YourExcellency,
All other protocols observed.
Your Excellency Sir, thank you for rescinding your decision to withdraw our teams from all international competitions. It is undeniable that football is the religion of Nigeria. When football is the topic, Nigerians of all tribes, religions, creeds, sexes and whatever demarcation unite as one. Even the sceptics support the national team. When Enyimba won the CAF Champions League years ago, the whole country, from east to west celebrated like we had won the World Cup. The local league unfortunately is not widely followed by the locals. So, if we were ostracised from international football for any amount of time it meant that there would be no football activities in Nigeria for that period. That would be such a nightamre for many true Nigerians.
When General Sani Abacha stood his ground and needlessly withdrew us from South Africa 96 Nations Cup we were subsequently hammered by CAF and thus missed the next tournament too. Our football suffered for it the most. The same people mocking your u-turn will be the same ones criticising you when the Nations Cup starts and Nigeria is not represented because you had held your ground and drew FIFA's ire.
Anyway, now that you show your humane side by listening to the pleas of the people, it is not yet uhuru. The next step is to make sure only people who have something to offer Nigerian football are elected into the board. The EFCC should dig deep into the records to unearth enough to send the guilty parties in the last board away for a long time in order to set an example for whoever else want to come in so that they know that the NFF is nobody's milking cow.
It is no secret that irrespective of FIFA's no government intervention stance, the Federal Government through the sports ministry always play a big role in who gets into the board. He who pays the piper dictates the tune, we all know. And since the sports ministry is the main sponsor of the NFF, it is the sports ministry that hand pick the board, with or without decree 101.
The main criteria for the board should be a track record of actions in football to show that the candidate is not just going there to fill his pockets. Emphasis should be on expenditure in football development. Has the aspirant sponsored any national competitions, donated trophies, developed talent, or single handedly funded a club up to atleast national league level? This last criteria truly shows that such an aspirant has a genuine love for the game so much as to spend his own private funds in sponsoring a club.At a time in Nigeria when multi-billionaires, multi-national companies and even some state governments shirk from fully funding a football team, any individual who has, in the last ten years, single-handedly funded a football club has done this out of a genuine love for the game. If such a man desires to participate in the governance of Nigerian football he should be given a chance.
Before Galadima took over the reigns he had no track record of personal commitments and sacrifices to our football, and it was evident in the way his tenure panned out. Same can be said of Lulu. Enough is enough. We need someone who has guided a footballing venture when all he had to encourage him was the passion of the game and the desire to get good results. Any one who has sponsored a team to amateur division one and above, single handedly, has a passion for the game.
Sir, the initial caretaker committee which you later wisely did not go ahead to inaugurate consisted of a couple of ex-footballers. At this crucial time of our football, people with no track record in football should not be given a chance to guide our football. It is not time for people to learn on the job. The players mentioned in the caretaker committee are dedicated ex-internationals who gave their all for Nigeria, but I do not think they are ripe for leadership yet. Yes, they can be board members if they make the vote, but leadership of a nations' football requires a lot more than skill. Take a look at even the western world, not many players are in key positions in football administration, aside Franz Beckenbauer and Mitchel Platini who both paid their dues through the ranks before getting to where they are now. So, JJ Okocha and Samson siasia, both great individuals, while having a lot to contribute, can do so as board members. Any other lofty dreams will not be in our best interest.
Also, intelligence and composure should be a major criteria too. Any one aspiring to lead our nation's favourite past time must be a man of clout, who is also well composed and who carries an aura about him. He should be a charismatic, self confident and intelligent person. During the presidential debate before the last election at AIT studios in Abuja, Alhaji Sani Lulu was the least composed of all the contestants that day in what was a live broadcast. Honourable Lumumba Dah Adeh and Chief Segun Odegbami were outstanding that day, and viewers reactions after the broadcast confirmed this. However, Lulu and his crew were handpicked by the government for their role as stakeholders who played a big role in ousting Alhaji Galadimma from the hotseat.
This time around whoever gets into the hotseat has to be a man with the leadership ability to lead the nation's number one past time, a passion for football, a track record of sacrifice and commitment to the game and enough intelligence and charisma to carry our football forward. This is not a time for no names without the requisite know-how to lead us. We need to select an achiever.
Finally dear Sir, in making the choice of who to lead our football please do not consult the same advisers that advised you to withdraw our national teams from all competitions because they do not have an idea of what is best for Nigerian football.
Warmest regards,
JOHNNY OGBAH
Friday, 30 July 2010
Monday, 12 July 2010
I CAN MAKE SUPER EAGLES BETTER!
FIND BELOW AN INTERVIEW I HAD WITH NEDUM ONUOHA ON WEDNESDAY 24TH MARCH 2010 AT THE CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM AFTER MANCHESTER CITY V EVERTON.....
