AMAJU SELLING LIES TO NIGERIANS

Chief Ekeji, can't listen to charlatans on Egbunike

I have not pretended about the mismanagement of Nigerian athletics by the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr. Solomon Ogba. So, during the games in Maputo, I vowed on this blog that I won’t issue comments on the performance. I forced myself to keep the vow.
During the period, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission said in Maputo what is wholesomely false.

Newspapers reported Amaju as having said: “Great credit must go to Chief Solomon Ogba (President Athletics Federation of Nigeria) on the achievements of Track and Field here. I have seen his personal commitment make impact. We have US based athletes here and sometimes they want to eat things like pizza to feel good and compete well. Ogba personally goes to buy them Pizza and other things. He is a great motivator and I’m proud of what he has done here. I’m also proud that Delta athletes are doing well and have won many medals. The 4X100m relay team that won the gold comprised of Delta athletes throughout. I’m happy.”

LIE NUMBER ONE: All the athletes that won the 4x100m women gold medals are NOT from Delta State. It is fraudulent to have made this claim and publicly too. This formed the basis of the first lie.

Of the quartet, only Okagbare looks Delta. She is Delta by birth. Those who know who I asked told me that Okagbare’s roots is coach Tony Osheku. That reinforces my earlier position that Osheiku MUST be in the team of coaches to determine a useful future for Nigerian athletics. Another source reliably informed me that when Osheku brought out the latent potentials in the talented athlete, he recommended her to coach Bob Kittens of University of Texas, El-Paso (UTEP).

LIE NUMBER TWO: Gloria Asumnu is another member of the 4x100m team. An official of the AFN confided in me that, Asumnu had no contact with Nigeria. She was said to be an American of Nigerian parents. “She was recruited to come to Nigeria by Pat Itanyi. This re-confirms my list of coaches whose talents will hone Nigerian athletics’s future.

If what this official told me is true, which I believe, that means Maputo was the first time she will be presenting Nigeria. Can some one ask Mr Pinnick, how does she become a Delta athlete?

LIE NUMBER THREE: Damola Osayomi I know is an Ekiti athlete, based in the United States, but she runs for the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security corp.  She is a staff of the agency. How come she is a Delta athlete? Was Amaju Pinnick dreaming? This is his third lie.

LIE NUMBER FOUR: Agnes Osasuwa is the only one I don’t know in the quartet. Google and IAAF facts showed she is from Edo State. Independent sources said she trains in Ogun State. How come Ogun and Delta are the same? As it is with Nigerian administrators, I wish Amaju Pinnick will claim the journalists who reported him misquoted him.

LIE NUMBER FIVE: As the CEO of sports when he was in the Delta State Sports commission, it was clear that Mr. Ogba had a deep passion for sports. The fact that he claims he spends his money does not translate to the fact that he does not collect same back later (probably with interest). By extension, he is not spending his money. If he were spending without asking for being reimbursed, his statement would have been true. He was even quoted some time ago that he is being owed over N60million. Uhm!

OGBA’S CRITICAL ERRORS:

But our sports does need men and women who spend their money on sports, because what happens if they wake up one day and decide to stop spending, the sports will go down like Abiola Babes, Nkoyo Ibori Athletics Championship, Folawiyo Athletics Championship, Dan Ngerem U-18, Odogwu Athletics Championship and many others, what athletics need is men and women that will harness the resources available to the nation with population of 150 million and build institutions that will outlive all us, just as IAAF will function with or without Lamine Diack, just the way Guaranty Trust Bank is working after Fola Adeola and Tayo Adenirokun. While we welcome moneybags, what we really need are moneybags, that will build institutions.

THE GANG-UP AGAINST EGBUNIKE:

It is certainly not enough to be an ex-international to be a coach. You must betrained in the art and science of coaching to be a coach especially at the national team levels. When Ogba’s AFN brought out the list of its plethora of coaches, I screamed and made it clear that many of them DO NOT have the training or credentials to be called coaches. One good thing Mr. Ogba did for themis believe in themdespite their obvious deficiencies because again they will be amenable to do the bidding of the piper (Ogba).

Ogba due to his messianic complex will not be able to stand the guts of independent minded people. That is why the likes of Egbunike, Itanyi, Osheiku, et al will not be welcome in the national teams. Ogba’s journey men got the opportunity to coach the national team. In saner climes, they would have started brushing up their credentials with education in the classroom and on the field. This is what I found out later that Gabriel Opuana started but lied he was a grade three coach!

