By Paul Bassey
John Muinjo is the Chairman of the Namibia Football Association. He was in Cairo last week for the FIFA Workshop for Elite Match Commissioners in Africa and that is where I met him.

Namibia you will recall, will be facing Nigeria in the world Cup elimination and John and his secretary Rukoro Barry wanted to know where the match will hold in June.

I said to him that I was not in a position to tell, that the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation was on his way to Cairo and that he was better placed to inform him.

By the way, why was he interested in the venue? Because according to him, there was ‘war’ going on in Nigeria and they were ready to offer Nigeria an alternative Venue.

“ It will not be a bad thing to play both legs in Windhoek you know?” even CAF is aware that there is a problem in Nigeria and either we just play one leg, or we offer you another venue” He joked.

I educated Mr Muinjo. That there was no war in Nigeria, that as I was talking to him, three of Nigeria’s Clubs were involved in Continental competitions and they were using three different venues, so there was no cause for alarm as teams have come in and departed without any cause for concern.

He was still eager to see the Secretary General of the NFF, he was interested in the venue so that they know how to fly in etc.

Back home, I met news of the NFF contemplating whether to use Kaduna or Abuja, I heard about inspection visits to Ibadan and Calabar and also read how the Chairman of the security sub committee of the NFF Chief Effiong Johnson has categorically concluded that the match will not hold in Kaduna.

Let this issue not be politicized to the detriment of the team. Caution, caution please.

Whatever venue we decide on, we should do so in a hurry, given the experience of the Kano venue that cost us a world Cup qualification. Whatever venue we decide on, we have to ensure that our team will not be visitors to same and should be given the benefit of constant practice on it.

One factor that bothers me is the decision to use natural grass. I am one of those who does not buy this idea of the Eagles playing better on natural grass. Perhaps this held water when all our players were imported from the European leagues.

Now that we have decided to use a good dose of domestic players Coach Keshi should decide and quick too what percentage, because I am aware, ninety per cent of our domestic players play on artificial turf…..Warri Wolves, Sunshine, Sharks, Rangers, Kano Plillars, Shooting, Kwara United, Gombe United……just name it

If therefore, Coach Keshi ( Given his Rwanda experience ) is planning to use as many as fifty per cent of the domestic lads then he may well be on the path of making the venue more comfortable to his opponents.

In brief, I have been struggling to say that the politics of venue also plays an important part in the match. In June, what is the weather like in Namibia, what venue in Nigeria will destabilize them while not hurting our boys? Where do they source their players, abroad? If so will artificial turf make them uncomfortable  advantage our players?

What about crowd support? Government support? So much to consider before that important decision is made, and soon too to enable our team move out of their Abuja camp to their new abode for “acclimatization”.

ALL HAIL KANO PILLARS

Last week, a reader sent a text to draw my attention to the wonderful support Kano Pillars gets at home, and that I did not do them credit in my piece. I apologized and promised that this week, I will laud the supporters of Kano Pillars who have also stood behind their team and in their numbers too.

GOAL OF THE SEASON?

Today I expect a Manchester United player to score a goal that will contest for a goal of the season award as they rout Manchester City on their way to OUR historic 20th l league title. Until then let me salute the third Suarez goal against Norwich. Simply out of this world.

See you next week