Tit Bites from Angola

Paul Bassey

I made the mistake of suggesting in my weekly column that given the dynamics of football, that my column will not attempt to treat match reports and results as the case may be.

I said rather, I will dwell on titbits as they occur, those interesting behind -the- scene happenings that will help round up your views on the 27th Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

This is the statement that Onochie Anibeze capitalised on and sent me a mail discussing the possibility of doing some tit bits on a regular basis. I replied that it was possible, but that it depended on my volume of work here, so I was not going to promise anything.

If I do, like I am starting today, I want you to tune your mind to the concept of FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE where we tried to handle very serious issues in a friendly way. Whenever I come your way, I will be very brief, the excuse being that “ I am very busy”.

But no matter how brief I am, I will try to make it worth your while. No sooner did I get this suggestion from Onochie that I was told to proceed to Lubango. No, not Cabinda. Lubango is where Cameroon, Zambia, Tunisia and Gabon will sweat it out.

The Angolan Airways flight to Lubango reminded me of Aero Contractors and their “ no food on board policy.” Since Aero started selling their five thousand naira ticket, God knows I have not bought any.

For me to hold a 20 thousand naira ticket and not get  even a glass of water on board, I consider unfair.

Anyway, back to Angola. The flight from Luanda to Lubango is fifty five minutes. We take off, the plane stabilises and the hostesses come round for “refreshments.” Then I hear “juice or water” what? juice or water in a forty five minute flight? I waited for them.

I was going to show them that not only was I intelligent, but from Naija. When they got to my row, I heard “ juice or water?” I replied “ JUICE AND WATER “  Haba! I don’t like cheating.  Do you know there are seven times the number of women in Angola than men? That will be my focus tomorrow. Don”t miss your Vanguard copy.

Blatter writes to Hayatou

The day after the tragic incident involving the Togo national team, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter wrote to African Football Confederation (CAF) President, Isaa Hayatou.

Below is a transcript of that letter:

Dear President Hayatou, Following the tragic incident involving the national team of one of the member associations of FIFA and CAF just hours before the kick-off of the African Football Confederation’s leading competition, the CAF African Cup of Nations, I wish to convey my wholehearted support, along with that of the international football family.

My thoughts, and those of everyone at FIFA, go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and to their families and loved ones.

This awful event cannot dispel the fact that Africa has written some of the greatest chapters in the history of world football. Africa is the birthplace of some of the greatest players ever to have graced the game.

The continent will soon play host to the FIFA World Cup for the very first time, as is its due. I have faith in Africa, and it is with this faith that together we will organise world football’s showcase event in 2010.

We stand alongside you at this particularly painful time and reiterate our friendship.