MIKEL OBI’S REDOUBTABLE!

 "It is easy enough to be pleasant, when life flows by like a song. But the man worthwhile is the one who can smile, when everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is troubled and the smile that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through tears."-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

With the European football now in full swing, the talking points have been many. The crushing defeat of Arsenal by their arch rivals, Manchester United still dominates most discussions about the EPL (English Premier League) with many already calling the time on Professor Arsene Wenger’s term at the Emirates. There is also small talk about the likely shift of power at the end of the season from Old Trafford to the Eastlands as the Blue half of Manchester have started showing the stuff champions are made of following their 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspurs amongst other impressive results.

 Such conversations are not limited to the EPL, with Barcelona and Real Madrid hitting bull’s eye in their first games of the season. Barcelona cut Villarreal to pieces with a 5-0 thumping at the Camp Nou while Real Madrid thrashed Real Zaragoza 6-0.

 If the morning dictates what the day portends, it is enough to believe that the La Liga would be a two-horse race this season. Already, alarm bells have started ringing with Villarreal’s president, Fernando Roig and his counterpart at Sevilla, Jose Maria del Nido quoted as saying that the growing financial gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid and the rest of La Liga would kill Spanish football!

 “If they only want to have two matches (Real v Barca), let them have two matches, but this isn’t good for football,” Roig said in quotes reported by Reuters. “I give it three or four years. Either this changes or we kill Spanish football.”  Del Nido added: “The two biggest clubs steal the television revenues from the other teams. It’s a league which only two teams can win, its third-world.”

So much for such recriminations.

We must pause and salute the rare courage of Nigeria’s Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi in the face of the unfortunate kidnap of his father just before that EPL kickoff game against Stoke City on August 13. For some ten days, the elder Michael Obi was held in custody by his captors, who were demanding an outrageous sum of N600 billion as ransom.

Mikel’s trajectory at Chelsea is well documented: from being a bit-part player to a big-time player. As recent as mid-April, I bemoaned  the fate of Mikel amidst reports that he was on his way out of  Stamford Bridge after Coach Carlos Ancelotti was fired following a trophy-less season. Since his arrival at the London club in 2006, Mikel has worked under seven managers including Jose Mourinho; Avram Grant; Felipe Scolari; Guus Hiddink, Carlos Ancelotti and now, André Villa-Boas (AVB).

Expectedly, Mikel would have different story to tell under these coaches and it goes without saying that some of these challenges that he has had to grapple with might have threatened his sense of self-worth and personal happiness. Yet, his demeanour and resilience in the face of adversity occasioned by the kidnap of his father is worthy of commendation.

Margaret Moore in Japanese Secrets to Resilience cited Barbara Fredrickson as revealing that ‘positivity is the main mechanism of action for resilience.’

 “What does it really mean to be optimistic?” asked Dr. Tamar Chansky, psychologist and author of the Freeing Your Child book series.

“Is optimism another unwise strategy that looks too good to be true, because it is? How can it be OK to see things in a positive light when we are inundated with bad news? Is it really safe to be an optimist amidst the doom and gloom?

“The short answer is, yes; it's not only safe, it's essential. Optimism combines having a positive vision of the future with the substantive steps to get there. The key is tuning in to how you are narrating the story of the events of your life. While we don't have control over the goings on, we do have control over how we interpret the dramatic events playing out in our own lives,” she added.

While many would argue that this is nothing more than a feminine approach rather than pragmatic, Mikel is simply redoubtable for being able to pull on his socks moments after the news of his father disappearance was broken to him.

"He has shown amazing mental toughness," Villas-Boas said of Mikel’s conduct after he posted a commanding performance against Stoke City. "People go through big disappointments and personal things in their lives and they can still be able to play because they feel well on the pitch to avoid the things that are running in their personal lives. They can focus on different things. Players react in different ways. Some players want straight away to go back to their families while others prefer to be like this and live on day by day, and not because they think they are distanced from where it is happening. It's their choice."  

To all intents and purposes, the choice made by Mikel is one and the same argument made by Martin Roderick in the book, the work of professional football: a labour of love?

