – to put it very
mildly.

On the 1st of
October, 2010, after sharing the Save Nigerian Sports Initiative
(SANSI) and the W.W.W(we will win) FIFA 2018 World Cup visions with
some stakeholders, Njoku walked up to me and said inter-alia: “sir, I
want to be part of what you people are doing.” I felt so encouraged to
hear such a statement from an ex-international football player and
great coach, who has contributed tremendously to football development
in Nigeria. We agreed to meet in my office, the following week. And he
came.

My office is on the
4th floor of a building. The elevator does not function and I pray it
does not because I derive some degree of exercise climbing the stairs
to my office and I enjoy doing so.

So, Njoku had to
climb the stairs cases, in order to get to my office and that was not
funny at all. By the time he walked into my office, he was struggling
to breathe properly, and as I often tell all those who visit me, I said
him to him, “Please catch your breath sir”.

This took about two
or three minutes. Fred – my secretary, and Kingsley – one of my
assistants, remarked after my very fruitful meeting with Njoku, that
they were scared by the way he was breathing while with us in the
office.

I noticed it too,
because I remember calling his attention to his weight vis-à-vis the
way he was breathing, during our discussion. To my surprise, he agreed
and told me he had not been exercising well for about the past three
years. He said much more and left. His second visit to my office, was
when he brought a meticulously crafted proposal he put together for the
training of football coaches working with us. I wish I had the
opportunity to publish the proposal he wrote, so that Nigerians would
appreciate what they have lost. There is no doubting the fact that we
have lost a committed, sincere and experienced grass roots football
development technocrat.

Last moments

In December 2010,
Njoku was one of the guests of the General Overseer of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, at the special
prayer/thanksgiving service, for the revival of Nigerian sports.

During the
reception that took place after the service, he told sports writers and
others present that he was as good as being jobless. We heard him but
maybe a few hearkened and were sensitive to what he said. He left the
venue in Segun Odegbami’s vehicle. A few days after this last meeting,
he sent a text message to me, informing me of the death of his mother.
I sent my condolence to him in response. I called him after about a
week and he told me he was already in the village for the burial of his
mother and would be back in Lagos after the Christmas holidays. I
wished well and was looking forward to our next meeting.

On Tuesday January
11, 2010 around 7pm, I called his mobile telephone number and a
different voice answered me. It was his son. He told me the Great Njoku
was no more! I called Segun Odegbami who confirmed it and I wept once
more for Nigerian football. Well, weeping may last all night, but, it
is certain however, that joy will come in the morning. This is our
consolation.

In a related
article titled “More coaches to suffer stroke” written by Everest
Onyewuchi, on Tuesday 4th February, 2003 and published in one of
Nigeria’s dailies, Paul Onyeudo, of the Sports Medicine department in
the National Sports Commission (NSC), predicted that more coaches will
suffer stroke based on the health situation of Peter Fregene, a former
Green Eagles and Stationery Stores goalkeeper. One of the best this
nation ever had.

Making hay

Prior to Fregene’s
case, another ex-international and former coach of Udoji United
football team, Sam Opone, had died in 2001 as a result of stroke.
Another ex-international and former coach of Stationery Stores and
Union Bank football team, Austin Ofuokwu, had also been confined to the
wheel chair, due to stroke.

This last decade has ‘swallowed’ some of Nigeria’s legends. God willing, maybe some of them could have been avoided.

Yes, maybe. I believe that it is very essential for us to address some vital issues, as we try to console ourselves.

While I agree that
there is absolutely nothing we can do to revive our ‘lost’ heroes, we
owe ourselves the responsibility to protect those who are still alive,
as a means of assuring millions of young Nigerians, that the future is
bright for them.

To begin with, all of us in sports, whether athlete, journalist, agent, manager, trainer, coach, scientist,

administrator –
whether bureaucrat or technocrat, must learn to appreciate the fact
that it is our responsibility to ‘make hay while the sun is still
shining’, and by so doing, we ‘prepare for the rainy day’. This is not
all about having a viable pension or retirement scheme. It is not about
how many millions we have in our bank accounts or shares we have
bought. It is not also about the number of landed property we have
acquired, over the years, it has to do with taking very good care of
our bodies. Don’t be deceived please, no matter how rich you are, if
your body is not in good condition, it is not likely that you will live
to enjoy your wealth. We will deal with this issue later, by the grace
of God.

