I wrote in this column last week why the world foot-ball governing body, FIFA, cannot publicly condemn the shortcomings at the on-going Under 17 World Cup.

Where are those who say that Nigeria can host the World Cup? Where are those who are still trying to convince the government that we can host the Commonwealth Games and are pulling all strings to start the bidding?

Jonathan Akpoborie scored a brilliant goal in the ninth minute. Victor Igbinoba made it 2-0 with a television goal a minute to full time.

JOHN Egbokhan walked up to me and said, “sir, what are you going to write this week? People are still expecting your analysis on the Nigeria- Mozambique match in Abuja.”
I told John that I have also received text messages asking for my analysis on the match, three of them from ex internationals.

I HAVE passed through Owerri while connecting other cities of Nigeria. But for about 15 years, I never spent some time there. Yet, it was the same city I visited regularly to cover Iwuanyanwu Nationale in those days they bestrode Nigerian football like a colossus. It was there I saw great games.

What could make a man remember his late parents over a football matter and say “thank God that my mother and father are dead?”

CHINA is an ancient civilization with such breath taking achievements like the Great Wall. However, it fully blossomed with its revolution which was sixty years yesterday, October 1. But China did not just take on the world; it was already ripe before the rest of humanity knew what was afoot.

It is government, through corrupt practices of their officials, that has denied us sponsorship culture

IT was interesting talking to Stephen Keshi in a long telephone chat five days after Tunisia held Nigeria to a 2-2 draw in Abuja.

It’s all part of the game. I remember the names they called Ibrahim Galadima when Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. I remember the humiliation he went through. I also remember how Christian Chukwu was still on his way back to Enugu when he was disengaged without a letter till date. Angola had come to Kano to earn a draw and that ended our dream to the World Cup from a group that appeared to be a piece of cake to all eyes.

We’ll be there. The players and coaches are more concerned than everybody. We are all involved in this. We know what the expectations are. We know the responsibility that we are saddled with.

“Hey! Fashola has been here,” screamed Chibeze. “Yes, he has visited here,” Ifeanyi, his elder brother concurred. Chibeze is 9 and Ifeanyi 11. Chisom who is just eight surprised me most. “Fashola is going everywhere,” he added. Their chatting excited.

Gimba recorded Yar’Adua first failure in sports. Failure number two; up till date, nobody has uttered a word to the footballers who won silver and the five girls who won bronze – the 4x100m relay team lead by Damola Osayome and Blessing Okagbore who won our first medal from the Long Jump, interestingly the same event that gave us our first ever gold in Atlanta through Chioma Ajunwa.

Just as millions wallow in penury, we hear of billions been stolen, we hear of scandals – Siemens, Halliburton, failed banks etc. For the common man it is “when I turn here, the rain falls on me, I turn there, the sun shines on me … I can only go beyond and forget,” as the poet mourned a grave situation, so hopeless that only death could end his own sorrow too.

Nigeria Football authorities did not make adequate arrangement for crowd control. It was a shame that fans invaded the pitch the moment the referee blew the final whistle.