U-17? We go manage am

(aka a quarter bread is better than none)

By Paul Bassey
A friend called me early Friday to discuss the ongoing FIFA U-17 competition. He has just been told how in the attempt to disinfect a pitch, mosquito flit was sprayed on it and the grass turned brown immediately!
I could not stop laughing. He said it was not a laughing matter and asked what we were doing about it.

When I said I did not understand the “we” in his statement and repeatedly said I was in the blank, he wondered why as a football person I should be ignorant of the goings- on in LOC.

I told him the story of how I spent a day last week in Joburg on my way back from Lubumbashi, and I am continually amazed at the level of awareness South Africa has brought to bear on the World Cup that is still months away. Signages,  sponsors and partners falling over themselves to push goods and services using the World Cup as a platform.

Back to Nigeria, even at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, there was not even a banner to indicate that we were set to host the world in a few hours.

My friend then asked what I was going to write on in my column today. I said I wish I knew.

He said, “ There are lots to write on. There should have been different accreditation points for the media, security, accommodation, VIP. Write on Brazil that had no training pitch on Thursday. Write on the minister that had to borrow ambulances from the Delta state government, write on the LOC chieftain that is at large…….sub seat chairmen that threatened to resign……these are enough to write about…” he said
I replied. “ This is regular stuff. Can you give me a story line that will shock Nigerians, something fresh and news worthy?”

He was appalled. But later conceded that “…… Nigerians have bullet proofs in addition to shock absorbers….they are shock resistant.”

Unknown to him, in a conversation I had the day before with Onochie Anibeze ( You know him ) we were scandalized that a country like Nigeria with all the God given human and material resources will end up giving FIFA a wrong impression of our organizational savvy.

Onochie is pleased that despite what happens, FIFA meets on a daily basis, brilliant Nigerians who perform their task creditably for CAF and FIFA.

“ ……they have reduced this World Cup to a WAFU Championship………I saw a report from FIFA and I wept for Nigeria. From training pitches to communication, everything is bizarre” Onochie lamented.

Then he ended in a patriotic note. “ Paul Bassey my brother, whatever happens let’s not lose hope in our country”

That, gives me the plank for this week’s column. For the first time ever, I am ready to accept an U-17 trophy because I believe, that for the first time ever, it will be the real thing.

With the threat of the MRI scan looming large, (random tests will be conducted in the course of the championship) there is every indication that boys fielded will be in the proper age category.

When award winning radio and television broadcaster Jim White wrote the book “You’ll Win Nothing With Kids” I thought he had Nigeria in mind. I then switched to believe that the famed author of “ Manchester United The Biography” was taking a quip at Arsenal because  Nigeria was winning something with “kids” yet losing at the same time. Ephemeral……pyrrhic victory……

Flash back to Equitorial Guinea 2008 where as CAF General Coordinator for the women championship, all my pre tournament pride was deflated on the altar of maladroitness on the part of defending champions Nigeria.

Never in my life had I seen such a pathetic female national team in my life, who in an effort to hide their ineptitude went ahead to accuse even the ball boys in the hotel of plotting against them.

By sheer stroke of luck, the team trudged to the losers final , managed to win bronze and embarrassingly broke down and wept. The whole stadium watched aghast as the coaches, male and female, and the players wept profusely, shedding tears of joy, happy to win bronze.

Today, I appreciate how coaches Egan, Ann Chiejine and their wards felt. Today I am in a position to really cry, if the Eaglets can just win this trophy. After over four years of a bare locker room, sadness wells up inside of me seeking release in whatever manner, leading me to conclude that “This cup, give us, we go manage am so”

We will manage this cup that for once, gives us the opportunity of developing football in this country. Coming from a past where players are assembled, barbed and shaved for the purpose of winning trophies, such players are immediately discarded, after such false and make believe expeditions.

The pictures I have seen so far of the present Eaglets squad, give me hope that these boys may be around for some time yet, around long enough to undergo that transition we so much need in building and sustaining a national team of our dream.

So used to failure and defeat, I have kept my mind open, ready to accept what ever fate befalls this great country, but consoled in the belief that from the ruins of  the past will rise a new city and we will sing a fresh song of redemption.

For Biz Law

Onochie broke the good news and I was delighted, thanking God for the life of this veteran of the pen profession, a master of prose, deep reservoir of knowledge. Great grandfather, hale and hearty at 76. Biz Law, on behalf of the Sports Veterans Association , Nigeria, here is wishing you many more years in the service of motherland.

For Julie Ma
Was excited to get regular mails on sports activities from Rivers State. It took me back some years, to those days I was vibrant and raring to go, not tired to churn out as many releases as I could, so I promised that I will give this innovation in my column, talk about it and encourage others……….

The releases stopped coming.
The funny side of life

I take us to a magistrate’s court in Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria where a magistrate caught in a complex paternity suit, decided to take the young boy of ten into his inner chambers and the following conversation ensued.

Magistrate: I am going to terminate the marriage between your parents, but tell me will you like to stay with your father?

Boy: No sir, please sir, don’t give me to my father he always beats me. He likes beating people all the time. please.

Magistrate: Okay, that invariably means you want to live with your mother?
Boy: No sir, please sir. My mommy is the same. She is fond of beating me all the time. I don’t want to stay with her.

The magistrate is now very confused.

Magistrate: So, what do I do, who do you want to stay with? Who in your family does not beat people?
Boy: Sir I want to stay with the Super Eagles.
See you next week.