While I sincerely appreciate the call on the government to do
something as regards our legends, I wonder which arm of the government
is being referred to. Is it the local, state or federal government? I
laugh and ask myself if they know that this great nation has lost a
hero. By the way, who is going to be responsible for his burial? We
wait and see.

Now that we are
about to play in or should I say compete in an age-grade – U-20 –
championship again, there is a strong need to address pertinent issues
concerning a festering sore in our football, age-cheats and the
age-bending tactics. There is always the lazy and jaundiced argument
that we are not the only nation that cheats. The point is cheating is a
misdemeanour and howsoever or wherever it manifests, it’s a crime.
Granddads’ masquerading as youth is fraudulent.

Perhaps it would help here to re-state the main objectives of age-grade competitions in the first place.

In 1974, Brazilian
lawyer and businessman, Jao Havelange was elected President of World
Football Governing body, FIFA at the FIFA Congress in Germany where the
World Cup was held. Africa’s champion and lone entry at the Mundial
suffered heavy and embarrassing defeats in all the matches they played
at the opening round.

Havelange’s new
Executive Board sought to find reason(s) for the heavy defeat suffered
by the African Champions at the 1974 World Cup. Amongst other findings,
it was revealed that the African Champion suffered from inferiority
complex. Such psychoanalysis propelled the thought and eventual resolve
that lesser platforms be created to afford African and third World
countries opportunity to compete with the rest of the world before
getting to the World Cup proper. It was also resolved that the
championships so recommended, U-16 (later U-17) and U-20 be hosted by
third world and developing countries.

That is why the
maiden edition of the U-20 World Cup was held in Tunisia in 1977. In
1979, Japan hosted with Argentina winning, throwing up an all-time
great, Diego Armando Maradonna. Since then Nigeria has participated and
hosted without really recording outstanding players or players who
lasted ten years after participating in either U-17 or U-20
competitions.

Nigeria failed to
go to the Tokyo in 1979 even with talent like Sylvanus Okpala, Henry
Nwosu, Adedeji Obe, Lucky Imafidon, Franklin Howard, Humphrey Edobor,
Edema Benson etc.

Note that Edobor
and Edema played in U-20 from 1978 to 1983, in the team that played in
Mexico! In the 1983 team, Samson Siasia and Andrew Uwe played again in
U-20 in 1985 Russia edition. That is how we have been doing it even
when the Mexico ‘83 team had talent like Wilfred Agbonavbare, Yisa
Shofoluwe, Amaechi Oti, Tarila Okorowanta, Deinde Akinlatan, Yemi
Aderanijo, Alphonsus Akahan, Paul Okoku, Chibuzor Ehilegbu, the
Olukanmi brothers, Femi and Segun, Dahiru Sadi, Christopher Anigala,
Ali Jeje (Captain), Tajudeen Disu, Edema Benson, Humphrey Edobor
(again), Wahab Adesina, Patrick Udo etc. The team to Russia ‘85 was
loaded to hilt with Aloy Agu (Keeper) Mark Odu, Andrew Uwe (Captain),
Osaro Obobaifo, Waidi Akanni, Ndubisi Okosieme, Titus Mbah, Niyi
Adeleye, Wasiu Ipaye, Godwin Eke, Christian Obi, Uche Ikeogu, Augustine
Igbinabaro, Mark Anunobi, Michael Dominic, Monday Odiaka, Kingsley Onye
(Mature), Samson Siasia (again).

Never mind that
bronze boot winner in that competition, Monday Odiaka did not claim an
Eagles shirt, he could not hold a first team shirt at his club, ACB FC
of Lagos in the 1986-87 season.