HE SOUNDED EAGER TO PLAY FOR NIGERIA. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE NFF SAID HE REBUFFED THEIR APPROACH. SO WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG? WHEN DID HE CHANGE HIS MIND? HOW DID THE NFF APPROACH HIM?.......
ENJOY
Former England U-21 captain and Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha reveals his love for his Nigerian roots and believes that he can make the Super Eagles a better team in this exclusive chat with our UK Correspondent Johnny Ogbah at the City of Manchester stadium after their recent league clash with Everton.
Johnny: Nigerian football fans would like to know more about Nedum Onuoha. In your own words, please introduce yourself.
Nedum: I was born Chinedum Onuoha on 12th November 1986. I am from Abia State. I came to England in 1991 with my parents and siblings [two sisters then]. I have been here ever since. I attended Nelson Street Primary School Miles Platting followed by Hulme Grammar Private School in Oldham.
Q: How was life growing up and how did you combine your studies with playing football?
A: Life was beautiful growing up as I have a lovely family surrounding me. My parents were very supportive of my football career right from early childhood like most parents here in the UK are but they also ensured I did not toy with my books. They made sure there was a time for everything. So, I was able to combine both pretty well and made eight 'A' and two 'B' grades at GCSE. From Hulme Grammar Private School I moved to Xaverian College here in Manchester where I also made three 'A' grades at A-level.
Q: Aside football, where you involved in any other sports?
A. Yes I was. I was into many other sports growing up, especially athletics. When I was just 14, I clocked 11.09 seconds to come second in the final of the 2001 English School's Athletics Association Junior 100 metres contest. In the process I beat Craig Pickering who is currently a Great-Britain sprinter. I also still hold the national record hold for boys under 15 standing triple jump, in the Sports Hall events held annually throughout the UK, although the record is held with international long jumper Jonathan Moore. You can say that growing up I was an all rounder with regards to academics and sports, but football was always my first love.
Q: So how did you get into Manchester City?
A: Growing up in the great city of Manchester, I supported City as a kid. Then I joined the youth academy and came up through the ranks to where I am now in the first team. I started playing regularly for Manchester City's reserves in the 2003–04 season, and played made my first team debut in a pre-season friendly against Bury. My first team debut was against Arsenal in the Carling Cup on 27 October 2004, at the age of 17. Soon after I signed my first professional contract in November as soon as I turned 18, then made my Premier League debut as a substitute on 1 November 2004 at home to Norwich City before making my first premier league start against Portsmouth the same month and since then it’s been wonderful playing for Manchester City.
Q: What are the highlights of your Manchester City career?
A: Playing in the Premiership is always a highlight. It is the best league in the world and the games are just awesome. I have played many great games for Manchester City and I look forward to playing many other great games. Hopefully we will soon start winning trophies sooner rather than later. On a personal note, I have really enjoyed my career so far and the fans always show their appreciation whenever they see me. I was voted the Club Player of The Month in April 2009 and this year, despite the stiff competition in the team, I am also enjoying my game.
Q: Tell us about your international career.
A: I represented England at U-21 level after making my debut on 12 October 2005. I played in the 2007 European Under 21s Championship in the Netherlands where I was a regular at centre back, partnering Newcastle’s Steven Taylor. I captained the England Under-21 team for the first time in a 0–0 draw with Poland Under-21s. I also played in the European Championships in 2009 in Sweden.
Q: All these while you have been playing for England and for Manchester City, have you ever been approached by Nigerian officials to play for Nigeria?
A: Yes I was contacted a couple of years ago by Berti Vogts who said he would get back to me but I did not hear from him again. This was when the rules were different. Since the change of rules I am yet to hear from anybody again with regards to playing for Nigeria.
Q: How often have you been home since you came to England?
A: Unfortunately I haven't been able to visit home since we came over but my family do regularly. The way football works, in the summer when people go on holidays that's when we start training so it hasn't been possible for me to go home not that I haven't wanted to but I just haven't found a convenient opportunity.
Q: Do you follow Nigerian football?
A: I follow Nigerian football all the time. I'm the same as any other person, if you are born there that's where your heart is. It doesn't feel good to see the team not being as successful as it has been in the past. There is a lot of pressure now on the team for future success in tournaments to come and I hope and pray all the time for that to happen.
Q: Which Nigerian players do you follow?
A: Of course as a young Nigerian growing up when we won the Atlanta 96 Olympics, I loved to watch Jay-Jay [Okocha], Kanu [Nwankwo] and Sunday Oliseh. Now I like to watch the ones playing in the Premier league here like Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, John Obi Mikel, Kanu Nwankwo, John Utaka and Dickson Etuhu. I like to watch them to see how they affect their teams.
Q: Which of them are you in touch with?
