By Tony Ubani, in South Africa
Necessity, they say is the mother of invention. One of the greatest challenges of Nigerian journalists in covering the world cup apart from finance is the weather.

There is no Nigerian Journalist that is residing in the official FIFA Hotels meant for Journalists. No one can afford the accommodation costs.

That is a hotel that FIFA has designated for Journalists covering the World Cup.  The hotel has taste, comfort and security. In case of accident outside that hotel, FIFA and the local organizing committee of the World Cup would not be responsible. For those us who stayed away from that hotel to cut cost and take refuge in homes its owners have vacated to make money for the world cup, there is no insurance cover for us. As Nigerians, we always cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus and reassure ourselves that is not our portion.

The FIFA journalist’s hotels go for $1,500 per day while other hotels go for $900 while the old people’s homes that we operate from charge between $300 to $500 a day.

The choice is yours. We have since discovered that some of the rooms don’t have electric heaters to check the cold that is biting in our bones and in our hearts. In the match against Greece, we traveled to Bloemfeintain and discovered that some hotel rooms besides having heaters have electric blankets. The one that I shared with Guardian’s Christian Opara had none.

The name of the hotel is Shawu Hotel. If you add A before the name, it gives a total strange name. And I know that a lot of my friends and family would be disappointed. I complained to the receptionist who said that we should be patient to allow the heater bringing out cold air to turn to hot air. We waited and the cold got worse. I went out to complain and she laughed and mockingly asked me if I was no longer strong. While exchanging banters earlier, I told her that she would enjoy if a Nigerian married her. She was beautiful without make-ups.

She was slender with a gap tooth and like most South African babes, had assets. She was jovial and said that she would never marry a Nigerian man because of the problems in Nigeria. I toasted her and told her that Nigerian men were strong, gifted, big, rich, romantic and get to the dept of where other men don’t. She looked up and smiled giving an indication that if I continue, she would wobble and crumble like the Eagles.

Surprisingly, when I complained of the cold, she dared me to prove how I strong I was by sleeping in the cold without heater or electric blanket.

Gosh! I asked if she was Delilah. She said no and I simply told her that I am not Samson, either. Her boss came out and told me that it was better to sleep without electric blanket. I swaggered like a strong Nigerian man. I woke up in the morning and my nostrils were totally blocked.