Nigeria Content Online

The trip to Dubai for the first leg
of the Red Bull X-Fighters International Freestyle Motocross, which ended last
weekend, was laced with excitement.

We had taken off aboard Emirates
Airlines two hours behind schedule on Wednesday, April 13. The flight
originally scheduled to leave Lagos by 2.30pm eventually took off after 4pm. In
the company of The Guardian Newspaper’s Lekan Okusan and Vivian Ihaza, National
Brand Manager (Nigeria) of Red Bull, I looked forward to having an exciting
time in Dubai.

A football fan, I naturally have not
had much time for motocross or any other form of motorbike competition. That
was to change after I had seen the X-Fighters in action during the competition.

We arrived Dubai around 3am local
time (12 midnight Nigerian time, there being a three-hour difference) but had
to circle the airspace for a while due to slightly unstable weather conditions.
The view from above was breathtaking. The city at night with its network of
lights snaking through the city looked like a Byzantine maze.

Getting set

The Pullman Hotel where we were
accommodated was situated within Mall of the Emirates, a huge shopping centre
where practically everything is sold. The hotel itself was a beehive in the
days between our arrival and departure because in addition to the hundreds of
tourists who had come to behold the wonders and pleasures of one of the world’s
fastest growing cities, there were scores of journalists that Red Bull,
sponsors of the event, had flown in from different parts of the world.

The journalists, most of whom unlike
me, had ample knowledge of motocross having followed it extensively in the
past, chattered endlessly about the coming clash between defending champion,
Nate Adams, nicknamed ‘The Destroyer’ for the often crazy manner he decimates
the field in a competition, and the rest of the riders.

On Thursday afternoon (April 14), we
head off for the Jumeirah Beach Residence, venue of the competition. The event
is scheduled to commence late in the evening with the qualifying rounds. We are
herded into the Media Centre where we meet, Tes Sewell, the irrepressible
Sporting Director of the Red Bull X-Fighters series, who assures us we are
going to be in for the time of our lives once competition gets underway.

Sewell informs us we will get to
meet four of the top riders after we had undertaken a tour of the venue where
the action would take place. First, we had to visit the riders shed where they
relax and from where they launch out for competition. The riders are not there
yet but we get to see their machines with Sewell taking time to explain to all
the makeup of each bike.

From the shed, we move to the arena
where organisers have taken care to design a course that would suit the bikers
who have their adrenaline levels rising higher with each practice since their
arrival in Dubai.

Set against the magnificent
high-rise buildings and the adjoining Hilton Hotel, it was one spectacle that
titillated the eyes at night. Sewell explains that it took the whole of seven
days to get the dirt fully installed on the beach.

After the tour of the venue, we
encounter the four leading riders – American Nate Adams, winner of the last two
editions, Dany Torres from Spain who won the last leg of the 2011 edition in
Rome, Robbie Maddison and Levi Sherwood.

Re-ordering priorities

All four riders anticipate a tough
contest but none is willing to disclose his game plan. Of the four, Australian
Robbie Maddison, aptly nicknamed ‘Maddo’, for the mind-boggling risks he often
undertakes, is bubbling with excitement. His wife has just been delivered of a
baby boy. Would that influence him to scale down on his risks? He was
diplomatic in his response.

“Being a father is nice and comes
with certain responsibilities. It makes you want to re-order your priorities.
Now, that I’m a father, I guess I’ll have to work harder knowing there are new
responsibilities, Maddison said.

Torres, winner in Rome, the last leg
of the 2010 tour looked anything but the ferocious lion he would become on the
tracks once competition got underway. The diminutive rider from Spain who
promised to light up Dubai could barely be heard and he spoke in halting
English about how he fancied his chances in the event.

Torres show

On the day of the show proper
(Friday, April 15) we make our way to the beach from the Hotel and by 6pm when
we get to the beach, there is a huge crowd already milling outside, some buying
tickets, other ‘killing’ time before the competition commenced.

By the time we get into the venue
about ten minutes after our arrival, we are struck by the transformation of the
venue, which in daytime had looked like coarse and ordinary. With the lights
rigged and demarcations set, the arena looked thoroughly breathtaking. Viewed
from above, the staging area looked like one huge X.

The five judges and the head judge
who were to adjudicate at the event were already seated. The task as we would
find out was going to be a tough one. There were to issue results based on five
criteria: Variety, Challenge & Execution, Style, Use of the Course and
Spectator Reaction.

