With just a few months to go, it is still in doubt if the “Giants of Africa” would be able to comfortably host the U-17 World Cup. Personally I was one of those Nigerians that was delighted when the Federal Government initially decided to pull out of hosting the tourney October last year. My joy was not bourn out of some sinister hatred for the country, on the contrary it was that of extreme love. Any time the Nation plays host to the international community, it seems some corrupt public officers in the Nigerian government quickly pounce on the opportunity to loot and mismanage public funds.
Recently the vice-president of the World Soccer governing body, Mr Jack Warner, came to inspect the Niation’s preparedness for the tourney and he left the country with a big frown on his face. His disappointment was written clearly over his face, and this is very understandable considering the eye-sore he was made to see at the various stadiums he visited.

What baffles me is that just a few years after we hosted the World Youth Championship, the infrastructures used then have become desolate with several of them vandalized.

The absolute disregard for maintenance of existing properties have become a way of life in the Nigerian society and no matter how much we spend building new facilities in the country, it just turns out a big waste (Have any of you recently been to the National Stadium in Lagos?).

Nigerians are always excited when any of their national teams play, and they give this love and excitement to only the team garbed on green and white. This one-sided team support would not doubt affect the attendance at games that do not involve Nigerian teams.

More importantly, most tournaments succeed when the host team advances to at least the quarterfinal stage of that tourney. Unfortunately for Nigeria however, the NFF seem set to ensure we don’t get that far. It is still unclear if we really do have a team for the tournament, after coach Alphonsus Dike humiliated the Nation by taking those over-aged individuals to lose to a less fancied Beninoise side.

After that embarrassment we have heard little about the Nigerian team or its technical bench, making it very hard to see any reason why they would perform better than they did against the “struggling” neighbour.

I really find it hard to believe that everything would be put in place properly before the tournament starts. There are some ignorant individuals who are of the opinion that Nigeria would perform “Magic” and turn things around just before the games begin, this is a fool’s belief and it is the certain road towards irredeemable failure.

Awenlimobor Sylvester

The “Super Chickens” of Nigeria on Wednesday February 11, 2009, were once again on display for the world to “admire” after a couple of month’s absence. This time around they chose to display their nauseating brand of football (they usually keep this for special occasions, the panic-laden one is the most popular) against a feeble Reggae-playing Jamaican side that obviously were more interested in joining Damian Marley on stage rather than kick some round object around.

The much talked about tactical incompetence of Amodu Shauibu was also on full parade as a bunch of over-paid and under-motivated boys almost made the infamous Ladan Bosso’s U-20 team (Bosso still has the top honors for tactical incompetence, and I won’t take it away from him) seem like World Champions after they played out what could easily be described as the most embarrassing 90 minutes of soccer in recent years.

The game itself was something of a lullaby and the few spectators who had churned out their hard earned cash to enter into the stadium (considering the present global economic situation) must have felt cheated. (A night at the Cinema watching Johnny Bravo or any other cartoon would have made more sense).

The most pathetic part of the whole scenario is the fact that the team Amodu put on that pitch at Milwall was undoubtedly Nigeria’s strongest force, who we all are hoping would take us to the next world cup! Need I say that at this point I can’t see that team getting us to South Africa? The Tunisians would really be counting themselves in after watching their biggest opponents play out their “best”.

The same uncoordinated tactical balderdash that characterized Berti Vogt’s African Nations Cup team, which was also the hallmark of Ladan Bosso’s “young-team” (Take a look at Edile for Christ sake!) was all too evident in Amodu’s special collection of over-pampered stars.

Many soccer pundits might want to blame the flaccid attitude of the players on the fact that it was just a friendly encounter, “why should they play out their heart for a meaningless game?” That ignorant submission quickly becomes discredited when you take a look at the England-Spain encounter or the Brazil-Italy game, both “meaningless games”.

It is still amazing that we do not see reasons to bring in a “natural” central offensive midfielder into the Nigerian senior team. Why do we keep forcing Mikel into a position that has been washed out of his system? Mikel has lost the ability (if he ever had it) to play the role Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha played for us for several years.

There is a certain Rabiu Ibrahim that can comfortably handle that position, but due to the Nigerian mentality that is so prevalent on Amodu’s technical team, they want him to “mature” first before he enters the National team. How old was Kaka when he started playing for the Brazilian national team? What of Pato, Rooney, Owen? The list is endless. A good coach knows who he wants, a bereft one wants who he knows.

