Nigeria handball needs fresh breath – Thompson

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Read Time:1 Minute, 26 Second

Newly elected board member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria from the South-South zone, Kwashi Thompson, has said that the sport needs a new breath of life if the game is to reclaim its lost glory.

Thompson, who has been involved with the development of the game, says he will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the sport just the way he has been doing in the Niger-Delta before he got on the board.

He said, “Nothing is going to change from the way I’ve worked in the South-South now that I’m on the board. As far as I’m concerned, nothing has changed for me because I will continue to give my best to the game. Our game of handball needs corporate sponsorship for it to grow. I got the Niger Delta Development Commission to promote grass-root handball development and hope to bring them to the national championships.”

He noted that there used to be sponsorships from Malta Guinness and other corporate bodies in the past but regretted that many of them have taken flight.

He said, “There’s a need to attract them as well as others that we hope to work with in handball. Government on its part needs to ensure an enabling environment to make things work because we intend to bring the sport back to the minds of Nigerians and get back to the continent as in the days of Grasshoppers of Imo State.”

Thompson pointed out that with the coming of the new board, the time had come for all stakeholders to help work out a programme that would see the revival of the sport.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Osaze Odemwingie finally quits West Brom

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Read Time:1 Minute, 39 Second

Osaze Odemwingie’s future with West Bromwich Albion was decided during talks between the club and the PFA last week – with the striker set for a summer exit, irrespective of Saturday’s flare-up with Baggies supporters.

It has also emerged that TV presenter Adrian Chiles has apologised for the comment he made about the striker at the club’s end-of-season dinner.

Odemwingie’s future was pretty much resolved during last Thursday’s meeting involving himself, the PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, Albion’s sporting and technical director Richard Garlick and the club’s chief executive Mark Jenkins.

The 31-year-old made it clear during those talks that he wants to leave this summer.

Albion will not stand in his way, provided a suitable agreement can be reached with another club as the Nigeria international will still have 12 months left to run on his current deal.

Odemwingie also contested the four separate fines – one of which was suspended – imposed by the club for misconduct during January and February .

That situation has been resolved amicably, although it remains unclear how many of the fines have been rescinded.

Chiles’ remark, which drew criticism from Steve Clarke last week, was also brought up during the same meeting.

The ITV Sport presenter later called Odemwingie on Friday to apologise.

Saturday’s game with Wigan re-opened old wounds when substitute Odemwingie was involved in an ugly exchange with a fan as he warmed-up in front of the West Stand.

The drama unfolded when he briefly broke off from his exercises to speak to his wife and child, who were in the front row.

At that point a fan seated nearby launched a verbal attack which prompted an angry reaction from Odemwingie.

While Odemwingie was tolerant of the booing, he took exception to the six-letter expletive being yelled within earshot of his wife and baby.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Suarez banned for 10 games for biting

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Read Time:1 Minute, 56 Second

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been suspended for 10 matches for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in last weekend’s English Premier League match at Anfield, the Football Association said on Wednesday.

“A three-person Independent Regulatory Commission today upheld The FA’s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three,” the FA said on its website thefa.com.

“The suspension begins with immediate effect,” it added, effectively ruling him for the start of next season.

Liverpool were quick to react, with managing director Ian Ayre declaring the club was “shocked and disappointed” by the “severity” of the FA’s decision.

Suarez has until midday (1100 GMT) on Friday to appeal the additional suspension to the violent conduct charge against Ivanovic in Sunday’s 2-2 draw.

The Uruguayan striker had pleaded guilty to the charge but had denied the FA’s claim that his initial three-match ban was not enough.

The 26-year-old Suarez is no stranger to lengthy bans.

In 2010 he was suspended for seven matches in the Netherlands when he sank his teeth into PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal, leading to him being dubbed the “Cannibal of Ajax”.

