Friday, December 13, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
OGOGORO PASS TEQUILA
Take a look at this list of names. Take your time to read
through every name. Current poster boys of success they are; but these names
shout of to you “NIGERIA”!
1 Dele ALAMPASU
2 Musa MUHAMMED
3 Samuel OKON
4 Akinjide IDOWU
5 Denis NYA
6 Aliyu ABUBAKAR
7 Habib MAKANJUOLA
8 Abdullahi ALFA
9 Success ISAAC
10 Kelechi IHEANACHO
11 Musa YAHAYA
12 Chigozi OBASI
13 Saviour GODWIN
14 Chidiebere NWAKALI
15 Raymond JAPHET
16 Abdulazeez ABUBAKAR
17 Chidera EZEH
18 Taiwo AWONIYI
19 Zaharaddeen BELLO
20 Baba SALIHU
21 Francis UZOHO
A lot has been written within the
twelve hours that the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria dismantled the challenge of the
erstwhile world Champions, Mexico. Indeed all through the competition, the cadet
team of Nigeria left no pundit in doubt of their ability and preparedness to
lift the cup. I am particularly mindful
of the latter as it is worth exploring.
All but two members of this team ply their trade in football academies in
Nigeria. This is a clear departure from past “under-17“ teams comprised of professionals who would have
played football for three local football teams
before attaining the “golden” age of sixteen. Without fear of
contradiction, there are Nigerians who know cadet players who had families
before representing Nigeria in the cadet championship.
This current team was
assembled through contacts with youth academies in Nigeria. This local content and availability availed the
coaching crew of precious ample time to condition these kids for greatness.
This team did not just happen; the coaching crew sought out players from
academies all over the nation.
The coaching crew that handled this
team is another pointer to the team’s success story. Coach Garba Manu was the
assistant to Abiodun Tella who led a
victorious crusade in South Korea in 2007. He obviously was prepared for performance
at the highest level of cadet football. He is assisted by Nduka Ugbade,
cup-lifting captain in 1985 and Emmanuel Amuneke, beautifully talented Nigerian
footballer and Barcelona veteran. This combination of experience and exposure
was definitely a masterstroke in painting the success of this team. Scouting,
team selection, strategy and tactical approach was excellent all through this campaign. The
coaching crew balanced motivation with discipline in a side filled with young
players.
The Nigerian Football Federation takes
a lot of flak for the failure of our national football teams to live up to
our stature and potential. This is rightly so considering the enormous
talent that abounds in Nigeria. There are more footballers in Nigeria than the
population of some African countries.
However, the current Under-17
enjoyed a lengthy camping period within and outside Nigeria which exposed the
players to performing at the highest possible level. The Football Federation
also ensured that the players were the
youngest set of cadets that Nigeria ever presented. It is clear that the Federation
has opened a new chapter of strategic planning which has improved the fortunes
of our national teams.
When Ochoa threatened to unleash a
Jalapeno shot at Dele Alampasu, Samuel Okon used all his strength; garnered
from eating Afang and Ekpa-Nkukwo to prevent him. Iheanacho’s akpu-inspired shot
demonstrated the difference between Ogogoro and Tequila to the Mexican
goalkeeper. Muhammed Musa was resolute in demonstrating to all in Dubai that the Savannah breeds
strong boys who eat Mexican cactus for breakfast. Taiwo Awoniyi and Akinjide
Idowu devoured all Mexican attempts like
hot tortillas. Isaac Success was excellent in
tutoring the Mexicans on how Nigeria succeeds when we prepare and do not
depend on our natural talent and luck. Chigozie Obasi and Abdullahi Alfa
mesmerised the Mexicans with the solidity of Tiv pounded yam and the fluidity
of Ondo Okro Soup. This team showed the Mexicans why Onugbu should be eaten
while hot, bitter leaf leaves and undesirable aftertaste.
Not a push-over team, the Mexicans were outwitted, outpaced, and outmanoeuvred
by the lads from Nigeria. We must concede that they had more ball possession. We
cannot complain about that! Arsenal Football Club is a reference point of the
futility of possession as a trophy-lifting strategy!
The achievement of the Golden
Eaglets displayed the power of preparation, the precision of organisation, the
excellence of planning and the possibility of a Nigeria, buoyed by the right
values of hardwork and merit-driven selection. These young men proved to the
world that we can excel when we unleash our collective talent at any task. These
boys are Nigerians from all corners of this great nation. Irrespective of our
ethnic or political leanings, we are the world champions.
Somewhere in the mind of every Nigerian,
is the hope that we can copy and paste this formula on the template of our
national polity.