 In chapter two of the book, Roderick stated about the ‘attitude to work in professional football’:“Much discussion of work attitudes and work innovations has centred upon the question of whether people generally are intrinsically or extrinsically orientated to their work. It is therefore frequently debated whether on the one hand, people work ‘just for the money’, or on the other hand, they work for self fulfilment.

“Footballers do see their work -at least initially-as a source of realization and as a site for significant social relations, it is not solely a context for the purpose of earning a living. The meanings attached   to the term attitude in the context of professional football are diverse. It is clear that possessing a good ‘professional attitude’ is important for players, particularly in terms of career projection.”

I have always been interested in the sociology of sport and psychology of work. People have different ways of responding to harsh conditions and footballers are first of all, human beings.  And I guess one of the questions that may have agitated the mind of Mikel when he first got the bad news was ‘how can I let go this opportunity when Villa-Boas, the new manager is showing interest in me?’

We can’t forget how much Mikel had suffered at Chelsea. His acrimonious transfer from Lyn Oslo which nearly brought down the root with Manchester United. There was a time he was axed from the first team by the Special One for his poor conduct on the field (after bagging some red cards) and off it (for lateness to training and drunk-driving). There was a time he was touted as the natural successor to former Chelsea’s stalwart, Claude Makelele at a time which coincided with the arrival of Scolari.

“I played that role (holding midfield) sometimes last season and hopefully, I'll have a long run in the team now," Mikel said during Chelsea’s pre-season in 2008. “It's something I've wanted - a run in the team - and I suppose Claude's departure has opened up that door for me, but I was playing in that role when I was in the team last season too. I was in and out of the team last season, but when I was given a chance under (former manager Jose) Mourinho before, I actually did okay in that holding role. I think I did very well under Mourinho and was playing regularly.  

“Of course, when a new manager comes in everyone has to start afresh and roll up their sleeves. In Avram Grant's time, I was in and out of the side, and that was a bit frustrating, but it's what happens in football. This time, under the new boss, I will try to make it my position in the team each week.”

But he did not last the distance as he was used sparingly by Hiddink during his brief stint at Chelsea. He was equally one of the favourites initially under Ancelotti with the Italian declaring: “I have a lot of trust in Mikel; I think he can be the playmaker of this team. He is a young player, but has great quality, both technical and tactical.”

Even at that, Mikel only made 35 appearances for the Blues in 2009/2010 season when the team did the double by winning the Premier League and FA Cup. Last season was not different either, he featured in 37 matches in what could be regarded as his worst season since his arrival in 2006 when the club failed to win anything that eventually culminated in the sacking of Ancelotti.

During the summer, the rumour mill was humming with the possible departure of Mikel from Stamford Bridge, but the lad has shown that he still has many years ahead of him. Already, Mikel has played thrice in as many Premier League matches under Villa-Boas. Whether this is going to be on a long haul remains to be seen, but he deserves nothing but commendations for his resilience in the face of recent adversity.

The battle of Antananarivo

ENYEAMA AND YOBO

The news alert Wednesday was that Madagascar had sacked its national team and replaced it with their Under-23 squad for tomorrow’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against the Super Eagles in Antananarivo.

According to some, ‘this has boosted the Super Eagles’ hope of catching up with Group B leader, Guinea.’ I wonder how, given the fact that the match has not been played at all? What gives people the impression that the Super Eagles would be at a disadvantage because they would be playing against Madagascar’s Under-23 team? What kind of audacity of hope is that, given the fact that the ‘underdogs’ from Madagascar too have some pride at stake?

We have complained time and again that the Super Eagles usually struggle against the so-called minors and how can we forget the fact that the Super Eagles were saved their blushes the last time against Ethiopia in Addis-Ababa? Here was a match that was played few days after the Super Eagles demolished  Argentina 4-1 in Abuja, but for Joseph Yobo’s last minute equaliser, Nigeria’s chances  of making  it to  the next African Cup of Nations to be hosted by Gabon & Equatorial Guinea could have all but ended by now.

