With the Nigeria Super Eagles Qualifying for the African Nations Cup and the World Cup, what is formula for success?
Nigerians have a habit of wildly celebrating while neglecting important priorities. For us as Nigerians, the World Cup must be viewed as a gift. We must own our current domestic challenges and create an environment so that 2010 can be a year of goodwill.
Nigeria has domestic challenges in the areas of education, healthcare, security, law and order, poor roads, and water and power challenges. Despite this Nigeria will still likely waste a lot of money on the World Cup in South Africa. It is this sense of misplaced priorities that is a concern. At a high level Nigeria should set goals for success at the most basic level and then work its way towards other matters and not the other way around.
Problems along the road.
However as it stands now, our soccer mad nation has already employed (surely these people are being paid) a Presidential Task Force, to ensure the success of Nigeria at the World Cup. I am puzzled as to what this so called task force can do. One of their high level goals is to hire a foreign technical advisor to REPLACE the qualifying coach Shaibu Amodu.
The Presidential Task Force has already been assembled and has its supporters fully engaged cheering its every pronouncement. This so called The Presidential Task Force should be roundly questioned by all honest Nigerians. What is the purpose of this organization, and how are important funds being allocated to this when there are pressing priorities in Nigeria?
The statements reported to be coming from this organization are concerning and more importantly against the rules (if true) of FIFA.
The problem with this organization is that it is actually a deeply intrusive Governmental arm, which contravenes FIFA rules. If allowed to exist, their actions could involve meddling in player selections, player substitutions, player bonuses and more troublesome activities. It would do more to hurt Nigeria than help.
The other problem is the Nigerian government has created a high profile task force for this, when they could have created a task force for any of the numerous domestic challenges in the areas of education, healthcare, security, law and order, poor roads, and water and power challenges.
Well the World Cup will always create a way to irrationally spend money ... I just hope someone does an accounting in August of 2010.
xxx
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The so called Presidential Task Force (PTF)
The so called Presidential Task Force (PTF) tasked with helping Nigeria make it to South Africa should be roundly questioned by all honest Nigerians. I am suspicious of the purpose of this organization. It certainly is NOT a transparent organization. It seems to be an organization with a big check with self serving interests. What is the purpose of this organization, and how are important funds being allocated to this when there are pressing priorities in Nigeria?
The statements reported to be coming from this organization are concerning and more importantly against the rules (if true) of FIFA. These statements are:
1. The replacing of the current NFF Chariman Sani Lulu ( see link: ).
2. The selecting of a foreign coach (too many articles to count).
Article 2 of the FIFA Regulations state that:
It seems clear to me that this Presidential Task Force is trying to usurp the role of the Nigerian Football Federation - who is the organization that should select coaches and the like.
I think it is prudent for honest Nigerian to head-off this troublesome development. The NFF is NOT a Government ministry and should be free to carry on its business without the potentially parasitic activities of the PTF.
The PTF should not in any way shape or form duplicate the work of the Nigerian Football Federation.
xxx
The statements reported to be coming from this organization are concerning and more importantly against the rules (if true) of FIFA. These statements are:
1. The replacing of the current NFF Chariman Sani Lulu ( see link: ).
2. The selecting of a foreign coach (too many articles to count).
Article 2 of the FIFA Regulations state that:
Government interference of any kind in the electoral process or composition of the elective body (general assembly or congress) of the association is not permitted. Consequently, government rules on elections shall not apply to the elected internal bodies of the association and the electoral rules of the association shall not require the approval of any government body.
It seems clear to me that this Presidential Task Force is trying to usurp the role of the Nigerian Football Federation - who is the organization that should select coaches and the like.
I think it is prudent for honest Nigerian to head-off this troublesome development. The NFF is NOT a Government ministry and should be free to carry on its business without the potentially parasitic activities of the PTF.
The PTF should not in any way shape or form duplicate the work of the Nigerian Football Federation.
xxx
Nigeria is Grouped with Argentina, South Korea and Greece
Of these teams Argentina has been a perpetual nemesis. The rivalry was re-started in 2005 when Nigeria met Argentina in the finals of the U-20 FIFA World Youth Championship. Lionel Messi has generally had his way with Nigeria and the harassing defenders that Nigeria throws his way (2 penalty kicks so far and innumerable freekicks). Our record against Argentina has not been good in recent memory. To defeat Argentina, Nigeria will need Ike Uche, Obafemi Martins, Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo on the field at the same time. God help us!
