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2009.11.08 02:38:34

Nigeria’s representative at this year’s CAF Champion’s league, Heartland FC, indoubtedly did the country proud by reaching the finals of the tourney, though they narrowly lost out on the away goals rule to Congolese outfit TP Mazembe. They have every reason to be content with their final placing at the competition as that was the best the level of preparation they put into it could produce. With the level of seriousness (or lack there of) that the team, its officials, and supporters put into the crucial encounter, they could never have achieved anything better than the ‘king of the pretenders’ title they came out with.


  TB Mazembe | Heartland FC | African Champions League | Nigeria
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2009.01.22 17:32:34

The Bad Dream Unfolds!............Bosso does his “thing” yet again

Like a bad dream just waiting to happen, the “technically bereft” one himself, a.k.a Ladan Bosso, has inflicted severe humiliation and shame upon the Nation called Nigeria.

Late coach Yemi Tella would still be writhing in extreme pain inside his grave as his spirit watched the mangling that the “cattle-rearer” has done to his team.

The South African U-20 team just showed how technically bankrupt this fellow called “Bosso” really is.

There had been several clamor from well-meaning Nigerians (yours truly one of them) calling on the Nigerian Football Federation (Another sore point in the Nigerian Soccer ambience) to stop Ladan Bosso from associating with the Yemi Tella (May his gentle soul rest in peace) tutored team. The team had been brought up under the best possible disciplinary environment, they were tactically grounded under the late lecturer and only needed time to emerge as a strong force in the global soccer scene, unfortunately for Nigeria however, the great man departed this world, but more unfortunately for us we let them come under Ladan Bosso.

The team could still have been on course for greatness had the NFF taken pain to ensure that they shield the team from lackluster individuals who still believe football is a game of “race”.

The South African U-20 team made that once-glorious team from Nigeria (surely I am not proud saying this now) look like a hastily assembled secondary school team from one of the interior local Villages in Kebbi state (Apologies to Kebbi State, but I have to ensure the picture is made lucid).

There was perfect incoherence amongst all the departments of the team ( A trademark of Ladan Bosso) and there were a few players that ought to have been strolling on the streets of Kigali rather than being in that team.

Ladan Bosso looked like a helpless fugitive on the sideline, I actually felt sorry for him at a point. Not the pity one shows to an individual in lack or despair, but that you show to one who brags of his illiteracy in public.

Like every other of his kind in the soccer scene (the unfortunate hockey-umpire who thinks he is a soccer coach), his substitutions were very suspicious and smelt of “National quota system”.

For example, I don’t think “Mr. I-should-have-been-fighting-sumo-wrestling” had any business on that pitch (not like any of our demoralized boys did anyway), neither did the goal-scorer himself……..or wait a minute! They all should have been on the pitch of play, but that semi-retarded herdsman just did not know that it was a game of soccer, so he arranged the players like they were set for a game of polo. That must explain why they were scattered on the pitch, unable to connect with each other, and galloping instead of running!.....That really must explain it!

I feel so distraught now, not that we lost the match to our arch-rivals, South Africa or that the NFF did not heed the well intended advise of several Nigerians to drop this man like a bad habit, or that we might not be making it to the World Youth Championship in Egypt BUT the fact that a perfectly good bunch of future glory-getters for Nigeria have been blown up into pieces.

Right now I believe that the team is in a state of shock and disbelief, a terrible thing to do to a good fit.

Tears and vituperations really would not undo the vile done now, it would not even change the scoreline (Had the NFF not been blinded with their selfish intent, none of these would have happened), but it is now time to re-align these boys along the path of Soccer (Yes soccer and not “Dembe”)

They have to be re-educated about the philosophy guiding football, they have to be washed clean of Ladan Bosso’s leisure ride into stagnation. Let us not le these boys rot away like those he took to Canada.

 

Awenlimobor  Sylvester


  
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2009.01.06 10:24:59

A new year has come and undoubtedly the big question on the mind of every soccer loving Nigerian right now is … can Amodu lead the Super Eagles comfortably to the 2010 World Cup in near-by South Africa?

The past year 2008, was undoubtedly a year to quickly erase from the mind as far as Nigerian soccer is involved. The solitary bright spark came from the Samson Siasia inspired Olympic team that "against all odds" went ahead to reach the finals of the male soccer event at the four-year event in China.

A certain Berti Vogts assisted by a perennial "show-watcher" in the name of Augustine Eguavoen, began the year in the most disastrous fashion by taking the "Almighty" Super Eagles to their worst outing at the African Nations Cup in almost 16 years.

The Nigerian team paraded at the tourney looked more like a hockey team that just found out that the game they were involved in required the use of legs.

The disgraceful outing, which was orchestrated by the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) now Federation (whatever they hope to achieve with the name change is still left to be seen) and hatched perfectly by the boring and dour ex-German international (who eventually ended up being the fall guy anyway) ensured that the hollow centre that is the "Super Eagles" which was being covered by past glory became fully exposed for the whole continent to see.