A: Quite a few of them. We exchange banters whenever we come across each other in matches. I'm friends with Victor Anichebe. I don't see him as often as maybe I should but I speak to him as often as I can. I speak to him about the national team setting and he always speaks enthusiastically about playing for Nigeria. He says its very good and he always feels proud whenever he gets a chance to play and he is looking forward to representing Nigeria at the World Cup in the summer.
Q: Speaking about the World Cup, with the recent change in FIFA laws removing the age limit for switch of allegiance and thus making you eligible to play for Nigeria, are you willing to play for Nigeria?
A: Like I said before apart from the formal approach by Berti Vogts I have not heard anything again from anybody in Nigerian football with regards to playing for Nigeria but if they were to contact me any time soon my mind will always be open.
Q: So if you had an invitation from Nigeria now would you be willing to play for us?
A: I would have to weigh up my options but It's more than a possibility. I will give it favourable consideration. Being brought up here and playing for England has been a massive thing for me but in my heart I think playing for Nigeria is bigger! If I ever get the opportunity I will have to definitely give it a thought but like I said earlier, it's more than a possibility. My family are still very close to our roots and I will turn to them for advice and guidance in case of an invitation.
Q: What do you think are Nigeria's chances at the World Cup coming up this summer?
A: Well I think we've done very well to qualify and get there because only the top teams are left now. We go in with as much chances as any one because at the end of the day it's a tournament situation so on any given day anybody can win. Hopefully it can be our tournament with good preparation and dedication from the players and coaches. We can get as far as we can, possibly even get to the Final.
Q: What do you think you can add to the Nigerian team if given a chance?
A: You know the way it works in football, you never really get into a team if you are not as good as, if not better than something that's there before so I'd like to think that hopefully, if I do get a chance I'll be able to make the defence stronger and have a good base to help the attacking players to make a more successful team.
Q: And what are your targets with Manchester City?
A: Well Manchester City is a team to be reckoned with and we have every chance of taking fourth place in the Premiership this season.
Q: Thanks Nedum, It's been a pleasure talking to you.
A: The pleasure is all mine.
GHANA AGE SCANDAL
I read in the British press the other day about an age scandal involving members of the Ghanaian senior national team. Former Ghana Football Association chief Dr Nyaho Tamakloe suggested there were question marks about the ages of Scottish club Heart's Laryea Kingston, Chelsea's Michael Essien, Fulham's John Pantsil and fellow defender John Mensah of Sunderland. All four British-based players are hoping to be in the Ghana squad for the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa.
The ex-diplomat was not diplomatic when he implied that the four players are among the hundreds of Ghanaian stars who have been involved in age cheating which is now catching up on them. Dr Tamakloe made his attack in an interview with a local radio station Peace FM when asked about the growing number of injuries in the Ghana squad ahead of the World Cup.
“Essien is 1, Pantsil is 2, John Mensah is 3, and Laryea Kingston. Even if they say he is fit is a bit doubtful to me,” Tamakloe said.“So if you watch carefully we don’t have frontline players we can call players who can take us up. It’s a bit disturbing. What I personally have observed is that most of them are burnt out now.
“I remember when I was the FA boss I insisted that anyone that would have to be brought into the Black Stars and for that matter even the junior groups must be right. “We must make sure we bring people whose ages reflect would represent the exact tournament they are supposed to be playing in.”
Even though no single reader of this column can rightly claim that this is news to him,to those of us in the diaspora, it only brought shame and disgrace, coming from such a top official. I recall last year that the indefatigable barrister Adokiye Amesiemeka told it to the world that the captain of the Golden Eaglets had played under 17 for him at Sharks seven years previously and so is far far above the age limit. FIFA heard this, but could do nothing but query the timing, saying it was a calculated attempt to disruot the FIFA U17 World Cup being hosted by Nigeria then.
Even if Amesiemeka could be forgiven for raising the alarm at the time he did because he probably did not know that The young man was in the team until the tournament, Tamakloe has no justification at all to keep quiet till now before opening his big mouth. Get it right from me, I am not in any way in support of the falsification of age by players. We all know that this happens and that atleast 90% of all African players cut atleast 2 or 3 years from their real ages for any reason whatsoever.
In fact, I strongly believe that this is also prevalent in all third world countries, Brazil inclusive. If Kaka is truly as strong in the Lord as we hear he is, then I would want him to tell the world his real age. He may be playing with his real age, but many of his team mates are not. If also our own Evangelist Taribo West wants to really really believe him and his ministry, he should tell us the truth about his age. That is my opinion as I see things.
The only players I can vouch for their true ages are those born in the western world, where everything is documented from the day of one's birth till the day he dies. Players like Victor Anichebe and Nedum Onuoha that came over at a very tender age also fall into this category because when they come over as very young boys their parents had no reason to alter their ages then. For other players, they are caught in the web of life. In most third world countries, there is no proper documentation of births, deaths, etc. people are born at home, in maternities, in school, at church, anywhere and so nobody knows when any one was actually born.
