By John Egbokan

After spending over 12 days covering the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Dubai, I have started to feel home-sick. Yes, I mean it. I am thinking of Lagos, the self-acclaimed mega-city, according to amiable Governor Babatunde Fashola, who has been trying to reshape Lagos, albeit with little or no success, depending on which side of the divide you belong.

Lagos is a beautiful city, at least that is the vibe you get from government officials and their likes, who pride the city as an emerging mega-city. But if they think so, then what does one make of Dubai or the other emirates in the United Arab Emirates, where the word mega-city is no longer fit for this beautiful paradise on earth.

I can’t stop thinking of Lagos, where filth, bad roads, corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, poor electricity and many other negatives rule the air, because in some few days from now, I will be boarding the flight back home to face the harsh realities of a mega-slum. Yes that is what Lagos really is. They can think what they want to think but anybody who has seen what a real city looks like will quickly tag Lagos a beautiful slum.

From Oshodi to Okoko to Ikorodu to Orile to Ikeja to Mainland and even to the almighty Lekki and Ikoyi areas, the story is not different. Filth stares you in the face. Night-time turns the city to a ghost town. Not here in the UAE, where the cities come alive at night. You can get a burger at 4am here. But as I enjoy the moment here, I can’t help but think of Lagos, where city-life has turned into a nightmare. But home I must return next week to team up with my Sports Editor, Tony Ubani and the rest of the crew, as we continue our journey in the slum tagged mega-city by our copy-cat and docile leaders.

Hold your Piss

Anietie Iyoho writes Sports for The Nigerian Pilot. He is covering UAE 2013. He is a fun person to be with. Always quick to bear his mind on itching issues. Anietie has made my stay a pleasurable one. We have gone round four cities in the United Arab Emirates and it has been eventful. The last time that we went to Al Ain City to cover the press conference ahead of Eaglets match against Iran, Anietie caused a mild scene in the car conveying us back to Dubai.

As the Indian driver sped off on the beautiful and well-laid out highway, my good friend from the Pilot told me that he wanted to urinate. I reminded him that we were in the UAE and on the highway for that matter, not the Benin-Ore road but he would not have it. He told the driver his predicament but was told bluntly that we were on the highway at night and there was no place to stop for such call of nature.

As Anietie got agitated, he was quietly told to hold his piss by Tunde of the Nation, who reminded him that we were not on the Maraba-Yanya highway. He had no option than to comply because since we have been here, we have not seen people urinating in the open.

Judokas celebrate international week

The Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF has joined the international community in celebrating the International Judo Week.

Chairman of the NJF finance committee, Alhaji Danusa Suleiman and Athletes representative on the board, Segun Gbayi were on hand to flag off the celebration on Monday at the Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.

Suleiman admonished the Judokas to be proud of their profession and be disciplined at all time,  promising that the present board will motivate and mobilize the judo stars and their coaches towards winning laurels locally and internationally.

Meanwhile, Gbayi has once again appealed to the National Sport Commission, NSC to reinstate Judo in the forthcoming National Youth Sport Festival, NYSF holding in December while also congratulating the athletes as they celebrate their International Judo week.

Gbayi, a former judo star said the celebration is featuring seminars and demonstrations in different parts of the country while adding that the reinstatement of Judo in the NYSF is bound to boost the game in the country.

First Deepwater coach promises good outing in Morocco

Fresh from the FIBA Africa Zone-3 qualifier of the 2013 Africa Champions Cup, coach of First Deepwater Basketball club of Nigeria, Lateef Erinfolami promised Nigerians that the team would do the country proud in the competition tentatively scheduled for November 20-30 in Morocco.

The Oil & Gas ladies who also have Shola Ogunade-Shomala as an assistant coach, have stepped up their trainingt at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos in readiness for the final round where they will compete among other top clubs from across the continent.

The Nigerian Zenith Bank Women league champions will be searching for her first continental title after hosting and finishing third in 2011 in Lagos.