By the time the show commenced by
8pm, the arena had filled to brim with spectators with as many standing on the
beach as were sitting in the terraces. One of the guests present at the event
was Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai who
also acts as chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

Unlike shows of this nature in
Nigeria, often characterised by long speeches by government officials, there was
not one word from Al Maktoum, who just sat in the VIP stand savouring the
action as it unfolded.

The qualifying rounds had taken
place the previous night and of the twelve riders who came into Dubai for the
event, six had automatically qualified for the final rounds with two more to
join in the final qualifiers before the final round began. Andrew Villa, the
6-foot-2 rider from Norway had led the pack at the end of it with 436 points
and was followed in second and third place by Levi Sherwood and Nate Adams.

Torres, who many had expected to
qualify easily, had finished in seventh place meaning he had to battle it out
with five other riders to grab one of the two available slots.

He wasted no time in doing so. From
the moment he stepped out against his opponent in the contest to qualify for
the final round, he was simply breathtaking, executing aerial moves with his
bike that had spectators sitting on the edge of their seats. He was very
business-like and it was not surprising when he easily qualified as lead with
American Adam Jones joining him in the final.

From that point on, he was simply
unstoppable edging defending champion, Adams and Villa in the semifinal and
final to emerge winner of the Dubai leg. Villa finished second with Adams
finishing third. The victorious Torres said it felt good winning:

“It’s a nice feeling winning here.
It was tough for me yesterday during the qualifying rounds but thankfully, I
did a lot better today. I look forward to sustaining the tempo in Brazil,” he
said.

‘A part of me is gone’

By Tinuke Adefemi

His fiancé is in shock. We have called her but she has not been able to say
anything. He told me he was coming home to make plans for his wedding to her.
But look at what has befallen us. Most times he would already be in Lagos
before calling to say ‘mum cook rice for me’ but that won’t happen again. How
can I remain alive while my son is dead? He should be the one burying me, not
me burying him.

I miss him a lot. He is part of me and a part of me is gone. He is my life,
my everything.

We are still confused about what arrangement we want to make. We are
contemplating burying him in his site in Igede area. He was planning to come
home and complete his house, but some people are saying we should bury him in a
public cemetery. We are just so confused.

Tinuke is mother of Olubayo

‘He was planning a low-key wedding’

By Bukola Adeife

I learnt about his death on Monday from friends who were calling to ask me
when last I heard from Bayo. It was on Sunday that he actually called me to buy
clothes for him for the Easter festivities. But on Monday, while watching TV I
saw them talking about Bayo.

It’s true that he wants to come and prepare for his marriage, but he didn’t
want something elaborate; he wanted a low-key wedding.

The name of the lady he wants to marry is Folashade. She is a Nigerian and
lives in Iyana-Ipaja. But I don’t even know how she is taking the news because
I have not spoken to her.

He speaks with us frequently on phone. He called my husband on phone and
told him not to tell anybody he was coming home. He wanted to give us a
surprise but this is the surprise he has given us, can you imagine that? He
wanted to plan his wedding within one week.

Adeife is an elder sibling of the late Olubayo

‘There was no dull moment with him’

By Bunmi Adefemi

He was the one who called me and sent me on an errand to Abeokuta but by the
time I got to Abeokuta on Monday morning, I heard the news. This is a day I
will never forget, but I will cherish his memory. He was very funny, lively and
there was never a dull moment with him around. I will miss him so much.

Bunmi, a 400 Level student University of Ibadan is Olubayo’s younger
sister.

‘Bayo was humble and jovial’

By Sam Sodje

“The club he was playing for before he died was my former club. It was one
of his teammates who is a friend of mine who called me barely minutes after the
accident to inform me that Bayo had been involved in an accident and was in a
coma. I left everything I was doing and said a prayer to God to spare the soul
of the young man. The road from Kavalla to the airport is a bit far, and from
what I heard weather conditions were very poor and this resulted in the
accident.

“I continued to monitor the situation, calling club officials and other
team-mates until sadly, the news came that he had passed away. It is very sad,
Bayo was my personal person. He joined Skoda Xanthi just as I left the club.
But we saw in Lagos and he asked me about the club and I wished him farewell, I
didn’t know he was going forever.