Also, acquiring passports are as easy as ABC, as I know many players that have three to four different passports. My people leave talk. We are all guilty one way or the other. HE WHO HAS NO SINS LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE JARE!
Back to the Ghana incident, Dr. Tamakloe had all the time in the world not just to say what he saw, but to say it when it would have made sense and also do something about it when he was the FA chairman but he kept quiet. He cannot say he did not use any over aged players in the junior national team and even senior national team when he was the FA boss, so coming now to cry wolf is utter rubbish because he only wants to be relevant. Imagine how it would have been if he had spoken out when he was the FA boss. Even if something good may not have come out of it, atleast he would have been seen to be an honest man. Any attempts at honesty now is belated, and the timing is utterly wrong.
Why I am so aggrieved is because of the negative publicity it brings on those of us in the diaspora, especially those of us in the business of player management. Clubs will have reason to doubt the ages of the players we bring them now. The British press no dey take eye see such thing, and dem don highlight am as dem fit, but wetin we fit do? We march on, knowing that until they show tangible evidence [which neither Amesiemeka or Tamakloe could show], all they are saying is hearsay and inadmissible.
On the part of the players, the rest of them acted reasonably and shut up because we all know the truth, and silence they say is the best answer for a fool. But Laryea Kingston tried his best to defend himself by asking Dr. Tamakloe to show proof of what he had said. You see, my quarrel with African players is that they like to pack their money in a sack and chop alone instead of investing in things like management. Come to think of it, of all the four players mentioned, Kingston who plays in Scotland could be said to be the lowest earner so he probably did not have management. It must have been the management teams of the other three England based players that adviced them.
Such allegations you best leave them lying low, otherwise you will have to prove it yourself one way or the other. Kingston's action may lead to people in the British press to clamour for him to sue Dr. Tamakloe for defamation of Character. And one of the easiest defences in a defamation suit is justification or truth. It will be easier for DR. tamakloe to prove the truth of his statement than for the player to prove the falsity of it. Dr Tamakloe only needs to dig a little into the players past record to come up with facts that will be used in his defence. And depending on where the player choses to sue, the onus of prove may lie on him to prove that he is not over aged. My people how him wan take do that one naa?
[This article was first published before the World Cup for Sports Mail, a Lagos based Sports newspaper.]
The ex-diplomat was not diplomatic when he implied that the four players are among the hundreds of Ghanaian stars who have been involved in age cheating which is now catching up on them. Dr Tamakloe made his attack in an interview with a local radio station Peace FM when asked about the growing number of injuries in the Ghana squad ahead of the World Cup.
“Essien is 1, Pantsil is 2, John Mensah is 3, and Laryea Kingston. Even if they say he is fit is a bit doubtful to me,” Tamakloe said.“So if you watch carefully we don’t have frontline players we can call players who can take us up. It’s a bit disturbing. What I personally have observed is that most of them are burnt out now.
“I remember when I was the FA boss I insisted that anyone that would have to be brought into the Black Stars and for that matter even the junior groups must be right. “We must make sure we bring people whose ages reflect would represent the exact tournament they are supposed to be playing in.”
Even though no single reader of this column can rightly claim that this is news to him,to those of us in the diaspora, it only brought shame and disgrace, coming from such a top official. I recall last year that the indefatigable barrister Adokiye Amesiemeka told it to the world that the captain of the Golden Eaglets had played under 17 for him at Sharks seven years previously and so is far far above the age limit. FIFA heard this, but could do nothing but query the timing, saying it was a calculated attempt to disruot the FIFA U17 World Cup being hosted by Nigeria then.
Even if Amesiemeka could be forgiven for raising the alarm at the time he did because he probably did not know that The young man was in the team until the tournament, Tamakloe has no justification at all to keep quiet till now before opening his big mouth. Get it right from me, I am not in any way in support of the falsification of age by players. We all know that this happens and that atleast 90% of all African players cut atleast 2 or 3 years from their real ages for any reason whatsoever.
In fact, I strongly believe that this is also prevalent in all third world countries, Brazil inclusive. If Kaka is truly as strong in the Lord as we hear he is, then I would want him to tell the world his real age. He may be playing with his real age, but many of his team mates are not. If also our own Evangelist Taribo West wants to really really believe him and his ministry, he should tell us the truth about his age. That is my opinion as I see things.
The only players I can vouch for their true ages are those born in the western world, where everything is documented from the day of one's birth till the day he dies. Players like Victor Anichebe and Nedum Onuoha that came over at a very tender age also fall into this category because when they come over as very young boys their parents had no reason to alter their ages then. For other players, they are caught in the web of life. In most third world countries, there is no proper documentation of births, deaths, etc. people are born at home, in maternities, in school, at church, anywhere and so nobody knows when any one was actually born.