With my findings, Maputo was and remains a terrible field to measure these coaches. For national interest, I believe strongly too that, the very best available human resource must be given tasks of coaching our national teams, including athletics.  This is where the Director General of the NSC, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, MUST stand and be identified with what is fair and just. We need to jettison sentiments and be pragmatic. Egbunike is the way out. Anything short is lying to the nation. What do we need the three Cubans for? Or do we need the emergency whites Ogba imported for the team in Daegu?

MATCH-FIXING ALLEGATION: DOLPHINS TRIED TO FIX THE GAME TOO -REFEREE OKORO

The alleged referees

*OPENS CAN OF WORMS AT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE MEETING

ILLEGALITY BUILT ON ILLEGALITIES:

Referee Chrisantus Okoro is one man who I had thought would have proceeded to a court of law to slam libel and defamation of character on his accusers who had made him guilty before the public eye. He like his fellow referee suffered the greatest damage.

Rather, he decided to wait for the jaundiced Ethics and Disciplinary panel of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The chairman of that panel is simply not fit to preside over the matter. So, whatever decision that committee reaches can still be a subject of litigation depending on who is at the receiving end. Mr. Leye Adepoju is the chairman of the committee. He was a dismissed magistrate of the Oyo State judiciary. By that, he can’t sit on a respected panel nor the NFF (remember the NFF itself is illegal and a non-juristic person).

WHO CASTS THE FIRST STONE?:

Now let’s start this way. Which Nigerian clubside does not fix matches? I can swear on oath that all are guilty. Going through the match-fixing allegations leveled against Sunshine Stars of Akure by Dominic Iorfa, the team manager of Lobi Stars of Makurdi, it is important to state that some other evidences must be adduced to prove match-fixing beyond what has been published. This is being legal minded. Existing evidences are not enough to prove match-fixing.

Secondly, why did Dominic Iorfa waited until after the game where Sunshine Stars had beaten Lobi Stars 1-0 in the Premier League Week 34 match played at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi before raising the allegations?

Did he played the match under periscope under protest?

Thirdly, the referees accused did not handle the game and yet the result turned against him or were the match officials who still handled the game also settled by Sunshine FC of Akure?

Fourthly, Iorfa presented as evidence nine pictures showing match officials for the game being conveyed to Bauchi in a vehicle owned by Sunshine Stars. On a re-visit, these are environmental to match-fixing. More concrete facts must be adduced.

DOLPHINS ATTEMPTED MATCH-FIXING:

Okoro, who was the centre referee for the Sunshine-Lobi Stars’ match, gave detailed accounts of how officials of Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt, rather than Sunshine Stars of Akure, allegedly exerted pressure on him to make sure that Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi emerged winners in the game.

The referee informed members of the ethics and disciplinary panel sitting at the NFF secretariat that Dolphin’s Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma, had prior to the match day, called him on telephone to ask for his help by ensuring that he helped Lobi FC get the three maximum points from the match.

Eguma, he claimed, said that the outcome of the match would have a negative effect on Dolphin’s position on the league table if Sunshine Stars of Akure wins. Okoro said: ‘The chairman of the Rivers State Referees Council called me and said, ‘you don de go Bauchi?’ I said yes I am on my way. He asked me again in pidgin language ‘where you dey now?’ 

I said my chair; right now we just left Markurdi. When we got to Lafia heading to Akwanga he called me again asking, ‘where una dey now?’ I told him that we just left Lafia. Then early enough when we took off from Owerri, Emeka Iwuagu, the former team manager of Heartland FC called me; he said ‘have you left Owerri for your match?’ I said yes, that I am on my way.

‘Later again, after Dokunbor spoke to me, in fact, even before this date of the match, Stanley Eguma had earlier called me for about 30 minutes. 

He was telling me in that particular episode that he was not the person that removed me from his match, because before he spoke with me Dolphin had just played Enyimba and they drew 1-1. 

He said that it is a fight between the Yoruba and the South, between them (Dolphin) and Sunshine, that I should not allow this thing to happen to them.’