Missing the point

Monday Odiaka and
his types represent premature retirees and the negative impact or lack
of growth of our youth players. To be honest, apart from the 1983 U-20,
who Adegboye Onigbinde had the balls to blood, and who made the nucleus
of the Eagles for the African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire ‘84, the
percentage of graduation to the senior national team has dropped
sharply. The team had players such as Yisa Shofoluwe, Paul Okoku,
Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Femi Olukanmi, to join other relatively young and
little tested Peter Rufai, Patrick Okala, Kingsley Paul, Charles
Yancho, Rashidi Yekini, James Etokebe, Clement Temile and tested horses
Muda Lawal, Stephen Keshi, Bala Ali, Humphrey Edobor.

The decline is
such that out of the very talented and on the face of it a young
looking squad to Japan ‘93, Celestine Babayaro and Nwankwo Kanu are the
only real benefits of that edition. In Wilson Oruma and Mobi Oparaku,
we have two other players who looked good enough but only had a handful
of caps between them. The drop became more apparent in subsequent years
when football administrators lost the essence and spirit of age-limited
competitions. Pressure to win and justify their stay on the job forced
not so ready Nigerian Coaches to recruit grandfathers from Pro-League
Clubs for even the U-17 team.

Nigeria’ 1996
Olympic Squad: Emmanuel Babayaro, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West,
Nwankwo Kanu, Uche Okechukwu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Tijani Babangida,
Wilson Oruma, Teslim Fatusi, Jay-Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Abiodun
Obafemi, Garba Lawal, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Kingsley Obiekwu,
Mobi Oparaku and Dosu Joseph, all full internationals apart from Mobi,
Dosu, Obiekwu, Emmanuel Babayaro and Obafemi before the Olympics on
paper had an average age of 23 years. Ten years later, only Wilson
Oruma, Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu could still play big-time
football. U-23 players indeed.

Of Samson Siasia’s
famed Holland’ 2005 just Taiye Taiwo, John Obi Mikel, Sani Kaita
(loaned to just about every team in Russia), Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi,
forever injured, Solomon Okoronwo, Dele Adeleye, Olubayo Adefemi, John
Owoeri, Onyekachi Apam have graduated to the Super Eagles even when
there are not many good players around. So what happened to team
Captain Isaac Promise, Kennedy Chinwo, Monday James, Yinka Adedeji,
Daddy Bazuaye, Daniel Akpeyi, Soga Sambo, Kola Anubi, Kola Ige, Ambrose
Vanzekin?

Then scan through
the U-17 of 2007 if you will recognise any top flight player in it
still plying his trade at home or abroad: Laide Okanlawon, Ganiyu
Oseni, Usman Amodu, Azeez Balogun, Kingsley Udoh, King Osanga, Kabiru
Akinsola, Rabiu Ibrahim, Matthew Edile, Oladele Ajiboye (Aji boy!),
Yakubu Alfa, Lukeman Abdulkarim, Sherif Isa, Mustapha Ibrahim, Uremu
Egbeta, Ademola Rafael, Saheed Fabiyi, Lukman Haruna, Uche Okafor and
Macaulay Christantus, hailed as the new Jay-Jay Okocha.

As we now know, he is the new Phillip Osondu.

You all know that
story, no need to bother readers with it. Like his Ghanian equivalent,
Nii Odartey Lambtey, Phillip Osondu never grew. But how could he?
Osondu, known as Zanza played in the football League for Falcons of Aba
in the 1979 – ‘80 season and played U-17 for Nigeria in 1987. Such is
the level of fraud in age-grade football in Nigeria.

Adokiye Amiesimaka
aka Chief Justice, ex-Eagle and Cup of Nations 1980 winner screamed
loud before the U-17 championship in 2009 that the players we were
parading are overage particularly the team’s captain and that it’s a
disservice to the country, opinions were divided as to the propriety of
his action. I supported him at the time and still support his position.
Now let’s save that agony and national embarrassment and do it right
for now. Choose real U-20 please.

Less
than one week after former Super Eagles defender, Uche Okafor died in
the United States, Gideon Njoku,another Nigerian international, passed
on in Lagos.

