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After 24 years of
football reporting, I genuinely thought I’d earned passage into the
exclusive club of hardened, experienced and weather-beaten hacks that
couldn’t be surprised or shocked by any story exposing the game’s
underbelly.

But the revelation
that Eucharia Uche, coach of the Falcons, the reigning African women’s
champions, has been without a wage from her employers, the Nigerian
Football Federation (NFF), for 21 months, has unexpectedly left me in
utter shock. It is a disgustingly new low, even for us.

It is a
catastrophic sign of the depth of decay in our football, and indeed our
national psyche, inured to the ill-treatment meted out to our people,
on a daily basis, that barely a whimper has resulted from the expose of
Oluwashina Okeleji, the BBC reporter who uncovered the scandal.

Sani Lulu, the
previous NFF chairman – currently under criminal indictment – and his
board, who never denied themselves, for a moment, the perquisites (or
is it the egunje?) of office, had no problems giving $1.5m to a white
European coach, Lars Lagerback, for a World Cup debacle that left
Nigerians humiliated and bitter.

But the Lulu-led
NFF, which hired Uche, a former Nigeria international, just couldn’t be
bothered to pay her? Or Uche’s former assistants, Ann Chiejine and
Idris Gidado, recently sacked without an explanation?

What happened to the money that was, certainly, budgeted for the payment of her salary and that of her assistants?

The silence of the
current NFF board, also complicit in this mess, as they have not paid
Uche a kobo of her wages since they assumed office last August – seven
months ago – is deafening.

A few weeks ago, a
frustrated head coach of one of the youth national teams, in a brutally
frank conversation with me, had no qualms about firing salvos at his
employers.

“Apart from the
Super Eagles, which the NFF sees as their cash cow, they don’t give a
daaaamn (emphasis his) about any of the other national teams!” “Is
football in Nigeria just about the Super Eagles? These guys just don’t
understand that all the national teams deserve to be properly treated
and respected,” he said, his words coming with a huge dollop of
bitterness.

But the biggest
question, for me anyway, is why Uche, known as ‘Abacha’, for her
ruthless enforcement of team discipline, keeps mute over the
unpardonable crime being committed against her.

Is it because she
is frightened of the callously cold hands of unemployment? Or is she
gripped by an inferiority complex, from a purported lack of polish and
finesse, rendering her impotent in the face of her unfeeling, uncaring
employers?

A key member of the
current NFF board, in a chat with me on the competence of Uche as
coach, made it clear he had little regard for her abilities, claiming a
lack of tactical nous made her a liability for June’s World Cup finals
in Germany.

“The only reason
Uche remains in charge is that Nigerians will not accept her removal
after winning the African Championship,” he said.

While I share some
of his reservations about Uche’s ability to manage the Falcons to a
credible position at Germany 2011, what is not in question is her right
to be treated with dignity and respect, as long as she is in the employ
of the NFF.

And what is also
not in doubt is the right of Nigerian coaches to receive fair and
decent treatment from the country of their birth, which they have
faithfully served.

Make no mistake, I
have issues with the technical incompetence of many (note I said many,
not all) Nigerian coaches. But does that mean the NFF should treat them
with contempt? Surely, a labourer in their willing employ, as the old
adage goes, deserves her pay?

What’s good for the
European coaches the NFF recruits – decent working conditions and the
prompt payment of wages – is also appropriate for their Nigerian
colleagues.

If Nigerians have no respect for their fellow citizens, how will the
rest of the world respect us? It is time to end this long harmattan of
self-hatred.

While Enyimba FC still have a slight advantage, after securing a goalless draw in the reverse fixture with their opponent, Union Sportive of Gabon a fortnight ago, Kano Pillars have an upheaval task against Moroccan side, Wydad Casablanca, when matches in CAF Champions League get underway today.

The Ladan Bosso-led Pillars team was defeated 2-0 in the first leg and needs at least a 3-0 victory today at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano to guarantee their passage into the next round of the lucrative tourney.

Kano Pillars and Super Eagles defender, Abdulwasiu Sowemimo, though admitting the tough task ahead, however remains optimistic that his team will upturn the table against the visiting Moroccan team.

“We will try our best to win the encounter and progress to the next round. We do not have any option or excuse not to beat them in Kano” the former Gateway FC defence ace told a sports website.

