By Daily Sports on April 8, 2019

It was week of sorts last week in all spheres as we witnessed some landmark events. However, this page will zero in on two of such memorable events. One of them is the re-election of the very outstanding sporting Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, despite the gang-up which failed flat.

It would be recalled that the Governor of Rivers State is a frontline supporter of sports development in the country. Governor Wike has never hidden his interest and admiration in his spirited effort to develop the Nigerian child through sports. His depth of contribution in that area has been widely acknowledged even beyond the shores of Nigeria.

One has not hidden his admiration for the number one citizen of Rivers State due largely to his workaholic nature that touches the lives of his subjects. He does not blow hot air. In short, he is an action governor of all times.

This page highlighted the Real Madrid Football Academy embarked upon by His Excellency in Port Harcourt as he vehemently restated that the project would be commissioned in May. Let me reveal that as at Monday last week, about eight thousand plus visited the site to read the story and immediately after the Governor’s re-election, the visit jumped to high heavens.

Login and see it practically for yourself.  A recap, I have said it severally here that Governor Wike makes a good copy anytime be it political or sports. He does not pretend nor talk cheap where action is necessary. He is one governor that is at home with his people and the majority of the great and faithful people of Rivers State have never hidden their love, confidence, reliability, etc, on Governor Wike’s ability to deliver successfully on the welfare of the masses.

We will anchor here and join others to congratulate Governor Wike for his re-election despite all man-made odds. Same last week, Aiteo and NFF annual Awards came alive in Lagos. It was as usual a night of million stars. One of the highlights that caught this reporter’s attention or fancy was the Award that was extended to the Class of 1994 Super Eagles ex-internationals. We are all aware that this class of the national team remains significant in the annals of the evolvement of the country’s prime football brand.

It was a night to behold as I was present to watch and keenly observe the proceedings. The emotion laden speech by Sunday Oliseh, the spokesperson for his colleagues, was the needed antidote that forced me to swallow some obvious lapses some NFF officials again displayed this 21st century.

Aside its usual discrimination on how its invitation was distributed by its Department of Public Communications which again left sour taste in the mouth, the Award for the 1994 Class of the Super Eagles wholly dwarfed other shortcomings of the body. To this columnist, the thought to present Award to the 1994 Eagles put the icing on Nigeria’s march unto the world football stage.

Let me place it on record that the 1980 class of Eagles that won first ever Nigeria’s Africa Nations Cup set the tone for the nation’s football growth. The team of 1980 started the onward journey thus far and the icing came in 1993 when the Eagles of that era qualified Nigeria for her first ever World Cup football summit in 1994 where the side did not do badly in performance.

It was historic as it was real. Therefore, no honour for these men will be too big or small as their contributions towards Nigeria’s football evolution is un-quantifiable as we heard from one of the horse’s mouth, Sunday Oliseh. That was how the national and by extension Nigeria was; one love keeping us together then. Being our brother’s keeper was topmost unlike now when the country is so divided along tribal and ethnic lines.

To be honest with you, Oliseh aptly captured the mood and held his audience spellbound. Aside eloquence and interjecting jokes that fitted in perfectly, he was able to tell his narratives soundly. For NFF it was better late than never for the Awards which came up just last week as this remains the way forward. We are moving forward and this signifies that better days are ahead despite absolutely lack of continuity in this part of the World where survival of the fittest and tribal animosity hold sway. Let us keep our fingers crossed and keep counting.

One hopes that all Oliseh highlighted would be looked into and action taken soon. Let us discuss further on our social media handles. Keep shooting hard till next week!! 

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 8, 2019

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