Today’s generation
of Nigerian football fans mesmerised by the talent of Austin ‘Jay Jay’
Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu may not know Njoku but in his time he was one
of the best around. He was a member of Nigeria’s gold medal winning
team at the 1973 All Africa Games.Before Njoku died he was not a very
happy man. In October last year, during the celebration of Nigeria’s
50th independence anniversary, Njoku was one of the former Nigerian
footballers, who were at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God (RCCG) to confer an award on Pastor Enoch Adeboye. As I
interacted with him, I saw a man who was bitter with a system, which
favoured individuals who were willing to lick books and bend the truth.
He felt that the football establishment in Nigeria had not been fair to
him.

You may agree or
disagree with him depending on your disposition; the fact however
remains that in his prime he derived joy from serving his country.

In his time,
athletes were not like those of the present generation, preoccupied
with pecuniary matters. What was uppermost in their minds was to excel
and be worthy ambassadors of their country. They competed for Nigeria
without any inhibitions, without any expectations beyond the fact that
they wanted to be given a pat on the back for a job well done.

Njoku served
Nigeria well. The All Africa Games gold medal they won in 1973 was
Nigeria’s first major international football laurel. It paved the way
for subsequent triumphs continentally and globally.

Sadly for him and
for other members of that team and many others of their generation who
did big things for their country, they have not been celebrated. A lot
of former Nigerian stars of Njoku’s and later generations, perhaps
sensing that continued participation in sports in Nigeria was the
quickest route to penury left Nigeria to study and work abroad. A lot
of them have not come back.

In the United
States alone we have hundreds of them-Charlton Ehizuelen, Bruce
Ijirgho, Felix Imadiyi, Francis Monidafe, Sam Okpodu, Modupe Oshikoya
were some of those that set forth at dawn. Later we had others like
Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Humphrey Edobor, Paul Okoku,the Olukanmi brothers,
Femi and Segun, Deinde Akinlotan. This is not to forget the track and
field athletes-Innocent Egbunike, the Ezinwa brothers, Olapade
Adenekan, Peter Agbebaku, Chidi Imoh and others who remain in the
Diaspora.

Rewarding service

I believe that for
former sportsmen like Njoku the country they served diligently should
not leave them in the lurch. It has been argued and there is merit in
that argument that sportsmen should while active should not wait on
government but should plan for the time their limbs become weakened
with age and as such cannot carry them anymore.

Retired sportsmen
like Segun Odegbami and Adokiye Amiesimaka are exemplars in this
regard. Both men managed despite the challenges to get educated and to
thrive in business.However, it is my opinion that regardless of whether
retired sportsmen plan for retirement or not, the country they served
in their youth should make adequate plans for them to be comfortable in
old age. For those who may want to ask what is special about sportsmen
that government should go out of its way to cater for them, I ask: what
is the rationale behind giving retirement benefits to past military
leaders who subverted the Nigerian constitution by shooting their way
to power?

If these men who in
the course of violating the laws of the land amassed so much wealth can
be rewarded instead of being vilified and punished, why can’t dedicated
men and women who while competing for this country burnished its image
internationally be rewarded also with retirement benefits?

Is it too much for
government acting through the National Sports Commission (NSC)to set up
a mechanism that would identify ways in which retired sportsmen who
have represented in international sporting competitions can be put on
retirement benefits and those who can still contribute intellectually,
be given opportunity to do so?

As I write this,
Kenneth Ilodigwe, a former member of Enugu Rangers and the Green
Eagles, is down with prostate cancer and needs a little over $60,000
for treatment. In his seventies, Ilodigwe, known by admirers as Kendo
for his dashing and mesmerising style cannot afford the amount and has
cried out for help.

Whether the country
he served in his youth will come to his aid or whether it will allow
him to die and then eulogise him as a patriot remains to be seen. For
me, I think the time has come for us to live out the creed in our
anthem, which says that ‘‘the labours of our heroes past shall not be
in vain.” At this stage in our national life when patriotism is equated
with foolishness there can be no better way to inspire our youth to
national service than by showing and proving to them that those who had
walked down that road before them did not do so in vain.