It is quite co-incidental that just a day after that better-forgotten encounter against “the Musicians from the Caribbean” the nation slumped down the FIFA rankings from a questionable 17^th position to a more understandable 23^rd place (A position that FIFA might have to reconsider after watching that shallow exhibition between one of Africa’s erstwhile power-house against the minnows from the Caribbean).

The Nigerian Football Federation (a confused bunch of political jobbers who do not have the interest of the country at heart) have always found ways to inflict upon us their self serving interests, whereby they select coaches for the various National teams not on merit, but more on what they believe they would gain financially from having the coach on board. There is no other explanation as to why we should be suffering the double tragedy of Ladan Bosso and Amodu Shuaibu at the same time. Will we ever learn anything in this country?

I want to clearly state here that Mr. Amodu and his technical bench of trial-and-error individuals will not take Nigeria to the World Cup, and if they are left alone the damage to our beloved National team (yeah, I still love the team), would be so much that the nation’s football might relapse into a comatose state for a couple of years.

Awenlimobor Sylvester

Like a bad dream just waiting to happen, the “technically bereft” one himself, a.k.a Ladan Bosso, has inflicted severe humiliation and shame upon the Nation called Nigeria.

 

Late coach Yemi Tella would still be writhing in extreme pain inside his grave as his spirit watched the mangling that the “cattle-rearer” has done to his team.

 

The South African U-20 team just showed how technically bankrupt this fellow called “Bosso” really is.

 

There had been several clamour from well-meaning Nigerians (yours truly one of them) calling on the Nigerian Football Federation (Another sore point in the Nigerian Soccer ambience) to stop Ladan Bosso from associating with the Yemi Tella (May his gentle soul rest in peace) tutored team. The team had been brought up under the best possible disciplinary environment, they were tactically grounded under the late lecturer and only needed time to emerge as a strong force in the global soccer scene, unfortunately for Nigeria however, the great man departed this world, but more unfortunately for us we let them come under Ladan Bosso.

 

The team could still have been on course for greatness had the NFF taken pain to ensure that they shield the team from lacklustre individuals who still believe football is a game of “race”.

 

The South African U-20 team made that once-glorious team from Nigeria (surely I am not proud saying this now) look like a hastily assembled secondary school team from one of the interior local Villages in Kebbi state (Apologies to Kebbi State, but I have to ensure the picture is made lucid).

 

There was perfect incoherence amongst all the departments of the team (A trademark of Ladan Bosso) and there were a few players that ought to have been strolling on the streets of Kigali rather than being in that team.

 

Ladan Bosso looked like a helpless fugitive on the sideline, I actually felt sorry for him at a point. Not the pity one shows to an individual in lack or despair, but that you show to one who brags of his illiteracy in public.

 

Like every other of his kind in the soccer scene (the unfortunate hockey-umpire who thinks he is a soccer coach), his substitutions were very suspicious and smelt of “National quota system”.

 

For example, I don’t think “Mr. I-should-have-been-fighting-sumo-wrestling” had any business on that pitch (not like any of our demoralized boys did anyway), neither did the goal-scorer himself……..or wait a minute! They all should have been on the pitch of play, but that semi-retarded herdsman just did not know that it was a game of soccer, so he arranged the players like they were set for a game of polo. That must explain why they were scattered on the pitch, unable to connect with each other, and galloping instead of running!…..That really must explain it!

 

I feel so distraught now, not that we lost the match to our arch-rivals, South Africa or that the NFF did not heed the well intended advise of several Nigerians to drop this man like a bad habit, or that we might not be making it to the World Youth Championship in Egypt BUT the fact that a perfectly good bunch of future glory-getters for Nigeria have been blown up into pieces.

 

Right now I believe that the team is in a state of shock and disbelief, a terrible thing to do to a good fit.

 

Tears and vituperations really would not undo the vile done now, it would not even change the scoreline (Had the NFF not been blinded with their selfish intent, none of these would have happened), but it is now time to re-align these boys along the path of Soccer (Yes soccer and not “Dembe”)

 

They have to be re-educated about the philosophy guiding football, they have to be washed clean of Ladan Bosso’s leisure ride into stagnation. Let us not le these boys rot away like those he took to Canada.

 

 

 

Awenlimobor Sylvester

The most shocking decision ever made by any Football Federation worldwide was unleashed on Nigerians by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) late last week when it decided to let go the most successful Nigerian coach in recent times, Samson Siasia.