South Korea will be problematic for Nigeria. In 2005 Nigeria LOST against the South Koreans at the 2005 World Youth Championship in Holland. Chu Young Park proved to be troublemaker scoring in the 89th minute ... a late South Korean goal in extra time saw Nigeria losing this game. So what we can take from this game is that the South Koreans will fight until the final whistle is blown. With the pedestrian performances of the Super Eagles, this is not encouraging news!
We should also remember that in February 2007, South Korea defeated Greece 1-0 in an international friendly played in England. In this game Lee Chun-Soo scored the only goal, South Korea won!
Greece could be an enigma. Nigeria last played Greece in 1994. Greek soccer is very different since that time. Greece won the European Championship in 2004 and are known for highly defensive football. This is a game that Nigeria has to tackle head on ... it could be a roll of the dice.
xxx
South Korea will be problematic for Nigeria. In 2005 Nigeria LOST against the South Koreans at the 2005 World Youth Championship in Holland. Chu Young Park proved to be troublemaker scoring in the 89th minute ... a late South Korean goal in extra time saw Nigeria losing this game. So what we can take from this game is that the South Koreans will fight until the final whistle is blown. With the pedestrian performances of the Super Eagles, this is not encouraging news!
We should also remember that in February 2007, South Korea defeated Greece 1-0 in an international friendly played in England. In this game Lee Chun-Soo scored the only goal, South Korea won!
Greece could be an enigma. Nigeria last played Greece in 1994. Greek soccer is very different since that time. Greece won the European Championship in 2004 and are known for highly defensive football. This is a game that Nigeria has to tackle head on ... it could be a roll of the dice.
xxx
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Olympics Redux
The Olympics have come and gone ... and as a Nigerian I thoroughly expected Nigeria to medal in this tournament, but when we made it to the finals I expected a scalp. Alas ... we lost to Argentina ... they were not going to allow a repeat of 1996.
There are many things that happened in that game, but working backwards from the goal scored by Angel Di Maria, I would like to look at a few of those events.
Angel Di Maria scored from a through pass from Lionel Messi off a Nigerian turn-over while Nigeria was attempting to counter-attack. The pass streamed over 40 yards untouched by a single foot, directly into the path of the dangerous midfielder.
One would have noticed that Argentina was attempting through passes all game long ... they only needed one to get through!
The Nigerian defense at this point had pushed too far up, and was thus unable to stop this goal opportunity. The matter was further compounded by a failure to communicate between Vanzekin and Adeleye. Adeleye could have stretched his hand out to say "STAY" and while attempting to challenge Di Maria ... but things were happening too fast. Vanzekin panicked and was made to look amateurish ... goal for Argentina.
On the Cybereagles forum some of the forummers said that Vanzekin should have stayed put and waited for Adeleye to challenge Di Maria. Di Maria could have scored with a well placed shot, he could have missed, the goalkeeper could have saved the shot or Adeleye could have caught him (very iffy).
That said we did not score any goals, even though Isaac Promise missed two sitters in the 33rd minute ... his reaction time was much too slow.
So what to take away from this game? There is a post on the cybereagles forum that I feel says everything. It is written by a forumer named TXJ and his comments are quite amazing:
and I mostly agree!!!
<
There are many things that happened in that game, but working backwards from the goal scored by Angel Di Maria, I would like to look at a few of those events.
Angel Di Maria scored from a through pass from Lionel Messi off a Nigerian turn-over while Nigeria was attempting to counter-attack. The pass streamed over 40 yards untouched by a single foot, directly into the path of the dangerous midfielder.
One would have noticed that Argentina was attempting through passes all game long ... they only needed one to get through!
The Nigerian defense at this point had pushed too far up, and was thus unable to stop this goal opportunity. The matter was further compounded by a failure to communicate between Vanzekin and Adeleye. Adeleye could have stretched his hand out to say "STAY" and while attempting to challenge Di Maria ... but things were happening too fast. Vanzekin panicked and was made to look amateurish ... goal for Argentina.
