THE passing year started on a sad note with the controversial death of Uche Okafor, in the USA. The former Eagles defender was found dead in his apartment. The initial impression was that he committed suicide. Investigations later vindicated those who believed that was not Uche – he was murdered.

WORLD sprint sensation Usain Bolt is leaving the opposition to catch him. While others would be content with a medal (of any shade at the Olympics), the Jamaican is focused on helping Jamaica to four gold medals at the London Olympics.

IT began like yesterday, with those sad incidents of losing loved ones, our own Richard Animam, Uche Okafor and Gideon Njoku in the early part of the year.

THERE are too many inspiring stories from Africa that we can ignore them mostly at our own risk. At a time the African Union could only raise $20 million (N3.1 b) for the famine victims in Somalia, an individual -Samuel Eto’o – is earning 20 euro (N4.2b) a year.

I have always found Bashiru Ali an interesting fellow. My main challenge has been how to place him. He is one fellow who hardly takes offence. You can call him names. Throw your allegations at him. If you are expecting answers, you will be disappointed.

I STILL consider at6hletics as one of the finest sports. Its rules are simple. Its head try to follow them to the letter. The mishap that Usain Bolt had in the 100m final is a regular occurrence. The high profile of the one involved resulted in the comments that have trailed false starts and taken the shine off the final.

THE All Africa Games, the 10th edition of which begin in Maputo, Mozambique, tomorrow, mean a lot to Nigerians, particularly those who were old enough to experience the second edition that held in Lagos 38 years ago. The Games appear to have passed the early uncertainties over future hosts, after the exceptional delays that we saw in Nairobi with the Games billed fro 1982 holding in 1987 – five years late.

FOR more than 30 minutes last week Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan had the time to ask players and officials of the Nigerian U-20 football team, “How are you?” The session that saw him repeating the same question after each person was identified was meant to be a pep talk ahead of the encounter against England in a FIFA competition in Columbia.

NIGERIA is participating in the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, next month. If you have not been hearing much about the Games, it might have something to do with the fact that Nigeria is out of the football events of the Games. This is one example of the dangers that football pose to our sports.