Incidentally, the game in Antananarivo is a must-win for the Super Eagles consequently, the match should be regarded like a cup final. In a cup final, it is not out of place for the underdogs to beat the top dogs and the sooner Super Eagles come to grips with that the better for them.

Of course, we have passed through this same road before during a qualifying game for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan against Ghana in Accra. Disenchanted with the performance of his professional players, the then Black Stars’ coach, Jones Attuquayefio virtually lined-up players from Hearts of Oak against the Super Eagles Armanda of professionals that included the like of  Sunday Oliseh, Garba Lawal,  Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, George Finidi, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Agali amongst others.

Typical of Nigerians, three points were awarded the Super Eagles ahead of the game, but the wholly local-based Black Stars showed again that football matches were not played on the pages of newspapers! Final result: Ghana 0, Nigeria 0! I remember that game like yesterday as my friend, Ademola Olajire, who presently is Nigeria Football Federation’s Media Chief simply ‘boiled over’ against Coach Jo Bonfrere for failing to deploy his men. As usual, the excuse was that the Super Eagles could not cope with the hot weather in Accra.

Yet, the Super Eagles would be playing under an ‘unfavourable weather’ in Antananarivo in what according to Akinyemi Akinrujomu, the Americans refer to as ‘Rockies’- a high altitude zone that would leave so many players gasping for breath. So, what is the wisdom in counting the Super Eagles’ eggs before they are hatched? I hold my breath till tomorrow comes....

Raul really enjoy his Indian summer

He wore the famous jerseys of Spanish giants, Real Madrid with an uncommon élan and many have thought the end had come when he was forced out of the Bernabeau upon the arrival of a certain Jose Mourinho!

Yet, Raúl González has demonstrated some resilience that is worthy of emulation by anybody who wants to remain at the top of his career with his sterling performance for Schalke since departure from the Real’s radar.

He spent 16 years at Real and during this period, Raul was Real Madrid and vice versa. Some of the medals he won were distinguished: Real Madrid Record Goal Scorer (323 goals); Real Madrid Record Appearance Maker (741 games); Real Madrid Record Goal Scorer in La Liga (228 goals); Real Madrid Record Goal Scorer in UEFA Champions League: 66 goals and many more.

Yet, he had to leave ‘since he did not want to spend another season as third or fourth choice striker.’

But at ‘unfashionable’ Bundesliga side, Schalke 04, Raul has shown that there is life after all away from the Bernabeau.  Last season, his goals nearly led Schalke to the Champions League Final Match until they were stopped in the semi-finals by Manchester United. This season, he has scored four goals in as many matches for Schalke and this again reinforces the wisdom that adversity is a fact of life, it can't be controlled. What we can control is how we react to it.’

Eto’o: From rejection to recognition

”In the arena of human life the honours and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.” --Aristotle

With his eagerly awaited mega-money move from Inter Milan to Russian club Anzhi Makachkala, Samuel Eto’o Fils joins the pantheon  of players  that can be  mirrored  in Harvey Mackay’s definitive book: We Got Fired!.. And That It’s The Best Thing That Ever Happened To US.

The £17.5 million deal  with Anzhi  would reportedly crown  Eto’o as the highest paid footballer in the world  as it eclipsed  Cristiano Ronaldo’s estimated £12 million annual salary at Real Madrid

In this book, Mackay shared experiences  of icons and celebrities notably  Muhammad Ali( former  Heavyweight Champion of the World); Larry King ( host of  now rested Larry King Live on CNN); Billie Jean King(  winner of 39 Women’s tennis Grand-Slam Titles);Donald Trump ( estate mogul)  amongst others- these are men and women who  in Mackay’s words ‘turned  modern bummer  into a major blessing.’

 We don’t have to look further than Eto’o as one player that epitomised   such accolade as espoused by Mackay after he was shown the exit at Barcelona in 2009. The Cameroonian was one of the stars of the 2009 all-conquering Barcelona and he even scored the opening goal when the Spanish side beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the UEFA Champions League trophy in Rome.  On top of this, Eto’o was Barcelona’s top striker that season scoring 30 goals which in no small part helped the club secure the La Liga trophy. But all of these paled into insignificance when Eto’o was forced out of the Camp Nou on the orders of coach Pep Guardiola.