Also, acquiring passports are as easy as ABC, as I know many players that have three to four different passports. My people leave talk. We are all guilty one way or the other. HE WHO HAS NO SINS LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE JARE!
Back to the Ghana incident, Dr. Tamakloe had all the time in the world not just to say what he saw, but to say it when it would have made sense and also do something about it when he was the FA chairman but he kept quiet. He cannot say he did not use any over aged players in the junior national team and even senior national team when he was the FA boss, so coming now to cry wolf is utter rubbish because he only wants to be relevant. Imagine how it would have been if he had spoken out when he was the FA boss. Even if something good may not have come out of it, atleast he would have been seen to be an honest man. Any attempts at honesty now is belated, and the timing is utterly wrong.
Why I am so aggrieved is because of the negative publicity it brings on those of us in the diaspora, especially those of us in the business of player management. Clubs will have reason to doubt the ages of the players we bring them now. The British press no dey take eye see such thing, and dem don highlight am as dem fit, but wetin we fit do? We march on, knowing that until they show tangible evidence [which neither Amesiemeka or Tamakloe could show], all they are saying is hearsay and inadmissible.
On the part of the players, the rest of them acted reasonably and shut up because we all know the truth, and silence they say is the best answer for a fool. But Laryea Kingston tried his best to defend himself by asking Dr. Tamakloe to show proof of what he had said. You see, my quarrel with African players is that they like to pack their money in a sack and chop alone instead of investing in things like management. Come to think of it, of all the four players mentioned, Kingston who plays in Scotland could be said to be the lowest earner so he probably did not have management. It must have been the management teams of the other three England based players that adviced them.
Such allegations you best leave them lying low, otherwise you will have to prove it yourself one way or the other. Kingston's action may lead to people in the British press to clamour for him to sue Dr. Tamakloe for defamation of Character. And one of the easiest defences in a defamation suit is justification or truth. It will be easier for DR. tamakloe to prove the truth of his statement than for the player to prove the falsity of it. Dr Tamakloe only needs to dig a little into the players past record to come up with facts that will be used in his defence. And depending on where the player choses to sue, the onus of prove may lie on him to prove that he is not over aged. My people how him wan take do that one naa?
[This article was first published before the World Cup for Sports Mail, a Lagos based Sports newspaper.]
HODDLES ALLEGATIONS
I was shocked by recent reports that Ex English international Glenn Hoddle was approached for a kick back and when he refused this cost him the chance to lead the Eagles to the World Cup. If this allegations are true, then it is a big shame that some people entrusted with our football would put selfish reasons ahead of doing what's best for Nigerian football. The story goes that Hoddle had impressed the assessors and agreed a salary of one million dollars only to be told that $1.5million would be announced to the public. When he refused to play ball, he was promptly overlooked for the post.
Nigeria we hail thee! No other place can you hear such a story. I read on www.africansoccerunion.com about the involvement of respected FIFA licensed agent John Shittu amidst stories of fake robbery claims and misleading of the Presidential Task Force on Nigeria's 2010 World Cup (PTF) Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state and his counter part from Kwara State, Bukola Saraki .
According to the website and I quote, “Shittu denied ever telling Gov. Saraki of any bribery allegation when the investigative panel set up by the PTF Chairman summoned him. He was said to have begged for clemency after he was thoroughly washed down by the panel. He was also at the VIP during the Nigeria versus DR Congo international friendly match on Wednesday appealing to members of the panel for forgiveness.”
It is really very appalling, and derogatory to the image of Nigerian football not only now, but in the near future. With this kind of report, many top coaches will be turned off at the prospect of having anything to do with Nigerian football.
Surprisingly, uncharacteristic of the western press that blow such negative stories of Nigeria sky high, I have yet to read anything about it here in the UK. Or have I been reading the wrong papers?
[THIS ARTICLE WAS OUBLISHED BEFORE THE WORLD CUP IN SPORTS MAIL, A LAGOS BASED SPORTS PAPER WHERE I HAVE A COLUMN TITLED JOHNNY IN THE DIASPORA]
Nigeria we hail thee! No other place can you hear such a story. I read on www.africansoccerunion.com about the involvement of respected FIFA licensed agent John Shittu amidst stories of fake robbery claims and misleading of the Presidential Task Force on Nigeria's 2010 World Cup (PTF) Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state and his counter part from Kwara State, Bukola Saraki .
According to the website and I quote, “Shittu denied ever telling Gov. Saraki of any bribery allegation when the investigative panel set up by the PTF Chairman summoned him. He was said to have begged for clemency after he was thoroughly washed down by the panel. He was also at the VIP during the Nigeria versus DR Congo international friendly match on Wednesday appealing to members of the panel for forgiveness.”
It is really very appalling, and derogatory to the image of Nigerian football not only now, but in the near future. With this kind of report, many top coaches will be turned off at the prospect of having anything to do with Nigerian football.
