Brazil 2014 World Cup F-l-i-c-k-s
Your soar away Vanguard Newspapers has scored yet another goal of global recognition in far away Brazil.
Among the hordes of world media represented here for the coverage of the World Cup, Vanguard was recognized by World soccer governing body, FIFA, for its awesome coverage of the spectacle by not only accrediting us but also mentioning names that surprised others around.

While many we’re busy bringing out their letters, a FIFA official recognized Vanguard and asked about Onochie Anibeze who has taken his uncommon professional touch to edit Weekend Vanguard, another publication in the Vanguard family. Before I could say Jack, he asked of Tony Ubani and said that Vanguard has been singled out as one of the Newspapers that cover the World Cup consistently. I was shy and proud. I felt like wagging my tail like a dog. Humbly, I stepped forward and the process did not take five minutes before they hung my accreditation on my neck, thereby, becoming the first from Nigeria to be so decorated.

Musa moves on
Ahmed Musa who many rumored was injured is on the run in the Eagles.

The CSK Moscow wing wizard was confirmed to be as fit as a fiddle by Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya.
Alaiya said that the Eagles were ready for their first match against Iran.

“They are ready. This is like a family. They relate well and there is no division. That bonding is key for a team that will do well. And, as for Keshi, we are proud to have him as our coach.

He is sound and has brought out the best in the team”, Alaiya said. He would not however say how they played three matches, getting two draws and losing one, a poor scorecard for a team so rated by many Nigerians who are hoping that they would win the World Cup.

That high optimism has since waned after the the loss to a USA team whose coach, Jurgen Klinsmann confessed that they were not in line to win the World Cup.

Too cold to hold

Are you among those planning to come to Brazil to model your fine figures and good legs because the weather is as good as that of Nigeria? You better unpack your luggage and include winter jackets and sweater. I was greeted by an unfriendly cold as I stepped out of the massive Qatar Airways aircraft. Many Europeans were better prepared. They slipped into their jackets while the unfortunate Africans shivered into the Immigration room.

The cold got worse in the night. I was told that the weather fluctuates like the Nigerian currency, Naira. There are hours that it turns into a blazing hot weather but before you slip into your fanciful clothes, the wind blows a warning before the biting cold takes over in a seeming smooth baton exchange that would make 4 x 4 relay team envious.  To before warned is to avoid shaking like a sick man. More so, this place is so expensive to start visiting the Doctor.

Choppers take over Brazilian air

The feeling of the World Cup kick off is palpable, at least among many visitors swarming into the Samba land. You cannot say that of most of the Brazilians. Angry messages,  most of them unprintable, adorn very prominent areas like the airport and the stadium.

”F——g World Cup. We want food not World Cup”.   Hungry people don’t play World Cup””, some of the messages read in English. They knew that visitors would understand them more in English.  The ones in Portuguese were more and they could mean more to those who understand it.

Awareness about the best spectacle in the world is not as gripping as we expected. But around the stadium, the feeling is real. Dancers, magicians are doing their acts and getting money in appreciation by onlookers.  A 70 year old man held everybody spell bound tossing around with football. It was magical. He kissed the ball the way Jay Jay hooked his admirers with his talent. While he was doing this, a light samba music was being played and beautiful girls skimpily dressed in revealing attires wriggled their waists and provided support to the old man.

The crowd roared when one of the girls displayed her artistry in playing but fell flat revealing her bare body. She was not wearing anything and the crowd cheered. I learnt they hardly cover their decency. Just as the crowd got bigger, three helicopters got so close to disperse the onlookers. At the São Paulo Stadium, three other Choppers hovered in what a volunteer said was a routine security check.

Transport and hotel fares are high. A small room with two beds go for 250 dollars. Annoyingly is the fact that each bed pays 250 dollars not minding who you are sharing the room with.

There are no restrictions of gender as long as you are adults. Some females have already secured beds waiting for male companions. My guide said that some of the females could be pros disguising as guests in their new methods to get patronage.

Prostitution in Brazil is legal. There are no Police chasing them. They pay their taxes to Government and must be examined monthly by medical Doctors. The choice is yours on who to stay with. As for me, the Lord is my Shepherd.

Terrific traffic, coy taxi drivers

When you land in São Paulo, shine your eyes before you fall victim to coy taxi drivers. They are not different from those in Lagos, SA, New York or London. The traffic is terrifying.

The cab drivers would happily take the route heavy in traffic than shorter routes to your destination. Once you protest, they will speak Portuguese knowing you don’t understand. If you keep quiet, the meter will not. It will continue to read and you will pay through your nose. But if you shout like typical Nigerian and hit your hand on your chest, he will calm you down and use another faster alternative route. Sometimes, it pays to be a Nigerian.

Life here is high

As poor as we think Brasilia is,  they are better than Nigeria. That is a fact. High rising buildings are the signatures of their houses here. They don’t eat from the bins and they look healthy. My concern is the fact that their currency, Reais, is stronger than our fumbling Naira.

The Brazilian currency is 2 to 1 dollars.  Two Reais to one American Dollar. Naira goes for 160 to one Dollar. What it means is that we would be spending higher than we budgeted. It is better to cover assignment in a country like Nigeria where when you change one thousand dollars you automatically become a rich man.  There used to be a time when Ghana was behind. When you go to Accra with one thousand Naira you would be big.

That was the time you bought tablets of soap, cream, toothpaste and a Ghanaian girl would follow you to Lagos. Things have changed. Ghanaian Cedi is even higher than Dollar. Rawlings changed Ghana and influenced the exodus of Ghanaians back home. Nigeria remains the only giant of an ant that moves backwards.

Motion without movement. The designated FIFA media hotels are not meant for Nigerian media. We cannot afford to pay for them.