"I am convinced that the best thing for Barca is for Eto'o to leave. Could I be mistaken? Maybe so,”

 Guardiola advanced his points."But I am here to make these decisions.

“I feel it is the best for the team, for the club, but I don't dare say for Samuel. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's my responsibility. It's my decision. There are no behavioural reasons, you shouldn't look for them. I am not here to change anyone's character, but I can decide on which players I want to count on for the season,” he added.

Eto’o was unceremoniously off-loaded to Inter Milan to the chagrin of many who felt he was given the short end of the stick all because he was a Blackman. Would Pep have done same to Messi or Xavi if found guilty of causing ripples in the dressing room?  What manner of coach is Pep to sacrifice a player of Eto’o status over petty issues? Is this not classic case of spitting one’s nose?

“Pep is a great Coach. We had some disputes, as happens in every side, but when I left Barcelona I had no remorse for what I did, on the field or off it,” Eto’o said afterwards."Pep is human like me. He made ​​a decision for the good of Barca, I do not share [his view], that's life.”

Despite  Guardiola’s misgivings , I  equally  then reasoned that  Eto’o might have fell  on his canvas at Barca  but  he would  rebound  all because of his never-say-die spirit that has stood the test of  time since the day he  dreamt of making football a career.

Of all the legendary African I’ve been privileged to interview at close quarters, no one has caught my fancy as much as Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o Fils. He is a player that practically fought his way to the top. Overtime, I cannot but admire his resilience after that my first encounter with the then teenage on October 3, 1998 in company of Cameroonian sport journalist, Frank Sone-Bayern who served as an interpreter while I conducted an interview with him.

 He was still  fresh  from the France’98 World Cup where  he  was on record as the youngest  player at the tournament  though he  did not kick a ball  as the indomitable Lions crashed out in the  First  Round .

Yet, Eto’o was audacious as we spoke that fateful day, telling me that his ambition as a player was nothing but to be the best in the world.

“I dreamt of becoming a doctor or lawyer but my passion for the game of football took the better part of me,” said the then small Eto’o who was discovered at the famous Kadji Sports Academy in Cameroon. “Since footballers are now respected members of the society, I have no regret for taking it (soccer) as a career. My ambition is to be the best I can be.”

To say that Eto’o has best the record is perhaps stating the obvious. In 2010 according to Wikipedia (the online free encyclopedia), Eto’o became the first player to win two European Continental Trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Internazionale. He was also  second player to have ever scored in two separate UEFA Champions League finals  ( he scored  against Arsenal in 2006) and the fourth player, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa, and Gerard Piqué, to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams. He is the most decorated African player of all time having won the African Player of the Year award a record four times in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.Last season, Eto’o scored a remarkable 37 goals in all competitions for Inter Milan last season where he won the World Club Cup.

In his generation, Eto’o stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best players in the world and would have walked away with the FIFA Ballon d’Or with some luck. In 2005, he mounted the rostrum with Ronaldinho, Frank Lampard.

“It is the dream of any player to be the best in the world,” Eto’o said at the 2005 FIFA Gala Awards. “But just to be here with these two is great. I remember getting up at 3am, 4am to buy fish now I have all this through football.”

This brings us back to the kernel of this discourse. What would have happened to Eto’o if he failed to lift himself after he was unceremoniously thrown away by Guardiola at Barcelona?  What would have happened to his career if he was not ready to fight his way to the top of his trade?  What would have been the lot of Eto’o if was gripping over his rejection at Barcelona?

In Mackay’s epistle, Larry King speaks on how best to turn adversity to opportunity: “I’ve always had a survival streak. I come off the floor.  Knocked down-get up. I never accept that I’m out. It’s like boxing. I might  be knocked down in a round , but I’ve  never thought I’d  lose  the fight. I’ve always felt confident.