And last year the FA banned him for eight matches and imposed a £40,000 ($60,000, 46,000 euros) ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

French defender Evra made fun of Suarez after United captured the Premier League title with victory over Aston Villa on Monday by producing a bloodied fake arm.

Suarez has apologised to Ivanovic, who suffered a bruised arm from the bite, and the Chelsea defender has acknowledged the apology.

Liverpool moved quickly to deal with the latest crisis surrounding their star striker and imposed a club fine which is being donated to the support group for families affected by the Hillsborough stadium disaster, in which 96 people died.

The latest controversy came just two days after Suarez was named on the shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award.

With the votes already counted, the forward will remain eligible for the award.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Sack: I will wait for Keshi to return Okpala

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Read Time:1 Minute, 19 Second

Super Eagles assistant coach, Sylvanus “Quick silver” Okpala has said that he would wait for the return of his boss, Stephen Keshi from the United States where he is on holiday now before he would respond to his  sack by the Nigeria Footbal Federation.

Okpala who was spotted in Lagos where he was asked about the  sack by his employers, the former Nigerian international said, “I’m waiting for Keshi to come back from his holidays in the United States of America. He is my boss and we will discuss this and have a united position on the appropriate response

“I should not be talking about it on the pages of the newspapers for now. I am a professional and I want to do things the right way. Keshi was instrumental to my being appointed as an assistant coach, and until I discuss with him it will be wrong to officially respond,” he said, adding, “for now, I am still a staff of the NFF. They are yet to officially communicate with me.”.

Asked about the terms of his contract on issues like his sack, Okpala, a member of the 1980 Green Eagles squad that won the AFCON in Lagos, said that he has a written contract with the NFA.

“All I can tell you is that I have a written contract. The contract stipulates the circumstances and conditions involved in transactions like this. When I finish discussing with Keshi, I will decide what next to do in that direction,” he added.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Luis Suarez the vampire!

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Read Time:22 Second

Check out Liverpool striker Luis Suarez sinking his teeth in Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during their 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds striker scored a late equaliser as the Merseyside club twice came from behind to secure a draw with the Blues at Anfield.

The match was marred though by an incident of, what appeared to be, biting by the Uruguayan hitman against Ivanovic during the 73rd minute.

SOURCE: talksport

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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ALSCON: Rusal Fights Back, Disputes Alleged Insolvency

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Read Time:4 Minute, 0 Second

In its first public reaction to allegations of financial mismanagement and criminal devaluation of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), UC Rusal, the current operator of the plant, has described the accusations as misleading and incorrect.

The sale of ALSCON to Rusal had been nullified by the Supreme Court in a July 6, 2012 ruling, which ordered that the company be handed over to US-based firm-BFI Group because it originally won the bid to acquire the plant before it was sidelined and ALSCON was awarded to Russia’s Rusal.

But, since the apex court directive, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and BFIG had been at loggerheads over the execution of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) as the latter had refused to pay the initial $410 million-price for ALSCON because it believed the company had been criminally devalued.
The crisis between BFIG and the privatisation agency had resulted in the cancelation of the sale offer to the former, prompting the duo to again resort to the apex court for the second time to resolve the issue.

BFIG had claimed that Rusal had consciously devalued ALSCON form $1.2 billion in 2006 to only about $89 million as at 2011. It said recently that it had directed its legal council to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe Rusal to that effect.

Also, a KPMG audited report of 2011 had indicated that the company might be bankrupt amid rising short term loans value against the company’s declining asset value.

The audited report also indicated that the management had jettisoned the apex bank ruling by not mentioning the development in its financial statement to its shareholders.
Before now, Rusal had often refrained from making public statements on ALSCON arguing that issues were pending before the court of law.

It recently announced that it had temporarily suspended production at the plant owing to the uncertainty of the legal owner of the company as well as power related issues.