“Whenever we were together in the national team, Bayo was very humble and
jovial. When we got into the pitch however, training or match, he became very
business minded. He was a promising youngster who will be sorely missed by
Nigerians for his industry on the pitch. We will also miss him as team mates.
Dickson Etuhu called me and he was in great shock. May his gentle soul rest in
perfect peace.”

Sodje, a member of the Super Eagles, once played for Adefemi’s Xanthi
Skoda

‘He was like a brother to me’

By Christopher Katongo

“It was a good day and all the players were laughing and joking when the
manager came in and broke the news. Everyone is in shock.

“Even as I’m speaking, I’m thinking it is a joke but it is true. I can’t
believe this. He was a good person, he liked to joke and liked to laugh. It is
the reason why he got along with everyone and was well liked. He was like a
brother to me because we shared the same room during team camping. It is a big
loss to me and the entire Xanthi team.”

Katongo, Adefemi’s Xanthi teammate is a Zambian international

‘Olubayo liked helping people’

By Yomi Kuku

For me he was a tremendous young man, full of life, and this morning (April
18), we were at training when we heard about his death.

Just last week, we were talking and he brought up a number of possibilities;
He was so full of ideas and he told me he was going to be in Nigeria for about
three to four days and he would like to see the team (Homeless World Cup team)
and speak to the players to encourage them. He was planning to do something for
them even if they were selected or not and we had already informed the players
this morning but he had already died while we were doing that.

We were so close and the thing is that we have never met. We have always
missed meeting each other but when we talked last Thursday, we were hoping to
see each other finally.

For me I followed his career and he is a very humble guy, down to earth,
very intelligent, looking at his CV he was a complete gentleman. One day, I
just sent him a message via Facebook and he responded and I became his friend
and then we started talking for about a month we were always communicating and
he was asking me a lot of questions. He was very frank about what our project
was about.

Olubayo was very particular about helping people especially the widows and I
don’t think a lot of people knew that he had social programmes that he handled
in Israel. He was working with migrants from places like Djibouti and he placed
a premium on education. We met him like eight months ago.

We will find a way to get across to his family and we will be instituting
some special programmes in his name and can assure you that we will have a
picture of him on the sleeve of our jersey and we will be making a giant poster
for him.

Kuku is the CEO of Search and Groom, the organisation in charge of
preparing Nigeria’s squad to the Homeless World Cup of which Adefemi was an
ambassador.

The death on Monday of Super Eagles defender, Olubayo Adefemi, leaves me
numb.

When the news broke, I wished there had been a mistake somewhere. But I knew
I was only hoping against hope because the agency which flashed the news is an
internationally-respected organisation not given to frivolities.

Until he died, I did not have a relationship with him beyond our
interactions on a professional level. I had occasion to interact with him on
Facebook now and again. Unlike most of his colleagues in the Super Eagles, I
found him to be quite down-to-earth.

His humility was striking in the way he showed respect to both his seniors
and juniors. One of my colleagues has told of how Olubayo, upon seeing him in
Ghana during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, prostrated before him in respect.
This colleague to whom he did this was not even 40 years old at the time.

Kasia Muotu, a former footballer now based in the United States where she
uses her non-governmental organisation, We Play to Win, to educate and empower
youngsters in America and Nigeria, said of Bayo upon learning of his death:
“May his soul rest in peace… The guy had a very solid run. What most got me
was his heart for others and his love for God. What a tragic loss to us, but a
wonderful gain in Heaven.” Later, when I asked her if she could do a little
tribute to the late football star, she said, “I’d be honoured to share my
thoughts on Bayo. Although our friendship was only over the last two years, his
impact and what he impressed on me was deep and resonated to the core. I can
say that of very few folks. I will get you something by Thursday, for sure.
It’s my pleasure to invest time into ensuring the success and longevity of
others with a heart for service and a heart for God. This applies to Bayo.” He
was that kind of person.

It is instructive to note that everyone who has commented on his death has
harped on this particular quality that he possessed in good measure. Yomi Kuku,
founder of Search and Groom, the organisation which, among other things,
prepares the team that represents Nigeria at the Homeless World Cup, related to
me the role Adefemi had been playing as an ambassador of the Homeless World
Cup. “Olubayo was special. He was a different kind of human being. Till he
died, I did not meet him but we spoke several times on the phone. As our
ambassador, he was willing to go to the ends of the earth to help us. He came
up with a lot of strategies to help us attract sponsorship for our team. On one
occasion he said to me, “Yomi, I know I am not as popular as Kanu or Okocha but
I will use all the connections I have to ensure that this thing works.” That
was the kind of person he was. We have really lost a special human being.”