At this juncture, Okoro emphasised on Eguma’s insistence that Dolphin had a special interest in the Sunshine versus Lobi Stars match, adding that Lobi should be allowed to win the match.

‘Now after Dokubor spoke to me at Lafia, Eguma called me, because in the last statement, Dokubor told me that they (Dolphin) have sent him, and he is now trying to board a flight to Bauchi, that I should wait for him.

‘Now Eguma told me after his arrival in Bauchi that, ‘up Ref’, I said fair play. He said that he had sent Dokubor to me. I said is that so? He said yes. I said okay Dokubor called me some minutes ago, to confirm that he is coming to see me in Bauchi.

‘I asked him what he was coming to Bauchi to see me for, he said I should please try and assist them and ensure that Lobi comes out victorious in that match; that I should know that if Sunshine gets a result in that match they are doomed. 

I said sir, you know me very well, that I am not one of those referees that says this team will win or this team will draw or this team will lose; that you know it I have handled your match, even in your home. He said yes he knows. The story ended there,’ explained Okoro.

RANDOM MUSINGS

Ekeji, DG NSC

WHO IS THIS MIKE ENAHORO?

His name is Bethel. He is based in Germany. He is so fond of my writing. According to him, if a day passes by and he does not get to the blog, he feels like he is missing his blackberry. He pulled a call through to me Sunday morning. We spoke for 1:38:15 minutes! His first issue is, “who is this Mike Enahoro?” I agree with him on the ways out of the crisis bedeviling the Nigerian football scene. Is the Federal government not a PDP government? Even the ones that are not PDP can be lobbied to see reason in this path.

Two other articles he wrote and you published on your blog made my days when I read them. These are the kinds of people who should be saddled with the management of the game in the country. Are our governors difficult to see? Can’t you guys reach the governors with this idea? Please, I beg you in God’s name, don’t just write. Please move in to see the governors. You guys can do it. I promised him that I will and by the grace of God, I will.

QUINTESSENTIAL PAT EKEJI:

Ordinarily, I am a type of person who when my friends go into politics or get into power, I try very hard to leave them alone until they leave the office and we continue our friendship when they leave. This is because there is a virus that catches up with them and makes them deaf, dumb and blind.

For those who gets into power on their own that for their office we have to relate, I try not to be close to them because I am naturally aggressive. I hate when someone gives me shit, I will return it for the value without blinking. That is why no one in this nation can say he or she is responsible for anything that I am.

Chief Patrick Ekeji as the Director General of the National Sports Confusion (if you like make the confusion read Commission) is the first athlete to have represented this country to have risen to that office. He was a coach. He was a lecturer in the National Institute for Sports (NIS). Can we have another person with these values to be fortunate to occupy that office?

By all standards, his tenure, if even for a day should have a marked difference. I say it that things are even worse than he met the Commission now. Sports development is at the nadir. His Commission does not seem to be on the driver’s seat. The quality of decisions taken therein makes one to think they are comedians therein.

However, one decision I want to reluctantly commend him for is that as it concerns the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) and the Ranting Nine. After the Maputo fiasco, he came and returned the issues in conflict to the right path. That is not after vehement protestations and scathing remarks about the Commission in the game’s online forum. Anyhow, I still return to my “unholy” (that was what Dr. Amos Adamu called it) suggestion that every sports federation should be allowed to advertise and employ and pay their Secretaries General. The current set up will never let development steam up. Most of the secretaries simply are incompetent, do not understand their job schedule and are simply out to make money at the expense of development.

I recall a seminar at the national stadium in Lagos when I was in Thisday newspaper. I stated this fact and Dr Adamu in his response defended them but to me then, and even now, stick to my position because I have so many case studies to prove this point which I know the senior cadre of the Ministry and NSC are aware of. The NSF ‘crisis’ was festered and nurtured by a rebellious secretary general. He wrongly fed the NSC with farce. All manners of terrible and laughable decisions came forth as a result. How Dr Ekeji got the truth and reversed those unpopular decisions makes one have some hope that he (Ekeji) can do it. Why and how he is not doing it well is what worries my head.

NFF-INDUCED ATTACK:

Two months ago, on my way to Ilorin, I had an accident with my car. It was practically a write-off. An avuncular friend in authority offered to buy me a new car of my choice. He said, let me know the cost I will give you the money. I have found it difficult to go back to him. Five of them promised me cash support. Three others promised me and gave me the cash which I took and appreciated.