“It will be really tough considering the fact that we lost 2-0 in the first leg but we have no choice but to redeem the situation.

“In 2009 we played beyond this stage of the competition and it is our target to contest for the title this time round. So Wydad will not stop us,”

He reckoned that Wydad may come with all sorts of tricks including playing defensive and employing delay tactics, which he said may be the Moroccans’ undoing.

“Let them come up with any form of tricks, we are ready to match them, as they will not escape defeat in Kano,” he said. Pillars prosecuted the first leg in Morocco with a depleted squad but are likely to have the services of the quartet of Bala Mohammed, Sherif Isa, Shagari Mohammed and Mannir Ubale for today’s game. The team will however still miss one of their key players, Joseph Thompson who will sit out of the crucial tie due to an injury sustained in the first leg.

People’s Elephant

For Enyimba, though the task looks a bit easier, the team’s coach Okey Emordi says the tie is a dicey one more so, that the Aba Elephants did not score an away goal.

“The game is very open, that is why we must be very careful that they don’t score in our home, because that may turn out to be an advantage for them” said the former CAF Coach of the Year.

“The players all know what is at stake and also we have to hit the ground running from the blast of the whistle” Enyimba players were resolute in the first leg in Gabon and looked good for a victory away from home.

Meanwhile, Union Sportive’s Coach, Luther Fokam, said his team was unfortunate to not earn the victory on their home ground while boasting that they will edge out the two-time champions by snatching an away win in Aba today.

Emordi sees Fokam’s aspirations as a wild goose chase, as he bluntly declared that the Gabonese side should jettison any ambition of going any further in the Champions League.

Emordi, who led the People’s Elephants to their second CAF Champions League title in 2004 believes his players are back in their stride after a torrid beginning to the season and added that they still posses the spirit that saw them crowned the African Champions back to back.

“We are committed and are hungry for success. Picking a draw away from home is a good one for the team and the second leg will be quite different. “Whatever ambition Union Sportive has of going beyond this round, is as good as futile” he concluded.

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

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.

For Anslem Onyeji, the pastor in charge of House of Prayer, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) football is more than a sport, which attracts people of diverse personality. It is a vehicle for winning souls for God. The first thing that gets your attention as you enter his office on Tinubu Road in Lupeju, is a pair of yellow football boots nestling in one corner.

“A lot of visitors are surprised to see them when they come in here,” he said as this reporter’s eyes fell on the shoes.”I love football and I try to keep in shape every week playing the game,” he added. Indeed, his love for football is such that his sermons are often interspersed with images from football.

“I never knew I was going to be a servant of God. I always thought that I would earn a living from playing football or sports generally,” he said about his experiences growing up. In the mid-1980s he started out by playing street football like every other child his age.”We use to play inter-street football tournaments back in the days and even when my street wasn’t not playing, other streets come over to beg me to play for them because I was very good,” he said. He recalled a particular tournament where his team played against the bulk of players selected to represent Nigeria at an U-13 tournament in the United States.”After that match their coach came over to me that I should join his side, I had thought that would be my breakthrough but the tournament they were meant to attend in Dallas, United state was cancelled due to logistic problems”

Beyond football
Aside football, Onyeji has also had stints in Karate and Taekwondo while at the Universities of Calabar and Benin. During his National Youth Service (NYSC) year in Ekehuan barracks in Benin City, Onyeji who previously started out has the assistant physical education instructor ended up as the coach of the Barrack’s team to the Armed Forces Games. As the coach of the secondary school, he led the team to the finals of the Principals’ Cup before been given the tough task of coaching the army team.

Football and evangelism
Onyeji says football and indeed, sports generally should be used to serve God given the passion it evokes among people despite their age, size and nationality: “I have always loved football and sports as a whole and I believe they can be used for evangelism. On Sundays you find a lot of youth who should be in church serving God playing football on the streets. If they saw that the church encouraged the playing of football, a lot of them would be encouraged to move closer to God “This is why, he says, he encourages members of his church to play football. At the moment, the church’s football team are preparing for a football tournament involving a number of churches of Pentecostal extraction.

At the Baptist Academy ground on Obanikoro in Lagos, Onyeji and members of his flock can be sweating it out during training sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”Before any session we pray and share the word from the Bible with the players. We take the competition seriously and once we start training it is serious business,” said the pastor who has a close relationship with his parishioners particularly the youth who flock around him. Unlike most priests who abhor sports, Onyeji does not see anything wrong it.