A breath of fresh air

Apart from his humility, Adefemi was a patriot. He may not have had the
sublime skills of Austin Okocha or the velvety touch of Nwankwo Kanu, but he
more than made up for this in passion and commitment.

He loved his country and was prepared to do anything within his power to
play for it on any and every occasion. He often agonised when national team
handlers did not look in his direction but was always willing to work hard to
improve his game. This led him to change clubs a number of times in the last
two years. But he was undeterred; anything to make him get into the national
team was okay as long as it was legal. We are all going to miss him. His death
leaves us all diminished and it is going to take a while for us to come to
terms with it. At a time Nigerian footballers playing for the national team
acted like the entire country owed them just because they starred for the
national team, Adefemi represented a breath of fresh air.

Expectedly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has joined millions of
Nigerians in condoling with his family. That is fitting and proper. Beyond
this, it should be willing to offer the late player’s family any assistance
with logistics it may need during preparations for his burial. May his soul
rest in peace.

With Joao Havelange having a 24-year stretch as FIFA boss and Joseph Blatter
now in his 13th, it’s no surprise that Mohammed Bin Hammam advocates term
limits being inserted into the world governing body’s statutes.

“Eight years is a long time for anyone to be president and I do not need
longer than this to implement my programme,” the FIFA presidential candidate
told me during an exclusive chat in Banjul, capital of The Gambia.

“About eight, nine months ago, I submitted a proposal to the FIFA executive
committee, in which I suggested that the terms of the president should be
limited to a maximum of eight years, with the rule only taking effect from
2011… Unfortunately, this motion was defeated.”

That vote has not brought an end to a sore subject many in the game’s
fraternity believe must be confronted, in order to ensure a steady flow of
innovation from FIFA’s upper chamber.

But assuming Bin Hammam will make this issue a cardinal point of his
presidency, should he be elected, it could be akin to barking up the wrong
tree.

“If you are asking me whether I will resubmit this proposal to the executive
committee, I am not too sure about that… But I can assure you that I will not
stay for more than two terms if I am successful.” “I took over as Asian
Football Confederation (AFC) president in 2002 and introduced a three-term
limit (a maximum of 12 years in office). So, if I am not successful in my bid
to become FIFA president, I’ll end my career in 2015, when my final term ends.”

Having accused Blatter of being a “sit-tight president”, one would assume
the AFC boss will sound the warning bells of doom for FIFA, should the Swiss
get a much sought after final term in office.

But Bin Hammam is complimentary of his long-term ally turned political
adversary.

“Competition is the way to make the organisation vibrant… If Blatter
continues his work after the elections, should he win, I think it will be good
for FIFA…” “My feelings for him have not changed and I hope we will shake
hands after the contest is over. I do not see him as an enemy and I hope he
feels the same.”

To have a serious chance of winning the contest, the Qatari needs
substantial African support, with CAF, alongside UEFA, being the largest
confederation in the world.

But personalities within the continent question the genuineness of Bin
Hammam’s relationship with Africa. The AFC president has been accused of using
his Gulf wealth to interfere in CAF’s political matters, especially during
elections into its executive committee and polls for the continent’s FIFA exco
representatives.

Many say his alleged support for Algeria’s Mohammed Raouraoua, was vital to
the latter’s successful bid for a seat on the FIFA executive committee last
February.

Accusations of skulduggery, predictably, attract a denial from the AFC boss.

“Some people may see it that way but I have never influenced anything
internally in Africa,” he claims.

“My relationship with the continent’s federations and administrators is a
close one. I have passed the stage of mere friendship with Africa.”

But the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – the smallest country ever to be awarded
the hosting rights – is all about business.

With Qatari temperatures reaching up to 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees
Fahrenheit) in the summer months, when the tournament will take place, the
unsolved mystery of how the tournament will thrive remains – but not for Bin
Hammam.

“The months of June and July are a peak tourist season in Qatar. There are
people on the streets and it’s not as difficult a place as is suggested.”
Should he fail to ascend the FIFA presidency, Bin Hammam claims he’s content to
ride into the political sunset.

“In 2015, my life in football will end and I’ll go back to my family. I have
11 children and 15 grandchildren, so I have a lot of work at home to do!”

But victory in the May 31/June 1 poll will certainly turn things on its
head. That, certainly, is not on Joseph Blatter’s wish list.