“Sometimes getting fired is a break. You can look at firing two ways. Firing can be a terrible tragedy. Or you can say: I don’t have to go there tomorrow, so I can make other moves. I can look at other avenues and can fight back...and have the time to fight back. Someone once told me that it isn’t the tragedy of life, it’s how you react to the tragedy.yoy know, the half-empty glass...”

Undoubtedly we can look at Eto’o from this prism and he too could afford to say that:  I got fired!.. And that it’s the best thing that ever happened to me .The rejected stone by Guardiola at Camp Nou has indeed becomes the capstone as the highest paid footballer in the world!

The worthy example of Patrick Ubah

Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) stated matter-of-factly: ‘I am in the habit of looking not so much to the nature of a gift as to the spirit in which it is offered.’

 It is on this premise that I’m hoisting  Mr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, the managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Company , for  hosting the  Flying Eagles  on arrival from Colombia last week  in spite of the  fact that they were  sent packing from the 2011 FIFA  Under-20 World Cup in the quarter finals by  their French  counterparts.

 Members of the team and official were each given Galaxy I-Pad plus the sum of N10 million to the team by Ubah and there is no doubting the fact that the gesture deserves applause.

Said Ubah: “It is worthy to note that there is a price for every effort, our efforts are not in vain but it ended making us proud.  We humbled many nations, we surprised many continents and today because of what we believe in, we believe we have to encourage you.

“We believe by encouraging you, you will do more and Nigeria will continue to grow above what we are in football. I appreciate the wonderful work you have done and together make our country proud.”

 His words resonated far and wide because this is a rare act in this clime. Losers are orphaned while winners are celebrated on end. Ubah has shown a high ideal by rewarding the efforts of the Flying Eagles and I think Corporate Nigeria can take a cue from this.

It is part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by multinationals to fund sport but this is not applicable here with many hiding behind the fact that such fund would be misappropriated.  Think many are tired of this customary condemnation hence we must salute those who are ready to oil the progress of Nigerian football as well as other sports.

I equally doff my heart for the likes of Globacom and Samsung for coming to the aid of Nigerian football recently. While Globacom doled out N1.8 billion as the official sponsor of all national teams, Samsung sealed a $1.5 million deal as the Official Electronics of the national teams.

Last year at the 2010 African Footballer of the Year Awards ceremony, Dr.  Mike Adenuga Jnr. Chairman of Globacom pledged improved sponsorship to the beautiful game around the continent and this recent sponsorship of the Super Eagles and other Nigeria’s national teams was a step in the right direction. 

Of course, many are of the opinion that the packages were too small but what sort of thinking is that?

If every blue-chip brings small part to the table, Nigerian and sports generally, would have been better off than what we have today. Personally, I can’t but echo the sentiments of that Spaniard,   Lucius Annaeus Seneca that ‘a gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.’

That unfortunate kidnap of Mikel Obi’s father

I actually refrained from pouring invectives on those who took the father of Super Eagles Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi into custody for almost two weeks asking as usual, a ransom to affect his release.

They drove the old man all the w way from Jos to Kano where they eventually met their waterloo when they were captured and later paraded.

  I won’t be saying anything new that there is so much insecurity within the society. We have read time and again in the Bible ‘that in the last days, men will be lovers of themselves... lovers of money’ but manner of kidnappers are these for allegedly demanding a staggering N600 billion?

Alice Munro (Lives of Girls and Women) stated as much: "I was amazed as people must be who are seized and kidnapped, and who realize that in the strange world of their captors they have a value absolutely unconnected with anything they know about themselves."

What these miscreants were asking for was actually quantified as almost the annual wage of Mikel at Chelsea. Can you imagine that? Absolute greed corrupts absolutely.

We thank God that the old man is alive to tell the story and anything other than that would have a dire consequence for Nigeria and Nigerian football.

Between John Obuh and Samson Siasia!

 “Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.”-Vince Lombardi

Following Flying Eagles’ ouster from the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Sunday after the 3-2 loss to Les Bleuets of France, my imagination just went wild and rhetorically asked: what is the difference between a lucky coach and an unlucky one?