One of such persons has his sympathy for the current board of the NFF led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari. He had tried to use cash t lobby me out but I kept insisting, its for the good of the game and not for the benefit of my pocket. If the Maigari team had done the right things correctly, I will come forth to support them.

In this crisis between the NFA and the NFF, I know people including sports journalists who are praying that the battle continues because it guarantees them a regular income. With the NPL issue, I know about three persons who have bought brand new cars from their pitching tents with one of the parties. I can mention names.

One of them was so naïve that when he called me to commiserate with me on the accident said, “na NFF people send missile to you.” I laughed myself hoarse. He was the ninth person who ascribed the accident to the NFF. Assuming it is true, they can intensify more efforts. I will come out better. To me, it is a mere accident. I will come out of it better and stronger. Case closed.

ATHLETICS FRAUD OF NIGERIA: It is time to congratulate Mr. Solomon Ogba for meeting the 10 gold medals he set out to achieve at the All African games. However, it is important we let him and his so-called non existent board be aware that, maladministration within the secretariat caused us the loss of more medals. There were some seven other medals we lost from home.

Can someone ask him officially where is Ohanaja, Nurudeen Selim, Vivian Chukwuemeka and a host of continental champions that were not in Maputo? Par Selim, the AFN lied that he was injured and that was why he was not in Maputo. Assuming the AFN lie is taken as true, who called him to find out how he is faring? The truth is, the chap like a lot of others are owed monies and the AFN is not responsible enough to pay the athletes and they in the AFN think they can wish them away.

Vivian Chukwuemeka is one athlete who I will continue to respect for her principles and strong will. This is one person who even at the height of competing for the nation will stand for what she thinks is right. She was practically rubbished and maligned in the public by the AFN on a phantom intricate drug web weaved around her. She was dumped. Suddenly, like a drunk sot, the shameless AFN goons invited her to the Maputo teams days to the event.

Now please ask, if it is true she was found in the drug web, what value of support was she given during the punishment phase? Does anybody reach her to find out about her state of mind and training? Rather than apologise to her publicly for the ridicule she and her family suffered as a result, they wished her psychological state away and think she will pack her bags and start scampering to the team.

This is a federation managed like a typical Nigerian motor park where only one lord reigns. Everybody in-house must pledge loyalty to the capon or be shipped out. The capo too, starts to think like a force inviolate. His thinking, even if, as it usual, is pedestrian, must be respected and seen as the truth unchallenged.

When will the real NPL Club owners, take charge!!

Rotimi Amaechi, Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum

THIS IS A GUEST CONTRIBUTION FROM  MIKE SIMEON ENAHORO (www.realjazzman.blogspot.com)

"When the king and chiefs go mad or are missing, the village idiots and court jesters will lay claim to the throne" (Xhosa Proverb).

These past 16 months have been horribly tumultuous for Nigerian football.  We have witnessed the worst administrative crisis in Nigerian football.  Ever since the start of the crisis (Galadima's ouster leading to Sani Lulu’s emergence), this period has really set us back a long way. 

We still have two bodies laying claims to the running of football in Nigeria (with each one claiming to have the ears of the powers that be) and inevitably slowing the deployment of a roadmap towards credible football development in the country.  

To the crux:  Ramson Victor Baribote has finally gotten his wish and dream, but at what cost? He was selected (sic)! Sorry, elected unopposed, to be the new Chairman of the NPL.  He will head a fragmented organisation, with vindictive individuals; people, he publicly accused and challenged their credibility and substance.  What kind of an organization will he inherit? An organization that is broke, disrespected, with little or no goodwill, and is suffering dwindling fortunes. Notably, a situation he help create, given his 16 months "righteous war"! 

When other leagues are counting the opportunities emanating from multiple revenue streams and at a time when they are driving towards excellence and an increase in followership, our NPL cannot boast of average attendance of 5,000 spectators per game!

Furthermore, the rot doesn't stop there, sponsorship of the league has been dogged by cryptic style dealings, wherein the selection of the title sponsor and release of its funds was chaotic (to say the least). Today, the NPL title plus all forms of sponsorship and entitlements (TV rights inclusive) cannot guarantee each team 100 million Naira per season.  Last estimate received was around N20-30 million (that's being generous!)!