In a previous column titled ‘Amos Adamu’s macabre dance’, the erroneous
impression was given that the former FIFA executive committee member had lost
his right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Although FIFA told me that “The findings of the decision of the FIFA Appeal
Committee… were notified to Mr Adamu on 4 February 2011,” which would have
barred him from an appeal, this was incorrect.

The full judgment, needed before a CAS appeal can be filed, was not
delivered to Mr Adamu until April 12, which means he has until 3 May to appeal.
FIFA has given “apologies if there has been any confusion”.

I have had the privilege of knowing Olubayo Adefemi for only two and a half
years. He initiated the relationship by “friending” me on Facebook. His first
note came on November 20, 2008 (I just retrieved it): “Hello, happy to meet u.
I see you played football too at one time. See u putting smiles on the kids out
there for me. Am doing great over here. To God be the Glory. Stay blessed.
Let’s please stay in touch. Cheerz.”

Hence, the friendship began.

Very humble and always uplifting, Bayo never led a conversation with his
accolades and national or international accomplishments, of which he had so
many to boast of. Instead he humbly and respectfully would punctuate my day
with:

“My big sista – where are you? Longest time, just checkin on u.”

“Been in Bucharest for 3 months. I plan to make 2010 [World Cup team] but as
u know man proposes, while God disposes; I look up to Him.”

“How far with the sports programs for the kids?”

“Kasia, great job you are doing..Just keep the candle light burning. Am
gonna join u. Thanx 4 writing me, thanks for your words – I’m lifted up – Oba
t’oni gbogbo ope!”

Over the course of two and a half years, I learnt not only what a talented
player he was and how much he loved fashion and good-natured jokes, but that
this was a man in his early twenties with a very mature outlook on
relationships, life, and his faith. While a leader on the sports field, he also
had a heart for serving others, and a heart for Christ. He spent much time building
others up, sending them positive messages, and sprinkling humour into their
lives. I call people like Bayo, a “builder of builders.” One of his more recent
notes read, “Dear, keep moving forward. You encourage me and my job is to in
turn build you up by encouraging u. Hope 2 meet u in person soonest, maybe at
my wedding?”

Amazing being

What an amazing human being he was. Having never known him previously, Bayo
had warmed his way into my heart and into my personal support structure. And
from the recollections that have sprung up since his death, clearly he had done
so with so many other individuals. My last note to Bayo read, “Thank you for
the kind thought and birthday note! Both are very appreciated. I’m following
your progress and am proud of you! Don’t stop, God has such big things yet for
you.”

Apparently, the things God had in store for Bayo were so much bigger than
this earth could contain.

Bayo’s death is a tragic loss for all who know him and love him, as well as
those who may have never met him but are impacted by the example he set. At
such an unbelievably young age, this “servant-leader” has left his imprint in
football, and in the lives and hearts of so many around the world. He served
and encouraged others; passionately pursued a personal relationship with God;
and gave his best on the football field each time. This is “playing to win” in
the tournament called life! The way I see it, Bayo won! Albeit very early, he
completed his assignment, and was called home into glory. He recently wrote, “God
is above all things!!!” Bayo was so right about that. We have to trust and not
question, that the same God who gives, is the God who takes away and has the
keys to all things (“Oba ti emi gbogbo enia wa l’owo Re!”). May Olubayo
Adefemi’s exemplary life and legacy continue to bless others for a long time to
come.

Muoto, a former footballer based in the United States, is President of
‘We Play to Win, Inc’

Nigeria’s
chances of qualifying for this year’s FIFA Under 20 World Cup in
Colombia now hangs in the balance after suffering a 1-0 loss to
Cameroun on Thursday at the ongoing African Youth Championship (AYC) in
South Africa.

And with Ghana and
Gambia only managing to play out a 1-1 draw in the day’s other Group B
encounter, the result means the Flying Eagles need to avoid defeat in
their next match against the Gambians while hoping the Camerounians do
likewise against the Ghanaians in order to progress to the semifinals,
and with it, a spot at the U-20 World Cup.

Cameroun, who had
earlier beaten the Gambians by a lone goal in their opening match of
the tournament, secured Thursday’s win over the Nigerians courtesy of a
goal on the stroke of halftime by Franck Ohandza.

The Thailand-based
striker, picked up the ball on the edge of the area with his back to
the Nigerian goal, turned his marker before curling the ball with his
right foot into the far corner of Danjuma Paul’s goal.

