By Daily Sports on February 24, 2020

Banters Sports programme debuted in our flagship digital media, News ExpressTV yesterday, featuring Chelsea and Man U fans. It was quite educative and entertaining.  I enjoyed the programme which henceforth will be weekly, Saturdays, from 11 am.

It was a delight to behold and the audience I believe enjoyed it to the fullest and it no doubt lived up to its billing.

To hint you, the anchorperson was in full control of the exciting programme and his command of the situation further gave teeth to the whole showpiece.

Stay tuned with us as many more swell away sports programmes would be on sooner than later in the same station. Keep the dial and don’t go away.

As we were being entertained in our studio in Ogba, issues in sports were raging including our boys that were doing well in their respective foreign clubs, viz: Victor Osimhen, Odion Igalo including the release of Super Eagles team list for Sierra Leone, tie in March.

Not missing was the denying and counters denying of Daniel Amokachi being appointed the technical director in NFF. It was interesting, being closely on the background monitoring, as you watch keenly these rumbles jamming themselves in the open market of ideas. 

However, one must mention the plight of former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, seeking financial aid from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to enable him to at least defend himself against the bribery allegation levelled against him by the FIFA ethics committee.

The ex-international turned coach has been crying loudest to high heavens, looking for help and as at the time of putting this piece to bed, the Bayelsa State-born has not got any respite to that effect and his life ban in football activities remains.

One pleads through this page for Nigerians that have the means to come to the aid of the coach who has been in great pains since FIFA made public this punishment last year.

To be honest with you, Samson Siasia is in my mind. I know Nigerians that can come handy are there waiting on the wings. Please let the help come quickly or Siasia would be in oblivion forever.

I will deliberately turn my eyes off the Sports Minister and NFF activities. The Joseph Yobo debate to be or not to be is over and the yes carried it. Great news, as his presence would play dual role as an instructor i.e. as an assistant coach and foremost role model and it would go a long way as the team is now hugely made up of younger lads that grew up abroad, where they were born, coupled with the cultures of their countries of birth. Yobo being a homegrown man, who played here and then abroad and captained the team for many years would fit into this and that was the angle yours truly in sports stood to say yes let Yobo come. What he currently lacks in technical proficiency, he has in other areas, until he goes to gain a certificate in football coaching. Yobo has the ingredients to help grow the Super Eagles team for now. 

Victor Osimhen, the young lad that took the world by storm at the U-17 World Cup level during his time has resurfaced of late and his resurgence has been noticed roundly both on and off the pitch and the lad has not only stamped his feet on ground, making positive waves in his club but is also sending stronger signals that his time in the Super Eagles team is ripe.

Let me say here again, that I have been a fan of the lad way back in his U-17 years where he used his God-given long legs to not only outwit his opponents but does damage before you could say Victor shoot! He would be a free-scoring top man without any prejudice.

 No doubt, he would be another Rasheed Yekini, as the glorious days of the Eagles are locking around the corner. Osimhen no doubt is doing well in his French club side. His extra hard work so far would prove decisive in his future years in football and it also gladdens one's heart that he still has age on his side. 

 As his fans expect, he would use his long legs like his predecessor, who eventually won the prestigious Africa Footballer of the Year award in addition. He would and one also prays that he would not be mismanaged along the great slide and should be injury-free too. One also hopes that support strikers would without being self fish, be feeding Osimhen with balls to score goals for Nigeria, football being a team sport.

Yes, the much-expected debut of Odion Igalo has taken place and he has done excellently well showing his grip on game in Man U colours. He also demonstrated his experience in the round leather game refusing to be intimidated but showed his class. His outings to this reporter were good and showed signs of great things to come.

One prays wonderful outing for the Nigerian who has paid his dues in the sport.

Nigeria is preparing for the Olympics that comes up later in the year and athletes’ are doing their best to qualify on their sports preparatory for the big showdown in Tokyo, Japan.

These preparations and others remain the icing on the cake that Nigeria is thinking deeply on how not to return from Japan empty-handed as previously. However, how far this would work for the realization of the dreams remain to be seen in concrete terms.

Enyimba International FC, the only Nigerian team in the Continental Championship and the Nigerian side which is already in quarterfinal stage would have to scale the Horoya FC of Guinea in March and then take it from there.

The next National Sports festival in Edo State is gathering steam and the states are on the last lap, getting set for the competition. The Edo State government is preparing or has been putting finishing touches to mount a spectacle Championship. The government of Edo State has been very emphatic on her spirited desire to post a hitch-free Sports Festival.  Daily Sports wishes the best to both the host state and other states that would converge in Benin City, the Edo State capital for the sports festival.

Daily Sports (www.dailysportsng.com) resident men in Benin would be on hand to bring to our numerous readers on the spot reports and news behind the news as the festival lasts.

We continue our discussion on our social media handles. Keep shooting hard, till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 24, 2020

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