A South African Sports Marketing firm, valued the worth of the Nigerian football league, as a 8 billion Naira annual turnover "monster" (given our football patronage and culture, population and geographic spread of the teams, as some driving factors).  With this assessment, NO OWNER SHOULD PUT A KOBO in its NPL team. The league should be self-sustaining (if the right things are done).  The NPL is a cash cow that doesn't need any form of government support or investment.

Today, the story of the NPL, is akin to the Xhosa parable above.  The "real" owners of the league have abdicated "their thrones and passed on their responsibilities", whilst the proverbial "village idiots and court jesters (no target to any of the protagonists or any current/active "actor" in this crisis) have laid claims to control of the league.  

 

IMPOSSIBILITY IS POSSIBLE IN NIGERIA:

I was accosted a couple of  days ago by some young people and accused of standing by and watching the crisis brew over, and the funny analogy they gave me, made me laugh. They said "can the chairman of Leyton Orient (a second div English league team), be contesting and seek s{election} to be the chairperson of the EPL"? or can an official of a seconda division club in Spain be vying for the management of the Premiera Liga!!!  Can the PSL in South Africa be run by someone whose affiliations are not part of it? (I can see the face of Jomo Sono). According to one former leader…. I dey laugh ooooo!

The management of the league is so shambolic, that we are yet to conclude the 2010-11 league season, at a time other countries are in the 2011-12 season! Incredible. Everyone in the NPL organisation should be sacked! They are a corrupt bunch and don’t deserve to administer over anything (not even their children's lunch money...)

Who are the TRUE owners of the NPL clubs? The State Governors.

I want to appeal to the State governors, to see their NPL clubs, as self-sustaining, fully funded entities that the states can use to generate IGR, ensure that they co-own them with serious and liquid private sector giants. What stops Adams Oshiomole from allowing Bendel Insurance to fall into private hands? and be satisfied that the state maintains a 30% ownership that will generate revenue for the state, instead of its current costs (Insurance players are being owned over seven months salary, they cannot meet some away match commitments, and have not been paid sign on bonuses, to date) and failings.

Why would Chibuike Amaechi disagree to allow Rivers born private citizens or consortium to buy majority stake in Sharks and Dolphins, and run both to profitability, and bring in the muscle required to turn their financial fortunes around....

Bendel (Edo) Insurance need to get an Estako born Chairman (nominated and ordained by Oshiomole), and watch, the team experience a change in fortune, focus and investment! (sadly, that's the Nigerian way).

Are the governors aware that they have a socio-economic cash cow on their hands? Do they know that each NPL club can generate almost 1 billion Naira in annual turnover, and can easily contribute up to 50-100 million Naira annually as IGR (Internally Generated Revenue).  

Does Talba realise that Niger Tornadoes is a goldmine? Does he know that the club can run itself without recourse to any kobo from Niger State government?

Does Amaechi know that both Dolphins and Sharks can provide part time jobs for up to 2,000 youths in Port Harcourt for up to 38 weeks in a year? 

Does Ajimobi understand that the Eko fan base can be exploited by 3SC, to ensure that they reach a weekly revenue target of about 20-40 million Naira every weekend they play in Ibadan? 

What is the mandate of the boards of directors of each NPL club ? 

WHAT THE STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE LOSING:

I'd like to make a prediction, I bet, if a State governor pronounced that the board of any NPL club must raise its own funds, and will receive NO KOBO from the state government, that many appointees will decline accepting the appointment. Let the private investor take control of the clubs.

I still don’t understand the rationale behind state government, keeping control of these clubs, that:

1.     They can’t maintain, or partially sustain operations and budgetary requirements?

2.     The players and coaches are at the mercy of greedy "selected and personal interest driven persons" who have no stake or desire to invest in the future of the clubs;

3.     They will refuse private sector participation and funding?

4.     They will not honour their obligations to the team to meet their league obligations due to lack or inability to fund requirements

I BLAME THE STATE GOVERNORS FOR THE NPL IMPASSE (and in a nutshell, the NFA crisis), of the last 16 months. ( I can hear a collective grasp of astonishment from Nigerians!).  Here's why:

1.     Their representatives "the club chairmen" have abdicated their responsibilities and allowed the "village idiots and jesters" to take over the NPL

2.     They have settled for "individual interest" over the club's best interest, because of the stupid deals (sponsorship and TV rights) they sign up and accept.

