NFF’s jersey scandal, Super Eagles’ tune-up games, Gov. Wike’s support in my mind! News

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NFF’s jersey scandal, Super Eagles’ tune-up games, Gov. Wike’s support in my mind!

By Daily Sports on June 4, 2018

Heads or tails, the gripping fever of the World Cup football summit is already in the air across the world. Among countries that will fly their flags in the Russia football war, the pressure is already catching fueling various permutations. Trust fans of this beautiful game, they put their bet on anything as far as the World Cup is concerned. Their idol players across the globe and favourite teams are not excluded too.

Newspaper stands are busier now and for those of us in the new media, traffic is jumping up, meaning that more fans have keyed into reading sports cum football reports in online portals. From tradition, the World Cup year is like that. In the good old days, newspapers make fortunes via advert placements in their various newspapers even radio and television stations are not left out. Nigeria is one of the countries that are bearing African continent’s flag in the Mundial less than two weeks away to kick-off. Last week, the team with her technical crew led by Franco-Germany, Gernot Rohr met with President Buhari in Aso Rock Villa to rub minds and the President told them to go and perform. The leader of the technical hands promised that the team would try their best while the captain of the squad, John Mikel Obi concurred.

They left the shores of the country on high note as the NFF supremo Amaju Pinnick told his audience that the team is not being owed and the football governing body will lavish the side with enticing motivation as the tournament ensues. Great talk, you may say. From the body language of President Buhari to Pinnick, the country seems very ready for the boys and it is incumbent on them to show class and duty bound as the team takes on Argentina, Croatia and Iceland in the group games.

Yes, John Mikel Obi is leading a mix-grill side, if you like a bunch of the young and the experienced. Most of them are going into the baptism of fire called World Cup for the first time and the nitty- gritty of the game would tell on them but one prays it would not weigh them down. Football is all about experience and the exposed strictly imbibing the culture of determination and the willingness to take on opponent(s) courageously, with mother luck also playing its own part. Raw truth is that some of the players of the Super Eagles have a date with history. Their comportment of being in the big stage for the very first time will play a big role.

However how the chief sweat merchant, Gernot Rohr will tailor his strategy and instruction to ensure that the new boys in the lineup would not be caught pants down in the web of fear while playing against some big names in Argentina and Croatia would be the first major test of his knowhow as the game progresses.

We have been told by the Presidency and the NFF that the team has been adequately prepared than ever before and also practically motivated not to be distracted by anything under the sun. The way and manner the Rohr led technical hands will go about ensuring that the boys stick to match instructions, police the danger men in the teams in our group no doubt will play a long role as the war on the field erupts.

On our part, Daily Sports wishes the Eagles successful outing. As the above was developing came this story Daily Sports ran with other conventional Daily newspapers and all sports dailies on Monday, May 28, on the NFF and jerseys scandal according to Nike. It is instructive to note that Nike is the current official kitting outfit of our national teams. It is one of the stories that whenever I read, I equally refuse any comment because it has become a recurring decimal in the Nigerian football administration. Without prejudice, I’m an oldie on this beat and one can vividly ascertain that only very few past NFF administrations came out clean on jerseys scandals.

When Nike put a lie on the claims of NFF, I was not bordered. I moved on and like a servant, I had to obey by saying my opinion by popular demand from the people, that is the reason for you this portal must be on, our very esteem (readers). My take is that it is not new. It has been age old. I will refuse to say that we have come to live with it.

Though very few NFA past boards can firmly claim clean bill of health on this, I have maintained siddon look attitude. It has been a juicy business for them. It has been great rip- off over these years in NFF among the bigwigs. It is a secret business sealed up there.

Super Eagles skipper John Mikel Obi leads his team to #President #Buhari for blessing before heading to Russia. When a father places blessing upon his son, it paves way for prosperity. The Eagles head to Russia for the 2018 World Cup summit with high hopes from Nigerians who would wish at least a semi-final ticket mark that if wishes were horses would mark a huge watershed of success for the country’s football history. No doubt and trust Nigerians from all works of life will do everything legal to throw unflinching and unparalleled support and prayers. It is my belief that these killer blood tasty herdsmen would allow sleeping dogs to lie and allow fans to enjoy watching the beautiful game from anywhere they wish without fear of being killed either via bomb blast or the gun. Hopefully we will shock the World in Russia world cup.

