Perspective from Sport

Finally the Word Cup has started, a breathe of relief for us all. Loads of goals, yellow cards,  a lot of fouls, a few surprises from different teams and I bet it - we have not seen anything yet, time will unveil everything to us. This  goes to confirm the good old popular saying that football is not mathematics. I will be looking at an area which has always been a topic of discussion among African football fans and journalists.  The issue of local coaches versus the foreign expatriates or to put it in the popular African term " Technical Adviser ". I am not opening up a debate of who is better than the other -  after all Yeo Martial of Ivory Coast won the 1992 edition of the African Cup of Nations hosted by Senegal against foreign coaches and Stephen Keshi of Nigeria did the same over a year ago in South African.  The issue of success is not in question; but that our African coaches do not pay attention to some details that matter when pr...

The final list to Brazil is now out so we are all aware of  the players that are representing us in this years' World Cup . Never have there been so much anxiety with regards to the release of the final cut. Quite a number of journalists kept vigils in other to get the breaking news. Before the official release, there have been different versions flying around the various social media outlets. I can tell there was a list with my name on it as well (Joke).  Within the last few days, a particular person who I follow on twitter gave clues at different times of those likely to make the final list. Amidst all the doubt and suspense, the person proved too right when the list eventually came out. The final squad was announced after the training session, as stated by the chief coach Stephen Keshi, it was a tough call to come up with the final shortlist. However, making hard decisions come with the role Stephen Keshi has been entrusted with. Stephen Keshi pointing toward...

Hello everyone, I believe we are all rearing to go now. Believe it or not the World Cup is getting closer, it seems just like yesterday when Spain created history 4 years ago. That is why we have to do or carry out our personal plans within a reasonable time frame. A verse I like in the bible clearly illustrates this and I quote "Teach us to number our days".  Anyway back to the real issue, every team's list have been submitted to meet FIFA's deadline of the 16th of May 2014 .This week, I will continue with the breakdown of the Nigerian National Provisional Team List. Last week we looked at the Goalkeepers and Defenders. We will look at the Midfield Department now. John Mikel Obi (Chelsea)England The most high profiled  Nigerian player in the entire squad. He has always  been in the limelight since his controversial move to Chelsea. A very good central midfield, with good vision and crisp passes. Mikel has endured a torrid time among the Nigerian ...

Hello everyone,I have not posted for while but I am back now with a bang. After the twist and turn witnessed in the tops leagues in Europe, attention would now shift  turned to World Cup,which is one of the biggest Sporting event in the World.All the national teams are expected to submit there provisional list by the 16th of May,2014 - some teams have already put their provisional list forward - the 2 other teams in Nigeria's group have put their provisional list together i.e Iran and Bosnia & Herzegovina.  In fact Brazil has made the boldest move by name their 23 squad to the World Cup which they will be host in less than a month time.But back to what concern me and majority of Nigerians, the Super Eagles Manager Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has named 30 provisional squad which would be trimmed down to the final 23 to be submitted to FIFA by 2nd of June 2014. As usual, there were several deliberations between Keshi's  technical crew and the Tec...

It has be over a year now when emotions of the Nigeria football fraternity boiled, raged over the non qualification of the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the 2012 African Cup of Nations hosted in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. Samson Siasia had to pay the price with his job... There were mixed feeling, some wanted him to stay while other wanted him shown the way out . Personally I would have loved if he was retained as l liked the brand of football he displayed while coaching the under 20 and the Olympic team respectively. I am sure he will do things differently now if given another crack at the national team. Now back to Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi was appointed to restore the National team to the glory days,football commentators, fans, journalist all agree that the national team is in an all time low, there is point deceiving ourselves over this, the team has constantly declined over the year due various behind the scene reason ranging administration, coaching and dedication ...

It is a common trend to have different cycle in life and this cut across every spectrum of life. The Belgium national team a.k.a red devils went through this cycle,having  being out of the football world's view, This was due to non participation of any major competition (European Cup of nation's and World Cup respectively) in the last 10 years. The last time they showed up was the 2002 World Cup jointly hosted by South Korea/Japan . Belgium have had their very good moment, you would not necessarily rate them as a top class team but they are there within the mix.. I personally have some sort of sentiment for Belgium as this was the Mecca of any aspiring Nigerian football in the 80's till the mid 90's .Nigeria's Super Eagles present Manager Stephen Keshi was the first Nigeria to play in Belgium, He featured for Anderleht for many year, a lot followed suit afterwards. Augustine Eguavoen, Late Uche Okafor, Samson Siasia, Peter Rufai, Late Osaro Obobaifo, S...