 Not that I’m gifted with clairvoyance, but I stated here on the eve of the team’s departure to Colombia that the only thing that could stand between the Flying Eagles and the trophy was nothing but luck! With such thorough and methodological preparation that saw the team playing so many matches, one would be forgiven to think so and I was least surprised by Coach John Obuh’s post-match comments after the loss to France: “We wanted to win, but it didn’t work out. My players gave their best, but their efforts didn’t pay off. The match could have gone either way, but we were unlucky. France was luckier and they capitalised on our mistakes.”

Just maybe things might have turned out differently if the Flying Eagles had kept their eyes on the ball when they got lucky after substitute Maduabuchi Ejike scored a last-gasp equaliser to send the match into extra-time.

Legendary English coach, Brian Clough, the man who led Nottingham Forest to win the European Cup twice and set an unbeaten run of 42 league matches between November 26, 1977 and December 9, 1978 (which was only surpassed by Arsenal that set a 49-match unbeaten record in 2004), actually stated in his biography that ‘anybody can win a cup with a bit of luck.’

But what is that small thing called luck other than hard work. Foremost motivational speaker, Brian Tracy once noted that ‘I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.’

 Asked what was the secret of his success at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson in Moving Up enthused: “People keep asking me what has made me successful. It’s hard work. Yes, plain old hard work. The ability to work hard all your life is, firstly not easy, and secondly, an inspiration to those who work under or with you. No one should write off naturally talented people, but they also need the application of hard work to be successful, whereas hardworking people can survive without natural talent.”

Gary Player, the doyen of golf gave a clear correlation between hard work and luck as the panache for success with his definite quote: ‘The more I practice, the luckier I get.’

Player, according to Wikipedia, was credited with nine Major championships and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame for winning 165 tournaments on six continents over six decades!

 This was what Ferguson said about Player: “Most golfers would be just glad to get out of the bunker but he is talking about holing from the sand. I think that closes all the debates about hard work and hope.”

 Surely, there is no disputing the fact that hard work pays yet, there is no substitute to luck according to Larry King, who hosted the famous Larry King Live on CNN between 1985 and 2010: "Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves."

 We can go on and on with the relationship between luck and hard work as the basis to succeed but how many people would be happy with a hardworking coach without a trophy in the cabinet?

While we salute the likes of Obuh and current Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia for their good work ethics, we are stuck with the stark reality that they are yet to win big on the world stage!

Obuh nearly won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup when Nigeria hosted the event in 2009 only to be stopped at the final hurdle by Switzerland.

“I was disappointed that we lost to Switzerland. Having reached that close, it made it even more painful. The boys lost focus in the most important game of the tournament. A lot of them were looking to impress European clubs and did not play as a team as a result,” Obuh agonised.

Though he has proved that he was equipped with the Midas Touch by leading Sharks of Port Harcourt to win the 2010 WAFU Cup as well as leading the Flying Eagles to win the last African Youth Championship in South Africa as a prelude to the World Cup in Colombia, he would forever rue the possibility of what could have been against Les Bleuets last Sunday.

 What if he had pulled off star striker, Musa Ahmed for Ejike earlier? What if he had gone to the tournament with a taller goalkeeper as some critics suggested? What if he had not met the gusty French in the semi-finals? What if he had gone to the tournament with players like Stanley Okoro and Mohammed Aliyu? Questions, questions and more questions.

The same is applicable to Siasia. Apart from winning the African Youth Championship in Benin in 2005, his best efforts so far on the world stage is coming second behind Argentina at the 2005 Under-20 FIFA World Cup in Holland as well as the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing.

“We don’t know what is happening to the magic wand Coach Siasia promised Nigerians,” a passionate fan stated in a recent sms. “Nigeria has been sliding in the monthly FIFA Rankings ever since he came on board. Amodu is not a great coach, but he has always been lucky. It is up to Siasia to move Nigerian football to the Eldorado or else his coaching career will be over.”

Still wondering why every successful coach still has to ride his luck? Which one is your preference, a hard working coach without luck or vice versa?

Flying Eagles, thank you!