But its Spokesman Tatyana Smirnova told THISDAY over the weekend that contrary to media reports, Rusal was not insolvent and had invested about N11 billion (about $ 79.28 million) into fixed assets from 2007 to 2011.
Giving a breakdown of its financial commitments in equipment, machinery, and facilities, she said in 2007 it invested N4.87 billion (US$34.81 million; 2008 – N4.81 billion (US$34.39 million); 2009 – N0.53 billion (US$3.81 million); 2010 – N0.60 billion (US$4.34 million); and N0.27 billion (US$1.935 million) in 2011.

She added that, “The false statements which have emerged in the mass media about the possible existence of a plot by the management of ALSCON, owned by the Russian Company UC RUSAL, to strip the enterprise of its assets by announcing them as obsolete are completely groundless and defamatory.”

She said: “Information about the insolvency of ALSCON, in respect to ensuring the redemption of borrowed funds is false. ALSCON has in its possession officially certified letters from its shareholder, Dayson Holding, which state that Dayson Holding is not planning to recuperate loans previously granted to ALSCON while Dayson Holding remains its main shareholder. In accordance with the conditions of the loan agreements, Dayson Holding has granted loans to ALSCON totaling US$159.4 million as of the 1st of January 2013, allowing ALSCON to develop.”

Smirnova, also described as groundless, allegations that it had been granted a $120 million loan by information that the Nigerian Government for the purpose of dredging the Imo/Okpobo river.

On the allegation that it had unnecessarily classified some of the equipment as obsolete without proof, she said, “The spare parts and equipment that is worth N5.9 billion and the availability of which is mentioned in some publications, constitute an inventory stock of extended shelf life items. At the time of preparation of the administrative reporting for 2011, work for the identification of the spare parts and equipment had commenced and completion took place at the end of 2012 in accordance with the agreed schedule. These reports are available and will be submitted to the KPMG auditors, to be added to the report for 2012.”

She said: “No assets of the enterprise were divested. In order to implement the plans for the enhancement of production output, during the period from 2007 to 2012, ALSCON’s storeroom supplies were increased by RUSAL from N4.87 billion (US$34.78 million) to N8.4 billion (US$60 million). This means that the value of the plant in terms of its inventory stock and fixed assets increased by N3.53 billion (US$24.2 million).”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NFF in better position to resolve Keshi, Yobo feud – Siasia

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Read Time:1 Minute, 17 Second

Ex-Super Eagles Coach, Samson SiaSia, has distanced himself from the feud between his successor, Stephen Keshi, and some of his key players.

The Bayelsa State gaffer, who had a similar experience with some of the players during his tenure as national coach, refused to make any comment when approached by Vanguard Sports recently.

He opined that though he had a similar experience while in-charge of the squad, he will rather reserve his comments, adding that the officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are better placed to resolve the bone of contention between Keshi and the Super Eagles players.

“Keshi’s problem with some of the Super Eagles players is not my concern. The issue is better handled by the coach and the NFF. I cannot make any comment. I don’t want to be dragged into the issue. Keshi is in charge, he is the Head Coach whatever he tells the players they have to do,” he said.

On the successful outing of the Super Eagles at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in South Africa, SiaSia, who is a former striker of the Super Eagles, gave kudos to the technical input of the coaching crew led by Keshi.

“It was a sweet victory for Nigeria. Considering that it came 19 years after we won it last makes it a very historic outing. Keshi has done well and my advice is that all Nigerians must queue up behind him to support his effort,” Siasia said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Okpala to NFF: I dey laugh

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Read Time:1 Minute, 6 Second

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Sylvanus Okpala has described his reported sack as assistant coach of the national team as a laughable matter.

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF sources disclosed that Okpala was sacked because he refused to answer a query fired at him for disrespecting the NFF during the African Nations Cup in South Africa where the  Eagles won despite all odds.

But Okpala who played 45 times for Nigeria and scored five goals said he still considers himself as coach since he has not been officially notified by the NFF.

“You remember that some years back when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was asked a question concerning national issues, he said: I dey laugh. So it is the same thing with me I dey laugh.