He exhorts parents whose children have passion for one sport or the other, to encourage them.”While the importance of education cannot be overemphasised, involvement in sports goes a long way in making children rounded personalities, that is apart from the obvious social and financial advantages it confers on them as grown ups who excel in their chosen fields.”It is important that parents encourage their children to get involved in sports while ensuring that they not treat their education with levity.”

Nadal, who now has a 15-8 record in meetings between the two, dominated from the outset and was superior in all elements of the game.

“I think I played a very, very good match, very solid and serious. In the first set especially I think I played very, very well,” Nadal told reporters.

“In the second set I think he played worse. He had more mistakes than usual. He tried to play shorter points, so I think second set he didn’t play well.”

The Spaniard was devastating with his serve, particularly in the first set, winning 16 of his 18 service points.

In the second he took full advantage of some unusually loose returns, especially on forehand, from the Swiss world number three.

A packed, 14,500 crowd under the lights had hoped for a tighter contest and urged Federer to lift his game but the Swiss had just one break point in the match.

“He played tough and he played good when he had to and I didn’t do that. So it’s disappointing for me,” said Federer.

“I didn’t think I served poorly, but Rafa did well and got a lot of balls back.

“I was just not good on the offensive tonight, and that kind of took all the opportunities away to create something,” said Federer who will now head to Monaco to begin the European clay court season.

Nadal is searching for his first title in this Masters 1000 Series event at Key Biscayne and will be seeking revenge for Djokovic’s victory over him at Indian Wells two weeks ago.

Djokovic has won his last 25 matches, stretching back into last year.

“He’s winning all his matches very easily. He hasn’t lost a match this year, so we’ll see is what’s going to happen. He’s playing fantastic tennis,” Nadal added.

“I’ve got to play very well all the match if I want to have any chance. I have to play aggressive tennis and I have to play all the points, and that’s what I (am) going to try to do.”

REUTERS

Finally, the elections have come upon us. As far as electioneering goes, what we witnessed in the last few weeks, was clearly unimpressive.

The politicians who seek our votes certainly have not done enough to convince us that they deserve to be in public office. Their campaigns have been dull and largely empty; in the main they have mouthed the usual platitudes that have offended our senses for ages now.

If we vote for them at all, it will be in our desire to avoid having a vacuum in government, not because they deserve it.

One of my major observations has been the absence of any agenda for sports by most of the presidential candidates.

In the dying moments of their campaigns, we saw them offering tokens, aimed largely at ambushing the votes of Nigerian youth, inured to sports. On Sunday March 27, Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), dramatically showed up at the National Stadium in Abuja, venue of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.

While his presence was a surprise to many, I easily saw through the gimmick- the general wanted to ride the crest of football’s popularity to garner votes at the election. And it wasn’t only the old general clutching at straws. Twenty-four hours earlier, our President, Goodluck Jonathan hosted Nigerian sportsmen who had excelled in major international competitions, to a banquet at the state house where cash ranging from N150,000 to N1.5 million, was handed to the sportsmen.

From the point of view of reward for hard work, the president’s action is clearly commendable. However, the timing of the awards betrays the motive of Mr. President. Why after neglecting the patriotic sportsmen, some of them for as much as two years, did the president suddenly deem it fit to honour them on the eve of the elections? We do not need to search far for answers.

Is our president enamoured of our sportsmen? Does he wish them well? The answer to these questions is a big no. And I’ll tell you why. The 2011 edition of the All Africa Games is just around the corner, has money been made available for preparation of our athletes? Has President Jonathan, who last year intervened in the crisis affecting football only to buckle under FIFA threat, shown any interest in what is happening as far as preparation is concerned? Or is sports for him, simply, Infra dignitatem?

A crying shame

The truth of the matter is that President Jonathan, like other candidates aspiring to Nigeria’s highest office, does not care a hoot about sports and for someone who comes from the Niger Delta, a seething cauldron of strife, it is clearly unfortunate. Why do I say so?