 

This decision has fully exposed the hollow-mindedness that the body possesses; their vain quest for selfish glorification at the expense of patriotism has also come to the fore.

 

When professionalism and merit are thrown out of the window and in their place nepotism, greed and selfishness become the yardstick for recruiting people into our various senior national teams, the country is bound to fail. This is a fact that cannot be contested, it is as solid as saying the sun will rise tomorrow!

 

A brief look back into history will show that all the period Nigeria (Super Eagles) has ever achieved any form of glory either in the continent or in the globe; it has always been with a coach that had discipline. The lack of it (Discipline) has ensured that Nigeria has gone years without achieving any form of worthwhile glory. Save Yemi Tella (May his gentle soul rest in peace) and Samson Siasia, there is no discipline-instilling coach in this country anymore.

 

Is it Christian Chukwu? A man that was afraid of his players? A man that lost the right to select his starting team to his Captain? A man that was being controlled like a puppet by the NFA? Definitely not Christian Chukwu! Most definitely not!

 

Or is it Augustine Eguavoen? A man that could not define his role all through his stay with the team? A man that had (still has anyway) a suspicious vacuum in his tactical depth as far as I am concerned? Hell no!  Maybe Keshi, but definitely Not Eguavoen.

 

Is it Amodu Shuaibu? A man that could barely gather enough players to play a grade A friendly match in Columbia a few months back? A man that can not list his career achievements in more than two sentences? This is most definitely not the man for the job! And we all know it, so why do we keep deceiving ourselves?

 

Undoubtedly, the best Nigerian coaches in the last ten years have been Samson Siasia and Yemi Tella, the latter is now deceased leaving only Siasia as the best option for the country.

 

But the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) obviously has other sinister plans and ideas. They hope to crumble our football, probably they would be thinking to themselves…”If Galadima did not die for not taking us to the last World Cup, why should we be afraid?”

 

We are currently at the precipice of another woeful and disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign, the signs are boldly written on the wall, in plain English and yet the NFF can’t see. Their eyes are blinded with fat allowances and bonuses.

 

 

 

 

Awenlimobor Sylvester

The most shocking decision ever made by any Football Federation worldwide was unleashed on Nigerians by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) late last week when it decided to let go the most successful Nigerian coach in recent times, Samson Siasia.

This decision has fully exposed the hollow-mindedness that the body possesses; their vain quest for selfish glorification at the expense of patriotism has also come to the fore.

When professionalism and merit are thrown out of the window and in their place nepotism, greed and selfishness become the yardstick for recruiting people into our various senior national teams, the country is bound to fail. This is a fact that cannot be contested, it is as solid as saying the sun will rise tomorrow!

A brief look back into history will show that all the period Nigeria (Super Eagles) has ever achieved any form of glory either in the continent or in the globe; it has always been with a coach that had discipline. The lack of it (Discipline) has ensured that Nigeria has gone years without achieving any form of worthwhile glory. Save Yemi Tella (May his gentle soul rest in peace) and Samson Siasia, there is no discipline-instilling coach in this country anymore.

Is it Christian Chukwu? A man that was afraid of his players? A man that lost the right to select his starting team to his Captain? A man that was being controlled like a puppet by the NFA? Definitely not Christian Chukwu! Most definitely not!
Or is it Augustine Eguavoen? A man that could not define his role all through his stay with the team? A man that had (still has anyway) a suspicious vacuum in his tactical depth as far as I am concerned? Hell no!  Maybe Keshi, but definitely Not Eguavoen.

Is it Amodu Shuaibu? A man that could barely gather enough players to play a grade A friendly match in Columbia a few months back? A man that can not list his career achievements in more than two sentences? This is most definitely not the man for the job! And we all know it, so why do we keep deceiving ourselves?

Undoubtedly, the best Nigerian coaches in the last ten years have been Samson Siasia and Yemi Tella, the latter is now deceased leaving only Siasia as the best option for the country.

But the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) obviously has other sinister plans and ideas. They hope to crumble our football, probably they would be thinking to themselves…”If Galadima did not die for not taking us to the last World Cup, why should we be afraid?”

We are currently at the precipice of another woeful and disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign, the signs are boldly written on the wall, in plain English and yet the NFF can’t see. Their eyes are blinded with fat allowances and bonuses.

Awenlimobor Sylvester

A lackluster performance by the country’s U-20 side in a friendly encounter against lowly Nigerian league outfit, Heartland FC of Owerri, has cast further doubt on the ability of the side to lift the trophy this year.