It was the first
goal of the tournament for the 19-year-old who five minutes earlier
thought he had given the Cubs the lead only for the goal to be rightly
chalked off for offside.

Dominance

The Camerounians
deservedly led at the halftime break as they were more incisive than
the side managed by John Obuh, who fielded virtually the same side that
ran out 2-1 winners over Ghana last Monday, with the exception of Ahmed
Musa, who had since returned to Holland after being recalled by his
club, VVV Venlo.

Almeria of Spain’s
Stanley Okoro, however took Musa’s place in Nigeria’s starting 11 but
his lacklustre display epitomized the overall performance of the
Nigerian team on the rain-soaked pitch of the Dobsonville Stadium.

It thereby came as
no surprise when the midfielder was taken off on the hour mark and
replaced with Almeria teammate, Ramon Azeez. But the change did little
to alter the flow of the game as the Camerounians always seemed the
more likelier to grab the game’s next goal.

The Nigerian
goalie, Paul was however on hand to deny the Cubs. Even when the
Nasarawa United ‘keeper was beaten, the crossbar was on hand to save
his blushes as was the case in the 64th minute when Ghilsain Mvom bent
a free kick over the Nigerian wall.

With a quarter of
an hour to the end of the game, Paul came to Nigeria’s rescue once
again as he stopped a goal-bound shot from Ohandza, taken from well
inside the Nigerian area.

Thursday’s victory
further confirmed Cameroun’s dominance over Nigeria at the AYC and
stretched their victory over Nigeria to eight wins, compared to
Nigeria’s solitary victory which arrived as far back as 1985.

The five matches that have been played by both sides since Nigeria’s
5-1 win in 1985, including yesterday’s game in Soweto, have all ended
in victories for the Camerounians.

As
Alex Ferguson likes to say, it is ‘squeaky bum time’ as the season
enters the home stretch. With six games to go, six points clear atop
the table, the Red Devils have to take the three points when they host
Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday. And with a trip to Germany to face
Schalke 04 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final tie
on Tuesday, the importance of taking three points from Everton seems
more magnified.

In their previous
meeting this season, United gave away a two-goal lead in added time for
a famous 3-3 draw as Everton scored two quick goals through Tim Cahill
and Mikel Arteta to spark wild scenes of celebration at Goodison Park.
Since then it has been a season of injuries for Everton with one of
their best players, Steven Pienaar being sold to Tottenham Hotspurs. It
will also be remembered that Everton manager David Moyes was charged
with misconduct after he confronted the referee of that match, Martin
Atkinson following a goal-bound move was truncated by the referee’s
final whistle.

Ferguson was
disappointed with United’s defending then but he was more concerned
with a failure to convert a host of chances – and that will be the same
stern words the Scotsman will be uttering to his players following the
0-0 draw at Newcastle on Tuesday following a myriad of missed chances
especially from Ryan Giggs.

Everton though have
regained some form in the last 10 weeks, and go into the game, having
won five and drawn two of their last seven Premier League matches. They
also have the extra motivation of knowing that a win will take them
above Liverpool and into a Europa Cup spot.

Chelsea still in the hunt

The Blues have
climbed into second spot on the league standings with six points and
six goals from their last two matches while Manchester United and
Arsenal have faltered. They now sit six points from United and lead
Arsenal on goal difference. Though Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea manager has
made it very clear that he does not believe that his charges can reel
in United, the players are hoping that Manchester United’s European
adventure will take off some of their edge in the league.

Saturday’s match against the Hammers is the second of three consecutive home matches before the trip to Old Trafford on May 8.

And Florent
Malouda, back in the goals, with three goals in the last two matches,
believes the Blues must continue to apply pressure to the top team but
they must stay grounded.

He said on
chelseafc.com that, “The title race is open for the three teams and
even though Arsenal drew; we are only second because of the goal
difference.

“We have no choice
but to win every game to put pressure on Man United. They have to play
at Arsenal but we have to play our part by winning our games. We have
to stay humble; we know where we are coming from. We are out of the
Champions League now and we have to give everything until the end of
the season.” Though giving everything may not be enough to save
Ancelotti’s job. West Ham are desperate for points but it is hard to
see Avram Grant’s side getting any favours at Stamford Bridge.