I’ll tell you why. If President Jonathan and his advisers were thinking clearly, they’ll see inherent possibilities for intervention in the situation in the Niger Delta through sports. Some of Nigeria’s finest sportsmen have come from the Nigeria meaning that the place is not lacking in talent. Rather, it’s a reservoir of talent, which needs to be exploited. Have the young men and women who have embraced violence as a means of resolving social injustice been sufficiently engaged through sports by President Jonathan’s government? Has the Jonathan administration even a blueprint for sports development in the Niger Delta and beyond.

We have heard successive ministers of sports in this country talk about a national sports policy; what are the contents of this policy? Does it reflect an understanding by government of how sports can be used to engage Nigerian youth, who in the absence of role models and social safety nets, have an increasing predilection for violence and other anti-societal behaviours? I think not, because if the so-called sports policy did, government would not engage in bogus programmes, which only end up enriching a few smart individuals.

It’s a shame really that, in this day and age, when sports is big business globally, where some of the most recognisable faces in the world are sportsmen, our President and his minister in charge of sports, should carry on as if sports were a mere distraction to which government should deign now and then, to offer tokenisms.

Does President Jonathan and his sports minister, who by the way, never ceases to remind us that he is the first professional to occupy that position, know that what Tiger Woods earns annually, outstrips our annual sports budget?

Well, we can’t really blame President Jonathan when people who should know, either keep quiet or deliberately misrepresent facts. Are we not witnesses to the buffoonery of a few former Olympians, who against all decency and perhaps in a bid to swell their pockets, hold rallies announcing President Jonathan as the best thing to happen to sports in Nigeria?

My take is that, whether President Jonathan returns to office or not, the fortunes of sports are not likely to experience any significant change because there quite simply isn’t any plan to affect it.

While Enyimba FC still have a slight advantage, after securing a goalless draw in the reverse fixture with their opponent, Union Sportive of Gabon a fortnight ago, Kano Pillars have an upheaval task against Moroccan side, Wydad Casablanca, when matches in CAF Champions League get underway today.

The Ladan Bosso-led Pillars team was defeated 2-0 in the first leg and needs at least a 3-0 victory today at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano to guarantee their passage into the next round of the lucrative tourney.

Kano Pillars and Super Eagles defender, Abdulwasiu Sowemimo, though admitting the tough task ahead, however remains optimistic that his team will upturn the table against the visiting Moroccan team.

“We will try our best to win the encounter and progress to the next round. We do not have any option or excuse not to beat them in Kano” the former Gateway FC defence ace told a sports website.

“It will be really tough considering the fact that we lost 2-0 in the first leg but we have no choice but to redeem the situation.

“In 2009 we played beyond this stage of the competition and it is our target to contest for the title this time round. So Wydad will not stop us,”

He reckoned that Wydad may come with all sorts of tricks including playing defensive and employing delay tactics, which he said may be the Moroccans’ undoing.

“Let them come up with any form of tricks, we are ready to match them, as they will not escape defeat in Kano,” he said. Pillars prosecuted the first leg in Morocco with a depleted squad but are likely to have the services of the quartet of Bala Mohammed, Sherif Isa, Shagari Mohammed and Mannir Ubale for today’s game. The team will however still miss one of their key players, Joseph Thompson who will sit out of the crucial tie due to an injury sustained in the first leg.

People’s Elephant

For Enyimba, though the task looks a bit easier, the team’s coach Okey Emordi says the tie is a dicey one more so, that the Aba Elephants did not score an away goal.

“The game is very open, that is why we must be very careful that they don’t score in our home, because that may turn out to be an advantage for them” said the former CAF Coach of the Year.

“The players all know what is at stake and also we have to hit the ground running from the blast of the whistle” Enyimba players were resolute in the first leg in Gabon and looked good for a victory away from home.

Meanwhile, Union Sportive’s Coach, Luther Fokam, said his team was unfortunate to not earn the victory on their home ground while boasting that they will edge out the two-time champions by snatching an away win in Aba today.

Emordi sees Fokam’s aspirations as a wild goose chase, as he bluntly declared that the Gabonese side should jettison any ambition of going any further in the Champions League.

Emordi, who led the People’s Elephants to their second CAF Champions League title in 2004 believes his players are back in their stride after a torrid beginning to the season and added that they still posses the spirit that saw them crowned the African Champions back to back.

“We are committed and are hungry for success. Picking a draw away from home is a good one for the team and the second leg will be quite different. “Whatever ambition Union Sportive has of going beyond this round, is as good as futile” he concluded.

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

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.”