Surprisingly, uncharacteristic of the western press that blow such negative stories of Nigeria sky high, I have yet to read anything about it here in the UK. Or have I been reading the wrong papers?
[THIS ARTICLE WAS OUBLISHED BEFORE THE WORLD CUP IN SPORTS MAIL, A LAGOS BASED SPORTS PAPER WHERE I HAVE A COLUMN TITLED JOHNNY IN THE DIASPORA]
SPORTS AGES OF OUR PLAYERS!
Talking about negative publicity from western media, I was enjoying the latest edition of Football Punk, a monthly magazine about the beautiful game with attitude which talks about football intertwined with fashion, equipment, skills and chicks [www.footballpunkonline.com] when I turned to a page that had the pictures of a couple of Nigerian players in national colours. I was pleasantly surprised. However, the pleasantries immediately turned to disgust when I saw the headline: AN AGE OLD PROBLEM?
It got worse when I had the stomach to go through the article and it turned out to be an article telling the world how Nigerian players deceive the world with fictitious ages. And guess what? The article was from a forum on www.nairaland.com , a Nigerian website. According to the article, Taribo West whose official age is 35 is allegedly anything between his mid 40s and 50s. Jay-Jay Okocha is officially 36 but bloggers believe he is 39. On paper Obafemi Martins is 25 whereas bloggers believe he is 29 while Yakubu Aiyegbeni is 32, whereas his passport reads 27. The most annoying one is that of legendary Kanu Nwankwo who though 33 years old according to his passport, is allegedly 41 years old in reality.
Now this is absurd. Inasmuch as all of us know that majority of players in third world countries use ages lower than their actual years when going professional, what irks me is why must we be the ones to wash our dirty linen in public? Just like I was mad at one of my friends who rushed to send the pictures of that gory robbery incident along Lagos-Benin express way to the BBC, I was mad at all the stupid bloggers who opened their mouth to write rubbish in this internet age about our beloved stars. Such comments are defamatory, but unfortunately for the players they cannot do anything to fight this by filing legal suits because there is a defence to defamation called justification, when actually the defamatory comments are true!
It got worse when I had the stomach to go through the article and it turned out to be an article telling the world how Nigerian players deceive the world with fictitious ages. And guess what? The article was from a forum on www.nairaland.com , a Nigerian website. According to the article, Taribo West whose official age is 35 is allegedly anything between his mid 40s and 50s. Jay-Jay Okocha is officially 36 but bloggers believe he is 39. On paper Obafemi Martins is 25 whereas bloggers believe he is 29 while Yakubu Aiyegbeni is 32, whereas his passport reads 27. The most annoying one is that of legendary Kanu Nwankwo who though 33 years old according to his passport, is allegedly 41 years old in reality.
Now this is absurd. Inasmuch as all of us know that majority of players in third world countries use ages lower than their actual years when going professional, what irks me is why must we be the ones to wash our dirty linen in public? Just like I was mad at one of my friends who rushed to send the pictures of that gory robbery incident along Lagos-Benin express way to the BBC, I was mad at all the stupid bloggers who opened their mouth to write rubbish in this internet age about our beloved stars. Such comments are defamatory, but unfortunately for the players they cannot do anything to fight this by filing legal suits because there is a defence to defamation called justification, when actually the defamatory comments are true!
NFF SHOULD IMPROVE SCOUTING
I always feel bad every time I discover the loss of another Nigerian player to a foreign country. With the kind of passion and enthusiasm I have about my beloved country, I always want the best for us so every time I see something nice pass us by I feel bad. And believe you me it is not just in football related matters.that I defend my country with pride. I am proudly Nigerian, but as far as this coulumn is concerned, let's face the football aspect of my patriotism.
Over the years we have lost a lot of very fine talent to other European countries. Some of them are born at home and then go ahead to make a name for themselves in their adopted countries and most after endless waits for a Super Eagles call up, are resigned to playing for their adopted countries just to be able to play international football.Others are born of Nigerian parentage in foreign lands and while a small majority of these group of players get to represent their native country Nigeria, others end up playing for their adopted countries.
One thing I have discovered from the top European cuntries is their eagerness to cap any bright talent they spot that is eligible to play for any other country. England and France are particularly fond of this act. The victorious French team at France 98 had a vast majority of players of African desent. Zinedine Zidane the finest player of his generation , Marcel Desaily, Patrick Vieira to mention but a few were African through and through yet World Champions with France.
What these countries did then was to set their scouts on alert and any top prospect that they feel may be of use to them in the near future they entice him to play for their juniour national teams. Because of the old rule that once you play for one country you cannot play for another national team that existed at that time, we lost a lot of boys that would have been quite useful to our cause. In England here, Ugo Ehiogu rose to the pinnacle of his game, playing for years in the Premiership and even though Nigeria knew he could do a good job for us, he ws not eligible to play for us because he had been capped by England at junior national level.