Expectations of another Clasico

No prizes for
guessing what Jose Mourinho will do in this game – he will rest most of
the players that played 120 minutes against Barcelona in the Copa del
Rey triumph on Wednesday. Having won Real’s first trophy in two years,
the ‘Special One’ may have conceded the La Liga title to Barcelona, but
his side can still achieve ‘La Decima’ this season. Winning a 10th UEFA
Champions League title has been a consuming obsession for Madrid and
achieving that feat at the expense of their fiercest rivals can only
bring unbridled joy.

They return to the
Mestalla, venue of Wednesday’s victory to face Valencia, who are almost
guaranteed a Champions League slot – so expect the Blaugrana to take it
easy but ‘Los Che’ will want to avenge a 2-0 loss suffered at the
Santiago Bernabeu in December.

Barcelona, on the other hand, should get back to winning ways when
they confront Osasuna on Saturday. But there are many questions that
Pep Guardiola will have to answer. Will he rest his star players
especially Lionel Messi? Will David Villa start after not scoring in 10
consecutive league matches? All this will be playing on Guardiola’s
mind as he prepares his team for another ‘chess’ game with Jose
Mourinho in the first leg of the Champions Legaue on Wednesday. Club
captain, Carles Puyol is in a race to be fit for the match.

Lagosians
will have a chance to celebrate the stars at this year’s edition of the
Promasidor Easter Para-soccer Championship which will see eight teams
vying for glory.

The competition,
which would have about 80 players and 16 officials in attendance, will
hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos as the 4th
edition of the championship begins on Good Friday and ends on Easter
Sunday.

Idowu George, who
is a representative of the organisers, Total Consult Nigeria Limited,
explains that all arrangements to hold a glamorous competition have
been put in place.

“We are expecting a
total of 80 players representing eight teams, and 16 officials. The
teams based outside Lagos have arrived already ahead of the three-day
competition,” he disclosed. “They will be camped in hotels with
adequate security during their stay for the tourney.” “Matches for the
competition will be played between 9am and 6pm beginning with the group
games on Friday. The two semifinal games will hold on Saturday, while
on Sunday, matches for the third place and the finals start from
12noon,” explained Femi Afolayan, chief coach of the Lagos State
Paralympics Association.

Pairings

In Group A are the
defending champions, Lead United, New Afrikan Shrine Warriors sponsored
by Yeni Kuti, the daughter of the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Other
teams in the group are Kwara Para-soccer Club and Avengers Para-soccer
Club of Ojokoro, Lagos.

In Group B are last year’s runners up, Total Consult Terrors, Kaduna, Niger and Baba Mai Mangoro from Adamawa.

According to the organisers, a participating prize of N10,000 each, will be given to each of the participating players.

“Players in the
team that will come first will get the additional sum of N20,000 each.
In the second position, players will also get an additional N15,000
each. In the third position, they will get N12,000 each, while in the
fourth position, players will be given N10,000 respectively apart from
trophies, medals and certificates,” added George.

Though
the violent clashes that greeted last weekend’s presidential election
may have abated in Kaduna and other parts of the country, Kaduna
United, one of the two clubs representing Nigeria in the CAF
Confederations Cup, has opted to play their weekend match against
Tunisian side, Etoile du Sahel at the MKO stadium in Abeokuta.

In a telephone chat
with Abdulrahman Tonga, media officer for Kaduna United, he said the
team arrived at the decision to play in Abeokuta after carefully
studying the situation on ground at home.

“We had no choice
than to find an alternative place for our match” he said. “You know
there have been some problems here and there and the state is even
under curfew for now, so playing the match in Kaduna will not be
possible” he explained.

According to Tonga,
the players and officials of Kaduna United who arrived the rocky city
on Thursday morning are fast settling down and are raring to go.

“We arrived here
Thursday morning to round off our preparation for the weekend match. We
are expecting our supporters to come in tomorrow (Friday)” he said.

Despite losing 0-1
to Foullah Edifice of Chad in their last match in N’jdamena, Kaduna
United advanced on 2-1 aggregate. The club coached by Belgian, Maurice
Cooreman had won the first leg game 2-0 a fortnight ago, courtesy of
strikes from Ali Adamu and Linus Adams.

Kaduna State
Governor, Ibrahim Patrick Yakowa, has promised to give his full support
to Kaduna United in its campaign to win the CAF Confederation Cup this
football season.