“I have not been notified by the NFF. So I still consider myself as coach,” the player dubbed ‘Quick Silver’ for his slick passing moves, stated.

“And when the NFF people say I was disrespectful to president Aminu Maigari, they should be specific and say what exactly I did that constitutes disrespecting him.

“They have also accused me of misconduct in South Africa during the Nations Cup. Let them tell Nigerians what I did at the Nations Cup. Until then, I have no comment to make,” Okpala added.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Ferguson dismisses Rooney’s move to PSG

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Read Time:3 Minute, 5 Second

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on Friday dismissed speculation linking Wayne Rooney with a move to French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

England international Rooney has reportedly been a target of the French capital club, despite having two years of his five-year contract to run at Old Trafford.

But ahead of their game Barclays Premier League game against Aston Villa on Monday, Ferguson played down talk that the 27-year-old forward would leave the club at the end of the season.

“I don’t think there’s anything in that at all,” Ferguson said in response to question about whether Rooney had been unsettled by talk of a move to PSG.

“I couldn’t tell you (anything) about that. As far as taking him off on against West Ham, it’s because he wasn’t playing as well as Shinji (Kagawa) was.

“We had to get that goal that mattered and, of course, there are so many games where Wayne Rooney is better than other players. But on the night Shinji was playing so well.”

Manchester United will have a full squad to choose from against Aston Villa, despite a physical encounter against West Ham in their last game on Wednesday, which ended 2-2.

A win in Monday’s match could see United crowned champions if second-placed Manchester City — currently 13 points behind their local rivals — lose at Tottenham on Sunday.

Goalkeeper David De Gea took a blow to the head after a collision with Hammers’ forward Andy Carroll, although Ferguson confirmed he will be fit to play.

“We have a few bumps and bruises. David De Gea has a beautiful bruise on his cheekbone,” the United manager told reporters in Manchester.

“I think after coming out of that war zone I am pleased there is no-one seriously injured. The team were fantastic that night in terms of standing up.

“It’s the type of games you get against (West Ham manager) Sam Allardyce’s teams. We had to deal with it. A point was deserved and we could have won it in the last 20 minutes but it’s satisfying to come back from going behind twice in the game.

“I have the same squad for Aston Villa. Hopefully we pick the right team because every game seems more important than the last one. When you get nearer that line that’s the way it is.”

Ferguson predicted another tough battle against Villa and admitted that he has been impressed with the bold recruitment strategy of opposition manager Paul Lambert.

The Villa Park club have invested primarily in young players in Lambert’s first season, although they have found themselves involved in a battle to avoid relegation for most of the campaign.

“The good thing about that is that young people give you a future there’s no doubt about that. By creating that strong blend of youth they can last for a few years,” added Ferguson.

“And of course it will get better. The team will improve because of that. It creates a good base.

“Young players always remember the manager that gave them their first start. He (Lambert) has done very well and had the courage to do it.

“If they were to go down they have a structure to bring them right back up. On the evidence of what we have seen recently they have every chance of staying up.

“You expect a scrap and a team to give everything when they are down there.”

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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A call for truce or Keshi’s resignation

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Read Time:9 Minute, 37 Second

Open letter to The Senate President

Your Excellency,

A CALL FOR A TRUCE OR KESHI’S
RESIGNATION

I have decided to draw your attention to the issues between Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles coach and his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation. I do so for the interest of our football especially the 2014 World Cup campaign.

Nigerians follow your tremendous interest and support for our sports.

I  hope that you would intervene immediately and resolve the issues so that we can move on and pursue the World Cup qualification in high spirit.

This letter should have been to the attention of  President Goodluck Jonathan  but I know that you are closer to sports and you will act promptly, being  a sports man yourself.