OGOGORO PASS TEQUILA
Take a look at this list of names. Take your time to read
through every name. Current poster boys of success they are; but these names
shout of to you “NIGERIA”!
1 Dele ALAMPASU
2 Musa MUHAMMED
3 Samuel OKON
4 Akinjide IDOWU
5 Denis NYA
6 Aliyu ABUBAKAR
7 Habib MAKANJUOLA
8 Abdullahi ALFA
9 Success ISAAC
10 Kelechi IHEANACHO
11 Musa YAHAYA
12 Chigozi OBASI
13 Saviour GODWIN
14 Chidiebere NWAKALI
15 Raymond JAPHET
16 Abdulazeez ABUBAKAR
17 Chidera EZEH
18 Taiwo AWONIYI
19 Zaharaddeen BELLO
20 Baba SALIHU
21 Francis UZOHO
A lot has been written within the
twelve hours that the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria dismantled the challenge of the
erstwhile world Champions, Mexico. Indeed all through the competition, the cadet
team of Nigeria left no pundit in doubt of their ability and preparedness to
lift the cup. I am particularly mindful
of the latter as it is worth exploring.
All but two members of this team ply their trade in football academies in
Nigeria. This is a clear departure from past “under-17“ teams comprised of professionals who would have
played football for three local football teams
before attaining the “golden” age of sixteen. Without fear of
contradiction, there are Nigerians who know cadet players who had families
before representing Nigeria in the cadet championship. This current team was
assembled through contacts with youth academies in Nigeria. This local content and availability availed the
coaching crew of precious ample time to condition these kids for greatness.
This team did not just happen; the coaching crew sought out players from
academies all over the nation.
The coaching crew that handled this
team is another pointer to the team’s success story. Coach Garba Manu was the
assistant to Abiodun Tella who led a
victorious crusade in South Korea in 2007. He obviously was prepared for performance
at the highest level of cadet football. He is assisted by Nduka Ugbade,
cup-lifting captain in 1985 and Emmanuel Amuneke, beautifully talented Nigerian
footballer and Barcelona veteran. This combination of experience and exposure
was definitely a masterstroke in painting the success of this team. Scouting,
team selection, strategy and tactical approach was excellent all through this campaign. The
coaching crew balanced motivation with discipline in a side filled with young
players.
The Nigerian Football Federation takes
a lot of flak for the failure of our national football teams to live up to
our stature and potential. This is rightly so considering the enormous
talent that abounds in Nigeria. There are more footballers in Nigeria than the
population of some African countries.
However, the current Under-17
enjoyed a lengthy camping period within and outside Nigeria which exposed the
players to performing at the highest possible level. The Football Federation
also ensured that the players were the
youngest set of cadets that Nigeria ever presented. It is clear that the Federation
has opened a new chapter of strategic planning which has improved the fortunes
of our national teams.
When Ochoa threatened to unleash
a Jalapeno shot at Dele Alampasu, Samuel Okon used all his strength; garnered
from eating Afang and Ekpa-Nkukwo to prevent him. Iheanacho’s akpu-inspired shot
demonstrated the difference between Ogogoro and Tequila to the Mexican
goalkeeper. Muhammed Musa was resolute in demonstrating to all in Dubai that the Savannah breeds
strong boys who eat Mexican cactus for breakfast. Taiwo Awoniyi and Akinjide
Idowu devoured all Mexican attempts like
hot tortillas. Isaac Success was excellent in
tutoring the Mexicans on how Nigeria succeeds when we prepare and do not
depend on our natural talent and luck. Chigozie Obasi and Abdullahi Alfa
mesmerised the Mexicans with the solidity of Tiv pounded yam and the fluidity
of Ondo Okro Soup. This team showed the Mexicans why Onugbu should be eaten
while hot, cold bitter leaf leaves and undesirable aftertaste.
Not a push-over team, the Mexicans were outwitted, outpaced, and outmanoeuvred
by the lads from Nigeria. We must concede that they had more ball possession. We
cannot complain about that! Arsenal Football Club is a reference point of the
futility of possession as a trophy-lifting strategy!
The achievement of the Golden
Eaglets displayed the power of preparation, the precision of organisation, the
excellence of planning and the possibility of a Nigeria, buoyed by the right
values of hardwork and merit-driven selection. These young men proved to the
world that we can excel when we unleash our collective talent at any task. These
boys are Nigerians from all corners of this great nation. Irrespective of our
ethnic or political leanings, we are the world champions.
Somewhere in the mind of every Nigerian,
is the hope that we can copy and paste this formula on the template of our
national polity.
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