On the Cybereagles forum some of the forummers said that Vanzekin should have stayed put and waited for Adeleye to challenge Di Maria. Di Maria could have scored with a well placed shot, he could have missed, the goalkeeper could have saved the shot or Adeleye could have caught him (very iffy).
That said we did not score any goals, even though Isaac Promise missed two sitters in the 33rd minute ... his reaction time was much too slow.
So what to take away from this game? There is a post on the cybereagles forum that I feel says everything. It is written by a forumer named TXJ and his comments are quite amazing:
txj wrote:
1. When the U-23 team lined up at the Olympics soccer event final, the profile of the players could not have been more different from their Argentine counterparts.
2. At CD Argentina had Ezekiel Garay of Real Madrid, Nigeria had Dele Adeleye from the bench of dutch basement club Sparta Rotterdam. Just over a year ago, he was at Shooting Stars, oscillating between Division 1 and 2.
3. At LB, with the responsibility of marking Messi; yes Lionel Messi of Barcelona, was Okonkwo from Bayelsa United, a right footed player converted to LB.
4. In CM, where Argentina had Riquelme, Gago and Mascherano, arguably the best DM in the world, Nigeria presented Ebenezer Ajilore of Mydjtilland and from the bench at Sparta, Sanni Kaita. A few years ago, Ajilore plied his trade at Ebiede Babes, a Lagos youth club.
5. But as the game unfolded, the confidence of the Nigerian players and the cautious approach their opponents showed, belied the reputation and CV of Argentina's players.
6. This effectively proved two things:
(i) that the club status of the Nigerian players does not accurately reflect their real quality; and that
(ii) a new measure is urgently required to determine the quality of our players; one that is not entirely dependent on the judgement of European club managers whose philosophy of the game and needs, vis a vis their clubs, may not necessarily be in alignment with the development of the average Nigerian player, or the SE.
7. Such a measure will however be determined individually by each coach. It requires that such a coach have both the self confidence and the clarity of ideas to see the Nigerian player in his full context, and the experience (european & s. america) to build his team and develop these players within the context of the modern team game.
8. It in effect means that the SE eligible player could be found in Emeka Ezeugo-coached Churchill Brothers SC of Goa, India; Talata Mafara FC of Sokoto, or AC Milan.
9. A new generation of Nigerian coaches has emerged from the european exodus pioneered by Stephen Keshi. The challenge for Nigerian football administrators is to facilitate a transition from a decadent past to a new era.
10. While the likes of Amodu, Abdullahi, Ikhana and Emordi may have done well at the levels they operated, the truth is that a cursory look at their body of work typically reveals evidence of severe limitations, often from half education on the subject....
1. When the U-23 team lined up at the Olympics soccer event final, the profile of the players could not have been more different from their Argentine counterparts.
2. At CD Argentina had Ezekiel Garay of Real Madrid, Nigeria had Dele Adeleye from the bench of dutch basement club Sparta Rotterdam. Just over a year ago, he was at Shooting Stars, oscillating between Division 1 and 2.
3. At LB, with the responsibility of marking Messi; yes Lionel Messi of Barcelona, was Okonkwo from Bayelsa United, a right footed player converted to LB.
4. In CM, where Argentina had Riquelme, Gago and Mascherano, arguably the best DM in the world, Nigeria presented Ebenezer Ajilore of Mydjtilland and from the bench at Sparta, Sanni Kaita. A few years ago, Ajilore plied his trade at Ebiede Babes, a Lagos youth club.
5. But as the game unfolded, the confidence of the Nigerian players and the cautious approach their opponents showed, belied the reputation and CV of Argentina's players.
6. This effectively proved two things:
(i) that the club status of the Nigerian players does not accurately reflect their real quality; and that
(ii) a new measure is urgently required to determine the quality of our players; one that is not entirely dependent on the judgement of European club managers whose philosophy of the game and needs, vis a vis their clubs, may not necessarily be in alignment with the development of the average Nigerian player, or the SE.