3.     They have not found and discovered new investors to ensure that government's investments in the clubs are reduced and subsequently whittled down to occasional disbursements

4.     They have BADLY compromised and politicised their function, that it is costing the state governments more than they bargained or budgeted (should the state even be paying for a club?)

5.     The governors are also part of the problem, the calibre of the individuals appointed as chairmen of NPL clubs, show their interest and level of commitment or lack thereof.

It is my summation that the NPL impasse would have been resolved if the state governments take the rights of ownership of a Premier league club seriously.  

Had the "REAL" owners gotten involved, they would have elected an NPL chairman who would seek to PROTECT their interests and secure the best deals possible for their teams.  

Many professional football clubs worldwide, sustain themselves through the TV rights money, hospitality and catering services, in field and grounds advertising, and souvenir and replica paraphernalia sales, gates and season ticket holders. 

The Emirates consortia paid a huge amount of money to Arsenal, Allianz insurance to Bayern Munich, Manchester city got almost 500 million USD for a 4 year sponsorship and stadium name change from Etihad. 

AON and Manchester United was previously the world's leading partnership agreement.  Samsung and Chelsea, Southampton FC and Lieberherr, MTN and the PSL of South Africa.  

It is clearly evident that State governors have not wizened up to the FACT that owning an NPL team is a money spinner for the state.  WAKE UP !

Today, only one state in the Federation seems to understand that.  Lagos State, and the appointment of Seyi Akinwunmi, as LASFA Chairman, has begun to reap the desired benefits for the state. That young man is breaking and tearing down borders and driving the state to "the promised land".  A true king in the making.... Well done, Eko o ni baje (and you are making sure of it)....

True football club chairmen are not "hungry" people, who "need" the position to become relevant. The position of a club chairman is reserved for successful and wealthy businessmen and administrators. Those who have the acumen to drive profitability out of any sporting entity. Take a look at some of the names of football club owners and chairmen:  Benny Elkestine, Alan Sugar, David Gill, David Dean, Roman Abramovich, Tony Fernandez, the Qatari royal family, The richest Ukrainian, Twenty (20) of the top 100 richest people in the world own sporting franchises, etc....

It is a shame to see that we in Nigeria, have not recognised that the ownership of an NPL franchise is a key money spinner, and can generate considerable Return On Investment (RoI), IGR for the state and its private sector participating owners.  

If allowed, I am ready to make a presentation to the governor's forum on how to turn these teams around and leverage on the over 8 billion Naira annual turnover potential.

The true "kings and chiefs" must not throw away this throne to the "village idiots and court jesters".... It is time for them to wake up and take this kingdom back.

Let me use this opportunity to wish Ramson Victor Baribote well, in his "achievement"!, we don siddon dey watch, now no more talking, it is time to perform.  You wanted this, fought for it, now you have it. Let’s watch what you do with it. Good luck son....  

To some, I may sound bitter or non supportive, no.  I am only tired and worn from the war that has been fought in my name (without my voice), and I am wary of what the current victor (coincidental) can deliver. With a fragmented house and daggers in dark places. I can almost see the end before the beginning. I may be too quick to draw, but remember, we have been here before. So truly and with all my heart, I want to see the young man succeed, but deep down, my grey beards tell me to be apprehensive.....

SIDE PASS:

Sunshine stars giving the referees of one of their matches a ride. I dey laugh ooo!! When Jide Fashikun ran the story, I bellowed out laughing. What have we not seen in the leagues? And this is at premiership level, please go down to the lower leagues and see what is happening.  Tscchhhuuuu!!!  (typical Yoruba woman exclamation), Oturugbeke! Shuo!!!  It is worse. this again is the result of the "village....and co." running our football leagues these past years.  I blame the kings and chiefs, who let this happen!

THROW-IN:

Coach Samson Siasia, our own “no nonsense, Robocop” national team coach calls his “reserve bench warming big boys” to order.  Bros, if dem no wan play, plenty, Eyimba, Sunshine, KD united and beach soccer boys available…. Have we checked out what Nigerian fathered boys are doing worldwide…. Please, let’s not pet anyone to come and spoil our “rejuvenated Green-white-Green” for us.  Please carry on bro.  Well done….