Others before him like John Fashanu had also been lost to European countries in strange manners. In Fash The Cash's case, he was called up to the then Green Eagles but was not giving a look in as the squad prepared for a game. He went back to his club Wimbledon where he earned a reputation as a bullish yet skillful centre forward, and England quickly capped him twice and made him ineligible for Nigeria, then abandoned him, never caring to extend another call up to him. Ghana lost Marcel Desailly in similar circumstances and he went on to play a much more prominent role for France.
A couple of years back FIFA changed the old rule so that players could, after being capped at junior national team level for one country, switch allegiance to another before they turn 21 years of age. When this was in place, I discovered Sone Aluko doing very well in the Scottish league where he is a main stay in the Aberdeen FC team. I immediately used my contacts in the NFF to get him a call up to the Super Eagles for the international friendly against The Republic of Ireland last May and he gave a good showing in the 75 minutes he played to make the technical crew include him in the squad for the rest of the World Cup qualifiers. He went ahead to represent Nigeria at the WYC U-20 tournament in September last year, and has every likelihood of making it into the Super Eagles soon.
Another change of the rules by FIFA now allows players to switch allegiance as long as they have never represented a country at senior national level no matter how old they are. This opened the door for people like Nedum Onuoha. I went all the way to Manchester City ON MY OWN without a penny from the NFF to find out from he if he was interested in playing for Nigeria. He sounded very much interested like any player at the prospect of playing at the world cup, even though the NFF later said he wanted to consider it and would not be available for the World cup. Well, you win some, you lose some. Tough luck!
Aside the players mentioned above, there are many many others. In the Bundesliga there is Dennis Aogo of Hamburg. I remember years back reading Seyi Olajengbesi point him out when they were playing for the same club in Germany as a star for the future, and that the boy would be interested in playing for Nigeria. Years later, no approach from the NFF until only recently, when we heard that he was approached and he rejected the offer.
Why wouldn't he, IF he did. When he was nobody in the lower rungs of the German league yet able to play regularly for the Germany junior national team nobody in Nigeria gave it a thought to approach him. When he was playing in the Bundesliga and had every prospect of breaking into the German senior national team, someone makes a half hearted approach for his services.
The bottom line here is that Nigeria lacks a scouting system. Look at David Alaba in the Bayern Munich first team at just 17 years of age. He already has a senior national team cap for Austria, which is not even the land of any of his parents. His father is Nigerian whuile his mum is Philipino but he was born in Austria. How could the NFF not spot him as he rose through the ranks in the Bayern Munich team to even approach him and let him know he was in our radar so that he would think twice about any appproach by any other national team?
The only scouting system the NFF have is the journalists. Unfortunaltely, most of our journalists are based in Nigeria. So how can they discover the youth players coming up the ranks abroad when they have not discovered the ones coming up under their noses in Nigeria? Na wa oh!
Over here in the UK, you hardly get to a Premeirship team without a Nigerian youngster coming up through the ranks. There is Tope Obadeyi at Bolton, Jonathan Obika at Tottenham Hotspurs and Chuks Aneke who is doing very well for the Arsenal youth team. What about Kelvin Etuhu, younger brother of Super Eagle'sDickson Etuhu who is a Manchester City player but currently on loan at Cardiff City.
In thelower ranks there are numerous ones like Tom Adeyemi who broke into the Norwich City team this year and played a prominent role in getting them promoted to the Championship. In fact, he was so good that at just 18 years of age, he was voted the Championship Manager Apprentice of the year for League One at the Football League Awards last month. Yet I can swear the NFF do not know a thing about him, and thus cannot even dream of approaching him now. Maybe they are waiting for him to mature and become a beautiful bride before they can show him some love.
I have repeatedly offfered my services to the NFF to be able to help them fish out these young stars coming up yet I have not received a single positive reply. I will continue to do my bit for Nigeria necause finally na Naija I dey do am for, no be NFF. But if you know any one who knows anone who knows anyone at the corridors of power in Nigerian football, please tell them that I am willing to serve my country in doing my best to help fish out these talents across the UK and even in Europefor the good of our football. Nigeria, HERE AM I, SEND ME!!
[This article was first published before the World Cup for Sports MAil, a Lagos based Sports newspaper.]
Over the years we have lost a lot of very fine talent to other European countries. Some of them are born at home and then go ahead to make a name for themselves in their adopted countries and most after endless waits for a Super Eagles call up, are resigned to playing for their adopted countries just to be able to play international football.Others are born of Nigerian parentage in foreign lands and while a small majority of these group of players get to represent their native country Nigeria, others end up playing for their adopted countries.
One thing I have discovered from the top European cuntries is their eagerness to cap any bright talent they spot that is eligible to play for any other country. England and France are particularly fond of this act. The victorious French team at France 98 had a vast majority of players of African desent. Zinedine Zidane the finest player of his generation , Marcel Desaily, Patrick Vieira to mention but a few were African through and through yet World Champions with France.