7. Such a measure will however be determined individually by each coach. It requires that such a coach have both the self confidence and the clarity of ideas to see the Nigerian player in his full context, and the experience (european & s. america) to build his team and develop these players within the context of the modern team game.
8. It in effect means that the SE eligible player could be found in Emeka Ezeugo-coached Churchill Brothers SC of Goa, India; Talata Mafara FC of Sokoto, or AC Milan.
9. A new generation of Nigerian coaches has emerged from the european exodus pioneered by Stephen Keshi. The challenge for Nigerian football administrators is to facilitate a transition from a decadent past to a new era.
10. While the likes of Amodu, Abdullahi, Ikhana and Emordi may have done well at the levels they operated, the truth is that a cursory look at their body of work typically reveals evidence of severe limitations, often from half education on the subject....
and I mostly agree!!!
<
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Feed The Yak!
Today, March 2nd 2008 Yakubu grabbed a brace to help give Everton a 3-1 win over Portsmouth. Many soccer fans have mixed feelings about Yakubu and are not attracted to his playing style. However when the end of the season rolls around he usually posts big numbers and his club is usually in a nice spot on the table. The bottom line, the Yak delivers.
Yakubu has been around for a long time. He was part of the 2000 Olympic team and scored some important goals during the qualification matches. He was a favorite of the Olympic and National Team coach Shaibu Amodu. Amodu played Yakubu whenever he could ... meanwhile the rest of us fans were NOT sold on this guy. I can say now that the proof is in the pudding and Yakubu has proved his doubters wrong.
He is a striker that relishes the one on one chance. In these situations he will always win. So note the the Super Eagles - FEED THE YAK!
Yakubu has been around for a long time. He was part of the 2000 Olympic team and scored some important goals during the qualification matches. He was a favorite of the Olympic and National Team coach Shaibu Amodu. Amodu played Yakubu whenever he could ... meanwhile the rest of us fans were NOT sold on this guy. I can say now that the proof is in the pudding and Yakubu has proved his doubters wrong.
He is a striker that relishes the one on one chance. In these situations he will always win. So note the the Super Eagles - FEED THE YAK!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Nigeria vs Mexico
I tuned into Channel 52 ~ the local Telemundo and settled in to watch the game.
My excited was based on my belief that the lineup looked like the most exciting lineup in many many years. That said after watching the game I have come to the following conclusions.
Firstly if we cannot hold on to a 2-0 lead then we are in BIG trouble. I have mixed feelings on Apam … some of you guys loved him, but he and Taiwo were racking fouls like air miles … anyway a few ramblings …
Mikel Obi ~ While a gifted player, his game today was rife with indiscipline and a growing spectre of nonchalance … Obi was slow, was dispossessed several times and made some bad passes. What was most glaring was his failed attempt to impose a pedestrian pace in the midfield … something that Carlos Valderama was a master of. The Mexicans swarmed him and he lost the ball on several occasions. On seeing this he should have run at them and changed his style. My solution to this is to have Obi work on his fitness … his running and his shooting …
Ishiaku Mannaseh ~ This is the guy I wanted to see. He really got no service today, and he had he had a badly taken shot in one instance … however his hustle and work rate opened space for Martins to operate … he tackled and won some balls. He will get another chance.
Ike Uche ~ This guy is pure wahala for any opposing team. He came on, won a penalty and then flubbed it. Very very uncharacteristic of him, my consolation is that God loves the Mexicans too, and he was not about to allow them to suffer an indignity at the hands of a Guatemalan ref on the eve of their game against
Olofinjana was ok especially in the first half, however Taiwo and Apam were racking up many fouls and Taiwo has somehow lost form … I no know wetin do am.
In light of this game I have a few ideas. I like some of Ayo’s ideas but I will deviate a bit. The solution to the midfield is to bring in Oludapo Olufemi and Uche Kalu. I will NOT shoo in Rabiu Ibrahim yet, because he may not be mature enough … I would NOT discard Mikel Obi, but I would certainly try out Olufemi AND Kalu Uche. These two would make a positive difference.
On Olofinjana, not many players can compete easily for his position. We have players like Moses Adams, Sunday Stephen, Sani Kieta and a few others … Moses Adams is an easy favorite, but is still very green. Sunday Stephen is good but I have to observe him more
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