“I’m highly impressed with the performance of my team (Kaduna
United) and my promise is that we will give them all the needed support
to ensure they win this year’s Confederation Cup for the country,”
Yakowa promised.

Two
years ago in Rwanda, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles finished a disappointing
third at the African Youth Championship after coming from a goal behind
to beat South Africa 2-1 in the bronze-medal match.

Disappointing
because, other than being the most successful team in the history of
the tournament, having won it a record five times, the Nigerian team to
the 2009 AYC, consisted of the core of the Golden Eaglets team, that
two years earlier, had emerged winners of the 2007 FIFA Under 17 World
Cup in South Korea under the tutelage of the late Yemi Tella.

But under Ladan
Bosso, the Flying Eagles team failed to shine under the Rwandan sun and
crashed out in the semi-final stage to Cameroun following a 2-0 loss.

The team,
nevertheless, still qualified for that year’s FIFA World Cup in Egypt
but Bosso was to pay the price for the Flying Eagles’ failure to lift
the AYC trophy as he was fired by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
and replaced with current Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia who went on
to lead the team to Egypt, where they failed to go beyond the round of
16.

Such is the
pressure that goes with handling the Nigerian under 20 side; a side
that has, in addition to winning the AYC title on five occasions,
finished second on two occasions at the World Cup – in 1989 and 2005 –
as well as a third-place finish in 1985.

New era

Current Flying
Eagles coach, John Obuh, will do well to return home with the trophy
even though his immediate priority is claiming one of the four slots to
the World Cup in Colombia; slots that are reserved for the four
semi-finalists at the AYC.

“We want to qualify
for the World Cup. That is our target, but we also want to win it. But
that is also the target of all the other teams that will be coming for
the tournament,” Obuh told NEXT, prior to his team’s departure for
South Africa.

He added: “It will
be a great achievement to win this tournament. We have prepared well
and we have a good team. All we need now is the support and prayers of
Nigerians, as well as some luck because that also plays a key role in
any tournament.”

Obuh definitely
knows the importance of having good fortune at championships as he was
in charge of the Nigerian team at the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup
hosted by Nigeria, where his team rallied from being three goals down,
to play out a thrilling draw with Germany in the tournament’s opening
game, before making it all the way to the final where they slipped to a
1-0 defeat to Switzerland.

And the one-time
Super Eagles invitee hopes to go all the way this time around and not
suffer the pain of defeat at such a crucial stage of a tournament.

“It was a huge
disappointment losing to Switzerland, especially after coming so
close,” he continued. “But all that is in the past and I don’t think we
will face a similar situation this time around.

“A lot of the boys
from two years ago are in this team and are more matured, so if we get
to the final this time around, I am sure we will get a better result. I
believe we will have better fortune this time around,” added Obuh, who
won’t be with a few of his stars from the 2009 Golden Eaglets team.

Old faces

This includes Sani
Emmanuel, who finished the 2009 Under 17 World Cup as one of the
tourney’s standout players. There’s also central defender, Kenneth
Omeruo, as well as his captain from two years ago, Fortune Chukwudi,
who was involved in an age controversy.

“We all know what
happened to Fortune, so there’s no need to elaborate on that. As for
Sani, he would have been in the team but he is not presently in the
country,” disclosed Obuh. “He is in Italy with Lazio but he is still a
part of my plans once he sorts out everything with the club.”

He added: “Kenneth
Omeruo was also with us before going to Belgium in search of a club but
we can’t wait for him as we had to move on.

“We can’t be held to ransom by any player and I believe the players we have in this team will do us proud in South Africa.”

Obuh can however
count on the availability of the likes of Stanley Okoro and Ramon
Azeez, who were also stars of his U-17 side, and who now play their
football in Spain.

But regardless of
how many overseas based players are in the side, the tournament will be
holding at venues thousands of feet above sea level, which means
thinner air and lower oxygen levels for the players.

One way of adapting
to the situation is by training at high altitude areas prior to the
commencement of the championship, as has been the case with a number of
teams coming for the AYC, most notably Ghana who were in Kenya up until
Thursday when they left for South Africa.

The Ghanaians are
the tournament’s defending champions and will open their defence with a
game against the Flying Eagles on Monday. And Obuh hopes all goes well
in that game.

“We couldn’t do
that (high altitude training) but we will try to ensure that this does
not affect us adversely, especially in our first match against Ghana,”
explained Obuh.

“By the time we get to play our second game against Cameroun, the players would have adapted to the situation.”