Readers of www.dailysportsng.com are of special kind. They have been the main and major reason why we still cling on publishing everyday despite the advertisements that have been hard to come by in spite of our impressive traffic day in day out. Heads or tails, Daily Sports is blessed. Let me be honest with you that this week’s write up was by public demand and readers being the reason for publishing everyday and this weekly column, their demand especially when it is overwhelming is key. If you like to take it further, their wish is my command hence you are reading this today or this week.

I have bowed to their request and demand. Let us revisit the friendly, our World Cup bound team, the Super Eagles played last week Monday, May 27, 2018 in the Garden City of Port Harcourt. I have answered questions as if I’m the supremo of the team, Gernot Rohr or any of the players. It is the reason why I decided to put some of these thoughts down for us to examine them together before the hostilities begin in June 14 far away in different stadia in the cities of Russia.

Here is a recap of the jersey scandal according Nike our official kitting company. Your guess is as good as mine. That is you dear reader’s views, also my view!

NFF lied over Super Eagles World Cup jerseys — Nike

An American-based sportswear manufacturer, Nike, has dismissed claims by Nigeria Football Federation higher-ups that it has received up to three million pre-orders for Super Eagles World Cup jerseys.

As each jersey costs 85 dollars, it means Nike would have made revenue of US$255 million (approximately N91.8 billion) from the sale of the jerseys if the information from the NFF was correct.

Nike has also disagreed with the Nigerian Federation, who had officially stated that the release of the jerseys into the global market would happen on Tuesday, May 29, after clarifying that the jerseys will be available in June. Nike tweeted:”The jersey has not been released yet, it is scheduled to be available in June. Also, there has not been an option to pre-order the jersey. Stay tuned to our site for updates.”

The Nigerian national team Nike collection features a travel suit, anthem jacket, training apparel, pre-game jersey, bucket hat, and kits. Nigeria’s World Cup rivals Argentina, Croatia and Iceland are kitted by Adidas, Nike and Erreà respectively. (Breaking Times).

Again before jetting out finally to continue preparation for the mundial, NFF organised a welfare game for the team against DR Congo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to enable fans get some firsthand information on the Super Eagles preparedness for the impending battle at Russia. To be honest with you, Governor Wike has proved to be a roundly sporting governor of all times. He has been supporting sports in the country and again has shown his love for the round leather game by hosting the World Cup bound Super Eagles team in the friendly match. He is not a pretender and such has earned much admirers and enemies as well.

His unflinching love for the Nigerian youth and nation has been unparalleled. Gov. Wike is a patriot of the first order. Love him or hate him, he has proved such without any blemish. He has maintained that being great patriot without any affiliation is still possible in the present highly divided country –Nigeria as it currently obtains today. He has encouraged our national teams stepping vividly on the footsteps of his predecessor, His Excellency Governor, Dr. Peter Odili. Rivers State is working and the citizenry are applauding this milestone since assuming office three years ago. He was recently honoured by AIPS Africa. More later on the sporting and all achieving governor of Rivers State!

May be it was one game Nigerians expected much from her team but less was delivered. The aspect is that Gov. Nyesom Wike’s government in Rivers State posted five star hosting which has been the hallmark of his administration in all ramifications. In as much as one would not use it as bench mark for the World Cup, it is also right to say the team must be wary and ware of its opponents as it takes on her group encounters. Home truth is that World Cup rumbles have begun. This is one sport that observes to the letter the survival of the fittest rule or toga. It is also a sport that mother luck has decided in favour of lesser teams in games. Teams are involved in last minute preparations before the first blast of the whistle signaling the kick-off of hostilities for Russia 2018 World Cup football showpiece.

Super Eagles have been on the thick of such preparations and this has helped to expose the first timer players to great extent as they will not get off guard while playing against the big name players either in their group stage games or at any level in the impending championship. What Rohr would be looking out for at this stage would definitely not be what the fans and other lay peoples need. Eagles are looked upon to courageously lead Africa into making lasting statements in the World Cup. As we pray and keep our fingers crossed, let’s do the rest in our social media platforms of Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin Facebook as usual. Keep shooting hard. Till next!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 4, 2018