Except for those who believe under-aged competition is an end itself, the Flying Eagles deserve plaudits for reaching the quarter final stages of the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.

Going into the tournament, I said here that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has done everything possible to prepare the Flying Eagles. Consequently, the onus was on Obuh and his wards to do themselves justice.

Surely, the Flying Eagles did not match the record of their 1989 and 2005 predecessors that nearly won the tournament, but lost in the Final Match to Portugal and Argentina respectively, they however, gave Nigerians something to cheer. They won their qualifying section with aplomb by thrashing Guatemala 5-1, Croatia 4-2 and Saudi Arabia 2-0 and were one of the only three teams (the others being Spain and Colombia) that won all their First Round Matches.

Ironically, the trio jointly crashed out at the quarterfinal stages of the competition as Brazil saw off Spain 7-6 on penalties after a goalless draw at the end of extra-time, while Mexico comprehensively beat Colombia 3-1 and Nigeria lost 2-3 to France in a dramatic fashion. Think the Flying Eagles met and lost to a better French team and were undone with the agility of star substitute, Alexandre Lacazette, who broke the Flying Eagles’ heart twice.

 Despite the loss, there are still some positive vibes, with Obuh saying the future of Nigerian football is bright indeed: “This is a team we should build for the senior national team, but again, the players must sustain themselves. Some of them came through from the U-17 level while some dropped on the way because of lack of seriousness. The serious ones will make the senior team.”

Age-grade competitions are just a means to an end and not an end itself and we can only hope that Obuh’s prediction that some of the lads would make the top grade would see the light of the day.

 Of course, many are still of the opinion that some of these players are already past their prime and have nothing to offer the game any longer, but such criticism is neither here nor there.

Expectedly, former Nigerian international, Adokie Amiesimaka was at his petulant best again: “My take on this is that we would be undoing ourselves. These players are too old and it would be absurd to draft in players in their thirties to play for the Super Eagles. The players are too old. They are in their 30’s and should be thinking of retirement, not playing for the senior team. Those players we think are U-20 may even be too old for the super Eagles.”

Good talk as I even lamented here just last week that Nigerian football would suffer on the long run should the generality of the society turn eyes away from age cheats, but the question is: where were the jurists when Obuh named his squad for this tournament? Think the wise thing to do was to blow the whistle on age cheats before the competition as the coach would have been left with no choice but to drop such players.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, novelist and dramatist stated that ‘the person of analytic or critical intellect finds something ridiculous in everything.’

Before I forget, kudos to  Samm ‘Masterblaster’  Audu, the Flying Eagles’ media officer  for his incisive despatches  from  Colombia  and it goes without saying that the  NFF was spot on with appointments of  credible hands  to serve with the national teams.

One down, one to go!

Some equate footballers with prostitutes: one moment they are there, the next, they are gone!

This could be true after all when on Tuesday, one of the most protracted  transfer saga in recent times ended with Cesc Fabregas finally sealing his departure from Arsenal to Barcelona.

Fabregas dominated the space throughout the European summer’s transfer window and at some point, the British PM, David Cameron even pleaded that the lad should stay on at the Emirates. But the Spanish giants would not have any of that and they pursued their target to a logical conclusion by offering a £40m fee to have their man.

Obviously, the most disappointed man was Coach Arsene Wenger, who stated matter-of-factly, on the eve of Fabregas departure: “We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case. However, we understand Cesc's desire to move to his hometown club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona. We thank Cesc for his contributions at Arsenal and wish him future success.”

With that deal done and dusted, all eyes would be on Inter Milan’s Dutch maestro Wesley Sneijder.

He has been courted by Manchester United, but the transfer was stalled after negotiations broke down along the line over what the player was going to earn at Old Trafford.

During the week, Inter Milan’s President, Massimo Moratti said, Sneijder is ‘untouchable’ and that the player ‘was going nowhere’, but such grandstanding doesn’t last too long in this wheeling and dealing football business.

It might just be a matter of time before Sneijder would swap Inter Milan’s blue colours for Manchester United’s red colours. I can’t wait....