Paul Bassey
On Saturday, the football world stood still for what is being referred to as the greatest club match in the world, Barcelona against Real Madrid, dubbed and rightly too as El  Clasico.

Despite some anti climaxes along the line, as the humiliation of Real the last time out at the Bernabeau (1-3) the world still expects bonfire any time these two meet.

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) heads the ball next to Barcelona's Chiliean forward Alexis Sanchez (R) during the Spanish League "El clasico" football match Barcelona vs Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 21, 2012. Real Madrid won 1-2. AFP PHOTO

Currently, it is being predicted that both will meet in the Champions league final despite the away loss suffered by  them especially Barcelona who despite 78 per cent possession faltered to Chelsea at the Stamford bridge.

Did Chelsea celebrate the slim scoreline? You would have thought they were away. Who would not celebrate when playing against the greatest club in the world, one whose superiority on the night was not in doubt? Football is about goals.

Back to El Clasico. I arrived Warrri Saturday afternoon caught in the fever and looking forward to the match. Not many people know my soft spot for Real, one that precedes Coach Mourinho and Ronaldo. (In France I queue behind Marseille, Inter in Italy, Celtic in Scotland, and Bayern Munchen in Germany…… )

Saturday I checked into this Warrri hotel and noticed like other guests that there was no sound in the Supersports 3 Channel so we made the mistake of asking for a rectification.

Three minutes into the match we lost the pictures. Twenty minutes into the match I was in the hotel control room playing technician. By half time I had to rely on my wife’s reports from Lagos and my Blackberry to know what was going on. I, like a score of the hotel guests were so angry, so worked up, especially when my favoured club was doing well that there is nothing I did not say to the hotel staff (Whose technician said he was too far away to come and rectify the situation)

When it finally dawned on me that I was not going to see the match live, other thoughts flowed in. Thoughts of El  Clasico, world wide. In England there are so many fixtures that will cause you to readjust your calendar especially when it involves Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and most recently, Manchester City.

In Italy it has to involve Inter and AC, Celtic and Rangers in Scotland. Africa does not lack its share of historic El  Clasicos. Zamalek and Al Ahly in Egypt, Hearts of Oak and Ashante Kotoko in Ghana, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in South Africa.…..what about Nigeria? That is when I chose a topic for this week’s column, when I discovered that you had to go back in history to re invent El Clasico Nigeriana.

Rangers, Stationery Stores, Bendel Insurance, Raccah Rovers, Shooting Stars. Clubs with tradition and dedicated fan base who drew thousands to the stadium, week in, week out.

Today we have lost the very ingredients that made our football tick, the ambience, the followership, the excitement, the standard of the game the quality of the players. Or, have we?

Last week in this column, I wrote about the reinvention of the domestic league in South Africa, how the supporters are back, in their thousands, donning club  colours, drumming and singing, electrifying atmosphere and general ambience that makes those matches a must see. This has also being helped in the main by the media, sponsors and partners, a mix that helps to bring out the best in such fixtures.

As Nigeria Premier League match Commissioner, I have witnessed high class on the field display that warrants its gate takings in gold yet there are virtually no spectators to witness same. Yesterday’s match between Warri Wolves and Heartland was a classic example of a good match devoid of crowd support. Any time Warri Wolves, Sunshine, Enyimba, Dolphins, Rangers, Akwa United, Kano Pillars play, you can expect some exciting football and this translates positively in their continental assignments. I am of the view that those in charge of the organization of the domestic game here must start to decide to rebrand the game.

To do this, they need the media, they need the sponsors, they need everybody. Why for instance will you play a league match at a time and date that Man U will play Arsenal?

How many people will go to the stadium to watch a match that is played when Real and Barcelona are on display?

Planning….planning, realistic planning.

Then come the media. These are partners that the NPL must sit down with. Thanks to the heavens that Rangers and Shooting Stars are still around. Have the media ever hyped up their match, traditionally? Can the media help us to understand that Sunshine against Dolphin is a classic? And that whenever Heartland or Enyimba play Rangers you need to be physically present in the stadium?

I want to use this opportunity to salute the good work the media officers of Rangers, Warri Wolves, Enyimba, Dolphins and  Heartland have put into publicizing their clubs. I wish their colleagues can help them more than they are doing now, especially with emphasis on the activities and exploits of the players, yes the players and not the club chairmen and managers.

Hotels will kill me

Time there was when I shared with you on a weekly basis my problems with the hospitality industry in Nigeria. One day, a friend called to say FIFA and CAF had spoilt me, that I should stop complaining and “manage” I have been doing so. Three weeks ago I was in Ekpoma and checked into what I was told was the best Hotel in town, owned by a brother to a former number two in Nigeria.

Nice and expansive environment, expensive for the area. The first thing I noticed was that all the TV Stations were foreign, especially the Joy TV network that is ghanaian. By midnight, I woke up to darkness. The generator had been switched off, till 6am the next morning I was told. After surviving the heat and the mosquitoes I did not need any prompting to check out the next morning.

Last Saturday I landed in Warri to be confronted again by Joy TV. And the inability to watch the Real Madrid match. In the morning I went for breakfast and I was told “not to vex” that COFFEE HAS FINISHED. “Sir please manage tea” (That word again )

I was not going to manage. Can they please go and buy? They said it was Sunday, so shops were not open. I took a walk and three minutes down the road, I bought myself some coffee. As I was leaving, I decided to go back and buy milk and sugar…..just in case.

See you next week.