The Nigerian team became (and if you ask me, we still are) the laughing stock of the continent, and the world soccer governing body FIFA, who had hitherto kept the country at a suspicious ranking level quickly acted upon the unfolding revelations ad dropped the country down the pecking order like you would to a hot frying-pan.

The NFA (I still prefer referring to them by that name) decided to replace (can't exactly say for sure that this is the right word to use for what the ignominious body did to Vogt's anyway) the German they "begged" to come in the first place. Unfortunately for them, they continued with their character of listening to popular demand, rather than doing what's best for the country and decided the best thing to do was to get an indigenous coach as replacement. Really it amazes me so much that the NFA would always chose to get their next line of action from what the press desires from them. The fattening salary they get, along with all the allowances is just for them to pick up a soccer tabloid or browse the net and then make their decisions I guess.

Anyway, in their usual fashion the NFA decided to return to their recycle bin to pick up a washed-out coach in the form of Amodu Shuaibu, who would be better off sitting in his verandah with a tooth-pick in his mouth, reminiscing on his past achievements in his coaching career (if he can remember any) and quietly enjoying his retirement period. A certain Samson Siasia and his fellow ex-international Stephen Keshi, who had both proven themselves worthy candidates with exceptional feats in recent times, were quickly ushered out of the race to avoid "succeeding" with the Nigerian team.

Siasia was to put temporary smile on the faces of Nigerians as he "single-handedly" (despite several attempts by the NFA to ensure his team's failure) guided the Nigerian Olympic male soccer team to a fantastic tournament in Beijing where they came away with the Silver medal. Well, that sure put a dent on the NFA's aspirations to ensure total failure for the Nation's soccer team. The Glasshouse went wild and set up machineries to ensure it never happens again. And surely they succeeded in their sinister quest.

Who the hell is "Coach Jossy Lad"? Why would they bring an hotelier to coach the Nation's female soccer team? Beats me!

That fellow brought series of shame and disgrace to the Nations once untouchable status in female football as far as the continent is concerned. And like his "calamitous" compatriot, Ladan Bosso, his ability to always verbally attempt to provide explanations for his inexcusable lack of football tactics made me wonder if the NFA just casts die to pick their coaches.

The Nation's U-17 team also put further smiles on the faces of the NFA, and sadness for the soccer loving Nigerian as they were knocked out of the qualifying race for the African U-17 tournament by neighboring Benin republic in a shameful and disgraceful exhibition of Soccer played in the "Cricket style". Alphonsus Dike! Another senile "tactician recruited by that same group of fattened oafs called the NFA (No Future Ambition).

Well we had started counting our losses for the year and hoping for a better year when Okey Emordi (A bald headed figure, whose knowledge of soccer is purely based on "monkey-post" tactics) ensured Ghana!, yes Ghana, knocked us out of qualifiers for the newly inaugurated African Nations Championship (CHAN) right in our house.

A year without any form of silverware for the country, no thanks to the "antique" collection of indigenous coaches our dear NFA pumped into the system. To tell you how bereft of soccer knowledge these coaches were, Belgian born tactician Maurice Cooreman, was doing well with Enyimba in the CAF Champions League and lo and behold the spirit of NFA came upon the Enyimba management and they brought in old cargo Eguavoen, along with his cohort of charlatan show-spoilers, and the Enyimba team that was riding high in he tournament suddenly crumbled like a pack of cards (I think cookies would best explain what they did to that team).

Well 2009 has come, and this is a World Cup qualifying year for the Super Eagles, a tournament year for the U-17 and U-20 teams. With Amodu in charge, I get nightmares of Angola. I wake up sweating terribly in the middle of the night because I get dreams of Tunisia flogging us at the Abuja stadium. My palms suddenly get wet when I imagine "Ladan Bosso", the radical racial activist, taking the U-20 team to the African Championship. I get dizzy with headache when I cannot conjure up a team that we can call U-17 that can successfully get past the group stage o the World Cup to be hosted by Nigeria (Hopefully those Stadiums would be 40% ready before the tourney kicks-off). I still see Columbia on the horizon, with our players perpetually calling for the offside flag.

If the truth be told, all is not well with the Nigerian soccer scene, it could get worse in 2009, unless…………………….

 

 

Awenlimobor Sylvester


  
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2009.01.06 10:18:40

Ghanaian international midfielder, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has been set free by English Championship side, Birmingham after the club refused to pay the US$10 million requested by his Russian employers Spartak Moscow for a permanent deal.

Manager of Birmingham, Alex McLeish confirmed that the player would not be staying

"His deal was an expensive one for just one player and we will now look to use the money to bring in new faces.

"We thank Quincy for his efforts and wish him well for the future." He added

Quincy, 22, joined the English outfit last summer on a six months loan deal, and was tipped to remain at the club side by several soccer pundits. This would however come as a blow to the player’s aspiration to return to the Premiership where he once played with London club, Arsenal.

The fleet-footed winger has however played on 13 times for the Blues, netting only three goals.

   

Awenlimobor Sylvester


  
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2008.10.10 15:29:40

Arsenal of England striker, Sheyi Adebayor has rescinded his decision not to feature for the Hawks of Togo in this weekend’s crucial 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying encounter against Swaziland in Accra Ghana.