Sir, the NFF is bitter that after they toiled to assist the Super Eagles to win the Nations Cup they got no credit for the victory in South Africa. Rather, they were discredited, bashed here and there for harassing and disrespecting Keshi during the competition. A little background to the problem may help.

The Federation called a meeting after the first two matches which ended in draws in South Africa and told Keshi that earning two points out of six was a failure. Keshi flared up and told them that he was ready to quit and that they could give him his return ticket. He did so not because of their fair presentation but because he was agitated before the meeting. He was angry. He had it on good authority that discussions to sack him and engage a foreign coach were on. NFF President, Aminu Maigari was not in the meeting but he had once told Keshi that the Zambian coach appeared a good coach to him. This triggered the rumour that the NFF had actually approached the Zambian coach. Keshi was unsettled. He was said to be all nerves as he went on with his job during those early stages of the Nations Cup. Truly, there was a move to disengaging him. But that did not even start at the Nations Cup. It started in Nigeria. But NFF President, Aminu Maigari resisted that.

He said that Keshi had not failed and that it would, therefore, be wrong to engage a foreign coach.

President Goodluck Jonathan had expressed a strong desire to see the national team strong again. He even visited the team when they camped in Abuja. The sports ministry did not want to disappoint Mr. President and they told Maigari ‘’if it’s a foreign coach that we need to win the Nations Cup, let’s hire one now.’’ That was before the Nations Cup. Maigari saw no reason in that and argued that Keshi should be allowed to continue his work. But the rumour on foreign coach had spread and was affecting the concentration of Keshi even before the Nations Cup. It was so bad that on one occasion Maigari  encouraged Keshi to disregard all rumours and go on with his job, reminding  Keshi  how he was chosen as Eagles coach. A foreign coach was on the card after Samson Siasia was sacked. But Maigari insisted on Keshi and he got the job.  Few months before the Nations Cup, while the sports ministry nursed the idea of a foreign coach, Maigari asked  Keshi to damn every move for a foreign coach with results.

‘’I don’t talk much. I allow results to speak for me. Keshi should adopt the same attitude. If he has good results how can anybody make a case for a foreign coach,?’’ Maigari told this reporter in a chat we published as news. Keshi got the  message and that calmed some nerves then. You could, therefore, imagine how Maigari felt when he heard that Keshi was accusing him of championing the case for a foreign coach. He felt stabbed in the back.  But the truth remains that some people actually bought the idea of a foreign coach after the first two matches with Burkina Faso and Zambia that ended 1-1,  with the Eagles conceding late equalizers. And after the Nations Cup, Keshi opened up to a radio station in South Africa and spoke of his possible resignation. He told the media after the Nations Cup victory that he was not sure that he would remain the Super Eagles coach since Nigeria did not want him. This drew outrage against the federation and while millions of Nigerians congratulated the team, they cast aspersions on the federation. Bitterness set in. During the Presidential reception in Abuja and the other receptions held for the team in other states, the players and coaches were rewarded with plots of land and money. Members of the federation yawned to be included. It did not happen. Envy set in although this could not be said for all of them. The federation drew a line between them and Keshi. And today, the bad blood is getting thicker. They said Keshi did not attend a meeting in Abuja but had time to go to Lagos to take delivery of cars given to him by Globacom Chairman, Chief Mike Adenuga.