What these countries did then was to set their scouts on alert and any top prospect that they feel may be of use to them in the near future they entice him to play for their juniour national teams. Because of the old rule that once you play for one country you cannot play for another national team that existed at that time, we lost a lot of boys that would have been quite useful to our cause. In England here, Ugo Ehiogu rose to the pinnacle of his game, playing for years in the Premiership and even though Nigeria knew he could do a good job for us, he ws not eligible to play for us because he had been capped by England at junior national level.
Others before him like John Fashanu had also been lost to European countries in strange manners. In Fash The Cash's case, he was called up to the then Green Eagles but was not giving a look in as the squad prepared for a game. He went back to his club Wimbledon where he earned a reputation as a bullish yet skillful centre forward, and England quickly capped him twice and made him ineligible for Nigeria, then abandoned him, never caring to extend another call up to him. Ghana lost Marcel Desailly in similar circumstances and he went on to play a much more prominent role for France.
A couple of years back FIFA changed the old rule so that players could, after being capped at junior national team level for one country, switch allegiance to another before they turn 21 years of age. When this was in place, I discovered Sone Aluko doing very well in the Scottish league where he is a main stay in the Aberdeen FC team. I immediately used my contacts in the NFF to get him a call up to the Super Eagles for the international friendly against The Republic of Ireland last May and he gave a good showing in the 75 minutes he played to make the technical crew include him in the squad for the rest of the World Cup qualifiers. He went ahead to represent Nigeria at the WYC U-20 tournament in September last year, and has every likelihood of making it into the Super Eagles soon.
Another change of the rules by FIFA now allows players to switch allegiance as long as they have never represented a country at senior national level no matter how old they are. This opened the door for people like Nedum Onuoha. I went all the way to Manchester City ON MY OWN without a penny from the NFF to find out from he if he was interested in playing for Nigeria. He sounded very much interested like any player at the prospect of playing at the world cup, even though the NFF later said he wanted to consider it and would not be available for the World cup. Well, you win some, you lose some. Tough luck!
Aside the players mentioned above, there are many many others. In the Bundesliga there is Dennis Aogo of Hamburg. I remember years back reading Seyi Olajengbesi point him out when they were playing for the same club in Germany as a star for the future, and that the boy would be interested in playing for Nigeria. Years later, no approach from the NFF until only recently, when we heard that he was approached and he rejected the offer.
Why wouldn't he, IF he did. When he was nobody in the lower rungs of the German league yet able to play regularly for the Germany junior national team nobody in Nigeria gave it a thought to approach him. When he was playing in the Bundesliga and had every prospect of breaking into the German senior national team, someone makes a half hearted approach for his services.
The bottom line here is that Nigeria lacks a scouting system. Look at David Alaba in the Bayern Munich first team at just 17 years of age. He already has a senior national team cap for Austria, which is not even the land of any of his parents. His father is Nigerian whuile his mum is Philipino but he was born in Austria. How could the NFF not spot him as he rose through the ranks in the Bayern Munich team to even approach him and let him know he was in our radar so that he would think twice about any appproach by any other national team?
The only scouting system the NFF have is the journalists. Unfortunaltely, most of our journalists are based in Nigeria. So how can they discover the youth players coming up the ranks abroad when they have not discovered the ones coming up under their noses in Nigeria? Na wa oh!
Over here in the UK, you hardly get to a Premeirship team without a Nigerian youngster coming up through the ranks. There is Tope Obadeyi at Bolton, Jonathan Obika at Tottenham Hotspurs and Chuks Aneke who is doing very well for the Arsenal youth team. What about Kelvin Etuhu, younger brother of Super Eagle'sDickson Etuhu who is a Manchester City player but currently on loan at Cardiff City.
In thelower ranks there are numerous ones like Tom Adeyemi who broke into the Norwich City team this year and played a prominent role in getting them promoted to the Championship. In fact, he was so good that at just 18 years of age, he was voted the Championship Manager Apprentice of the year for League One at the Football League Awards last month. Yet I can swear the NFF do not know a thing about him, and thus cannot even dream of approaching him now. Maybe they are waiting for him to mature and become a beautiful bride before they can show him some love.
I have repeatedly offfered my services to the NFF to be able to help them fish out these young stars coming up yet I have not received a single positive reply. I will continue to do my bit for Nigeria necause finally na Naija I dey do am for, no be NFF. But if you know any one who knows anone who knows anyone at the corridors of power in Nigerian football, please tell them that I am willing to serve my country in doing my best to help fish out these talents across the UK and even in Europefor the good of our football. Nigeria, HERE AM I, SEND ME!!
[This article was first published before the World Cup for Sports MAil, a Lagos based Sports newspaper.]
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