  
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2008.10.08 16:16:16

Club Brugge of Belgian midfielder, Nabil Dirar has opted to play for his North African country of birth rather than the much fancied Belgian National team.
The player has accepted an invitation to play for the Atlas Lions in their crucial 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying encounter against the Wasps of Rwanda.


  Morocco
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2008.10.08 16:15:11

South African international Quinton Fortune is close to signing a deal with Italian Serie B club side Brescia pending the result of a medical fitness test.
Fortune was released by Premiership club side Bolton Wanderers last year after an unimpressive period with them. He also had a seven year stint with current League Champions Manchester United, leaving Old Trafford for the Reebok stadium in 2006.

Fortune has been a free agent since leaving the Reebok, and has had failed trials with some English club sides including Blackburn, Sunderland FC and also with Sheffield United .

According to reports monitored on the Italian club's official website, the 31 year old midfielder is expected to train with the club and seal a deal in a couple of days.

  South Africa | Fortune
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2008.10.07 17:19:46

Assistant coach of Egyptian league Champions, Al Ahly Hossam Al-Badri has warned his players to avoid complacency in the second leg encounter of the 2008 CAF Champions League semifinal clash against Enyimba FC of Nigeria in Cairo in a fortnight.

Al Ahly held the "People's Elephant" to a goalless draw at the Aba International Stadium, in the first leg of the encounter in Nigeria.

"We are yet to secure qualification, the game is still on, I think both teams have equal chances in the return leg in Cairo," Badri was quoted as saying on Al Ahly's official website.

"We were looking for a win on Sunday, but I think that the difficult conditions in Aba impeded us." he added.

The Al Ahly assistant coach also stated that the players would given extra bonuses if they overcome their Nigerian counterparts and scale through to the finals of the tournament.

It would be recalled that last year, Al Ahly travelled to the Tunisian city of Sousse and held Etoile du Sahel to a draw in the final of the competition, only to come back to the Cairo international stadium and lose 3-1.


  Al Ahly | Enyimba | CAF champions league
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2008.10.07 17:15:29

Brian Baloyi of Mamelodi Sundowns has been called up to South African senior national team as replacement for Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Joseph Moeneebs who suffered an injury in a weekend clash for his club side.

Media officer for the South African team, Sifiso Cele revealed this information, while also disclosing that 17 of the 23 players invited for the clash against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo this weekend have already arrived in camp.

Baloyi has not featured for the South African side in almost two years, and is getting his first call-up under the new Brazilain tactician.


  South Africa | Mamelodi Sundowns
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2008.10.06 23:42:13

Head Coach of Nigerian club side Enyimba FC of Aba, Maurice Cooreman is optimistic that his side can go to Cairo and get the necessary result that would see them move to the finals of the 2008 CAF Champions League tournament.

After watching his side play out a drab goalless draw with the visiting "Red Army" at the highly sub-standard Aba International Stadium in the Eastern part of the country, Cooreman is still certain that his side can up their game and move to the finals at the expense of strong favorites, Al Ahly.
"Zero zero is not a bad result. It is just that we did not take our chances when we go them. I am sure we will do better in Cairo," Cooreman told kickoffnigeria.com

Portuguese born coach of Al Ahly, Jose Manuel believes the ugly state of the pitch contributed to the poor display on parade at the Aba International Stadium.

"We have a better side but I must blame the pitch for the low quality of play." Manuel was quoted as saying by the website.


"All through the match there were only two chances at goal, when Abu Treka failed to score and Worgu's cross that was headed badly by Akueme and that is because the pitch did not let us play.

"In Cairo, we will have a better pitch and better football." he added.


  Al Ahly | Enyimba | CAF champions league
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2008.10.06 23:41:10

Manchester United youngster, Manucho has been given his first call up to the Angolan Squad for the ongoing 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

Manucho had been unavailable for the Palancas Negras throughout the qualifying stages after having to nurse an injury since posting an impressive performance in the 2008 African Nations Cup tournament, where his stinging strike in the quarterfinal encounter against eventual winners Egypt was undoubtedly the goal of the tournament.
The Angolan team are currently lying in a distant second in group three, five points behind runaway group leaders, Benin Republic.
Their qualifying campaign was also rocked by the departure of Luis Oliveira Goncalves, who led them to the 2006 World Cup in Germany about two years ago.

A victory in Luanda would see the Angolans ending the round of qualifiers in second place, and giving them a shot to fight for one of the eight best second placed teams.


  Manucho | Angola | World Cup qualification | Nations Cup qualification
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2008.10.03 10:05:13

Enyimba international midfielder, and top scorer in this year's CAF Champions League, Stephen Worgu is optimistic his side can overcome the threat posed by Egyptian League Champions Al Ahly when they come visiting this weekend at the Aba International Stadium.

The game, which is no doubt the biggest on the continent this weekend will afford Worgu an opportunity to add to his 13 goals scored so far in the tournament, and he hopes he can help his team grab a comfortable victory in the first leg so that the second leg would be a formality for the Aba millionaires.


  Enyimba | CAF champions league | Al Ahly
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