The federation is angry and disappointed that Keshi portrayed them in bad light. Keshi was equally disappointed in South Africa and told the world the anguish that the federation caused him before success was achieved. He had to manage not only his players but also the coaches and backroom staff some of who did not help the team by running some people down by gossiping and feeding the leadership of the federation with lies and cooked up stories. The bonuses of two of his coaches, Sylvanus Okpala and Valere Houndanou,  were slashed by 50 percent on the grounds of paucity of funds at the time. This was enough to upset the technical crew but Keshi managed it well and assured the coaches that the balance would be paid when the federation got their allocation from the National Sports commission. But it never happened and the coaches kept on working diligently. Okpala complained to board members but nothing happened. He then decided to call Nigeria and inform Patrick Ekeji who was still the Director General of the NSC. He said he had to do so since there were no clues within the federation. That infuriated the leadership of the federation and he was queried for taking an internal matter to NSC. He was directed to reply within 24 hours. The query was written on February 2 but given to Okpala on February 8. Slashing match bonus of assistant coaches and querying one of them two days to the Nations Cup final on February 10? Keshi concluded that they wanted him to fail. But he strongly held his team together and commended Okpala for remaining calm and focused during those trying times. Okpala, in his reply to the query, said that he needed  time to concentrate on the final match  and that he had consulted his lawyer. But shortly after that he added more details, explaining that he reported the slashing of his bonus to Ekeji because the NSC was the supervising body and that Ekeji was his team mate in the Green Eagles whom he felt  could help him. He also stated that since he was given the job, his bonuses were always paid accordingly until the Nations Cup in South Africa. He said that the federation was yet to explain to him or his head coach, Keshi,  why they slashed his bonuses by 50 per cent. Copies of his detailed reply were given to Emeka Inyama, Chief Mike Umeh, Deji Tinubu among others who are all board members of the federation. But his explanation meant nothing to the leadership of the federation who have now formally disengaged him as one of the assistant coaches in the Eagles.

Before now, they wanted Keshi to fire Okpala by telling him that Okpala claimed that his contributions to the team’s success were immense and perhaps more than his. They expected Keshi to take offence but Keshi understood the gimmick that was meant to knock their heads. His reply disarmed everybody. “If Okpala  said he was the one behind our success that’s good, that’s why I chose him to assist me.” But Keshi knew Okpala never said such a thing. It was all part of the gossip culture that he was contending with in the team.

Sir, kindly permit me to recall this briefly. Sylvanus Okpala was once the captain of the Flying Eagles who started playing for Enugu Rangers as a secondary School student. At 20, he was already in the then Green Eagles and was a member of the victorious 1980 Nations Cup team.  He  also once captained  the Green Eagles. He left Nigeria in 1982 for professional football in Europe where he played for Unao, Maritimo and Nacional in Portugal before returning home to resettle. He played as both attacking and defensive midfielder before coach Otto Gloria of Brazil converted him to the full back position where his mesmerising  and overlapping runs earned him the sobriquet, Quicksilver. He was a great player. Some board members today don’t know the track record of this man. Okpala bagged the National Honour of  MON after the 1980 Nations Cup and OON after the feat in South Africa. He deserves better treatment than what the federation has meted out to him. He

was sacked without the consent of Keshi who selected him to work with him. It is wrong.

But this is not only about Okpala. It is more about Keshi, our Eagles  and the leadership of the Federation. I would like you to call for a truce so that we can present a united force in our 2014 World Cup campaign. Everybody meant well but unfortunately their actions were misconstrued. The ministry wanted Eagles to win and started the campaign for a foreign coach. Maigari doesn’t talk much and his silence  was misconstrued as consent for a foreign coach. Keshi said that one of the things that hurt him badly was  the booking of their flight back to Nigeria before they played Ivory Coast. It gave the impression that those he worked for didn’t believe in him. He was rightly disappointed. Okpala probably did not know about the issues between Ekeji and the Maigari board before reporting his case to Ekeji.   This aggravated his case before the leadership of the federation. He may be forgiven. We need a truce to move on peacefully otherwise Keshi should be advised to resign.  This is  because the federation is so bitter that he may not enjoy their support any more and what will suffer will be our football and not Keshi.  If a coach doesn’t have the support of his federation he will likely fail.  But I know that you can help Nigeria manage the success of the 2013 Nations Cup and the road to the 2014 World Cup. Sir, kindly intervene, make all to see reason to work together to qualify for the World Cup and go  and do well in Brazill.  I am hopeful that your action will help our football.

Thank you and May God bless you as I await your quick intervention, sir.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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