By Daily Sports on August 19, 2019

As usual, many issues are still loading as at the time of putting this page to bed. I will touch on them as pass comments and this column would be long remembered for such a novel idea in current column writing. For instance, the old blocks that benefit from every sitting NFF President and sundry were mad at me because of my stand on the need for bidding to host the next U-20 World Women football summit in the country.

Those of them that broke our standing rule of SMS only, called me directly to express their angst on the stand; the unnecessary and uncalled for out of the blues bidding exercise. I never bothered about their venoms on me but what I constantly reminded them of was the deficient and short-sightedness on the part of the so-called bidding committee which cut off the entire South-East from the phantom hosting. I also reminded them that the South East that has over 95 per cent of the players in the three-tier Women national teams was excluded from amongst the host States.

I told them in clearer terms that it was the beginning of their failure. I told them also that the only thing that would make this illegal and anti-people football bidding to host the World next is because Buhari and his APC are seriously searching for legitimacy for the stolen mandate government it is taking ages to form, otherwise this is not what Nigerians want at the moment.

There are so many things that the citizenry need now than the very few pocketing the multi dollars meant for the entire country. Let me restate that this sudden quest to host this World tournament remains a ploy for distraction when insecurity is at its optimum in the land. Where will FIFA place a hand to give the country the nod to play host to its competition? FIFA at a time placed Nigeria as a security risk when actually Nigeria was safer. So Many things presently have placed Nigeria as more than a risk destination where no country worth the protection of her citizen would dare participate in a championship. I will leave it at this but before that, excluding the hen that lays the golden egg, the South East region, from the calculations remains absurd, senseless, insensitive, and adamant to the obvious and an exercise by the most short-sighted which would be dead on arrival even though this government needs to be noticed. 

As preparations for this week’s write up was thick, news broke of Samson Siasia’s life ban by FIFA and as this was being pieced together, the former Super Eagles coach put off his widely advertised media interaction, after swift denial of the allegations by FIFA. For this reporter, this is still developing as Siasia has to use the last sweat on him to debunk FIFA’s allegation. The claim is so weighty and serious that Siasia seems to be between the devil and deep blue sea. Siasia is in deep trouble until he proves the allegation as otherwise but one doubts if FIFA would reverse itself. It will take only the mercy and grace of God for such to happen. This column wishes the ex-international good luck in this uphill task. But Siasia must redouble his efforts in order to retrieve his reputation currently on the line.

As that was happening, the women national basketball team is already on her bid to repeat history and God’s willing, it will come to pass as I saw determination, love for the game and nation, pride and prestige written boldly on their faces against Mali and Senegal. Great deal girls! You may also have heard of Onitsha City Marathon, that met all the requirements by the international athletics governing body, which gave the organisers the impetus to get going that would take hold the first-ever marathon competition to be flagged off in that rich part of the country.

Now a press briefing was held on Sunday, August 18, at the National Stadium which I attended after pleas from both level colleagues and senior ones I have mutual respect for. I told them that the media man for the organisers, Phillip Balepo, did not extend an invitation to me despite our one on one closeness and his from time to time asking after Daily Sports. When the portal was admitted by Google some years back, I informed him and he thumbed the team led by very hardworking Mr Isaac Umunna up. Again, I saw reason to attend because as one of the senior men reporting sports from that zone, I owe our people that singular duty to be present to support our own. I joined wholeheartedly to beat the drum loudest and thenceforth it would be heard all over the world that Onitsha City Marathon has come!

Onitsha City Marathon is our own and another avenue to engage the teeming youths. Lest I forget, I met Mr Balepo in Complete Sports; that was where the mutual respect started even after we all left the flagship of daily newspapers that gave sports journalism in Nigeria a new look. 

Onitsha City Marathon will be a hit as it would attract heavy traffic of participants across the globe. From the first edition, it would be as if it has been in existence because it will be viable from the onset and that is what is expected from that region. The South East, having supported others has no alternative than to support unflinchingly her own. Therefore, methinks that it is the duty of all the heavyweights in the gracefully blessed zone to brace up, rally round to showcase the stuff we are made of. The Onitsha City Marathon no doubt would set the tone for greatness that endures. As the much expected, but at last has arrived marathon debuts, Daily Sports would be one of the portals in the forefront for its promotion.

It is a deal and please do stay with www.dailysportsng.com, the online portal that has been ascertained by readers worldwide as becoming a way of life and authoritative. Let us keep the tab on our social media handles to discuss anything sports including the few raised in this week’s write up. Stay on as we keep shooting hard till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 19, 2019

Serena Williams ends Konta’s run in Australia

Consortium takes over Barnsley

Joshua-Ruiz Rematch Set for New York or Cardiff...

Flying Eagles fail to reach Zambia 2017

Venus Williams Advances to Third Round at U.S....

Barcelona Play Down Hopes of Neymar Return