 

Though the Nigerian side won the encounter 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Ganiu Oseni, off a fine cross from Germany-based striker Macaulay Chrisanthus, the display of the team on the day left much to be desired.

 

Who would believe that the large chunk of players that make up this team were two years ago FIFA U-17 World Champions with the late NIS Professor, Yemi Tella? How could they have deteriorated into this mess in so short a period? Well the answer cannot be far-fetched….Ladan Bosso

 

The NFF as usual are setting the ground for catastrophe (something they have become used to), watching as a talented bunch of players go to waste in the hands of a “talent-destroyer”.

 

Whatever happened to the players that Bosso took to Canada two years back? Someone ever asked that question? NO!

 

I think we can stop this cataclysmic process at its infant stage before we kill a perfectly good generation of future Super Eagles players.

 

 

 

Awenlimobor Sylvester

By Awenlimobor Sylvester

Head coach of the Nigerian senior National team, the Super Eagles, Amodu Shuaibu has stated that he does not feel threatened by the exploits of coach of the Nigerian Olympic soccer team Samson Siasia, amidst rumours that the latter was shaping up to take over from him soon as coach of the senior team.

Speaking with reporters from local newspaper Vanguard just before departing for South Africa for Nigeria’s 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying game against the Bafana Bafana, the former Orlando Pirates coach stated that he does not feel threatened, and would not want to be distracted by side talks.

“The match against South Africa is important and we should face it squarely.” he was quoted as saying on the newspaper

“Honestly, I am not threatened. There is nothing to be afraid of. Siasia has done so well with his boys and should be commended We are neck-deep in the match against South Africa and I guess that the match is more important that these trivialities about Siasia taking over my job” he added

“I have a contract with the NFF so why I should I panic?”

Amodu also promised to ensure that the jinx that has seen the Super Eagles dominate the Bafana Bafana over the years.

“We are going for a battle. The battle plan is to kill your enemy. And that is what we are going to do. South Africa has never beaten Nigeria in any competitive game. It is not going to start from my tenure as Eagles Coach. We are guarding jealously that record” he promised

Nigeria plays South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, September 6th in a game that holds more importance for the South Africans than the Nigerians.

 

Head coach of the Nigerian Olympic soccer team, Samson Siasia has expressed
satisfaction with the performance of his wards in their 0-0 draw against the
Netherlands on Thursday. The game was a keenly contested affair between the
two sides, with the Nigerian lads slightly having the edge but failing to
take advantage when they found themselves in goal-bound positions.

Siasia however stated that his team had achieved their prime aim of not
losing their first game, and added that they would have a more attack-minded
approach to the next game against Japan.

“I can’t be upset with this result. We created a lot of chances and we
played very well at points. It was a sound performance and we came in with
the goal of not losing this first game,” Siasia said at the post match press
conference.

“In the next games we can focus on getting a little bit more going in attack
and scoring a few goals. We need to be a little more clinical in front of
goal, but I can’t be upset because we looked dangerous in attack for long
periods of the game. We just failed to take our chances.” he added

Chieveo Verona striker, Obinna Nsofor who missed several goal opportunities
in the encounter also had a few words to say about the game.

“I think we played some good football against a good team and we will take
heart in what we did right and try to use it to produce goals in our next
game.

“We came into the game with the hopes of winning.”

“We didn’t consider the Dutch favourites, and we didn’t play for the draw. I
missed a few chances and so did some of my teammates, but we will correct
this problem.”

Awenlimobor Sylvester

BY ABDUL KASHIF

Nigeria kicked off their quest for Olympic glory with a hard fought 0-0 draw against Holland in their opening match.

The Super Eagles, captained by Isaac Promise, showed plenty of enterprise but lacked a cutting edge in a match with plenty of chances.

Holland dominated the early stages of the game with Roy Makaay firing a great chance over the bar in the 9th minute.

After a slow start, the lively Odemwingie found his feet and caused the Dutch defence plenty of problems, ably assisted by the dangerous Nsofor.

After two early second half substitutions by Holland, Nigeria stepped up the pressure with Nsofor and Odemwingie looking increasingly threatening with Dutch keeper Kenneth Vermeer making a number of fine saves.

Both teams were guilty of wasting possession after getting into promising attacking positions.

An injury-time red card for Holland’s Evander Sno marred an otherwise physical but fair match which deserved a goal.

Nigeria’s next game is against Japan on Sunday while Holland take on the United States on the same day.