After a guided tour of all the nook and crannies of Hampshire Hotel, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, where the Super Eagles of Nigeria will camp for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, which begins from June 11, the General Manager of the hotel, Rodney Bull, still finds it difficult to show this reporter, Aisha Falode of AIT Television, and two other journalists based in South Africa, rooms in the hotel with two separate beds.

All the rooms we inspected had single beds. Falode and this reporter insisted on seeing rooms with double beds, since players normally stay two in room.

For the umpteenth time we asked again. "Just give me a minute, they will get the keys," Mr. Bull responded.

We were in Ballito for about two hours, and we never saw the rooms with separate beds.

Are the boys going to be sleeping two on a single bed? We could not answer the question since Bull did not show us rooms with two separates beds, nor inform us that the hotel is making arrangements for rooms with two separates beds before our boys arrive.

But it wasn't just absence of double beds in the rooms that arose our curiosity. The swimming pool in the hotel is the size that you find in most residence buildings. Small swimming pools that at best, could only be used by two or three adults at most at a time. When we asked Mr. Bull if the hotel has another pool elsewhere, he said no. Any plan to build one before our boys arrive, the answer is also no.

So assuming after training about five or six of our boys and they want to swim, what will happen?

"That is the pool we have. The players and the other guests in the hotel will use it."

We looked at each other in amazement. Share pool with guests? Other guests in a camp for players competing in the World Cup?

We got the biggest shock when we got to the gymnasium. Apart from its small size, it lacked the equipment and facilities one finds in a modern gym for average athletes, how much more of those campaigning in the World Cup. Like the swimming pool, Mr. Bull told us our players will share the gym with other guests.

The rooms, the swimming pool and the gym are not the only problem with the interior, when we visited last month. Men were still at work, putting finishing touches to ensure that the hotel is ready for the Eagles. A manager who identified himself as Vijay promised that the hotel will be 100% ready before the Eagles arrive Ballito.

Nature of Ballito

When the Nigeria Football Federation said it has found a base for Eagles in Ballito, anybody who is familiar with South Africa will be delighted, because Ballito is a holiday resort renowned for its excellent hotels.

Established in 1954 as a private town by the Glen Anil Development Corporation, it is about 40 minutes away from Durban. The town has been voted as the most popular holiday resort many times. Ballito boasts an abundance of sporting clubs and hotels.

As we drove to Ballito, we all commend the NFF decision to get a base for the Eagles in such a popular and exclusive holiday resort.

But our commendation soon changed into condemnation when our driver pointed at the hotel from the highway, "that is Hampshire Hotel." He pointed to the right, "we just need to turn at the untarred road and we will be there in two minutes." No, this can not be the hotel for our Eagles. Maybe this is just the hotel annex, and the main hotel should be somewhere.

One thing that struck one was that the hotel was still under construction, the security is porous, there is no fence, and there is no plan to construct one, and it is located by the roadside. In Nigeria where hotels are very expensive, when Eagles are playing the World Cup qualifiers in Lagos, they stay in TransCorp Hilton, Le Meriden, Lagos Sheraton or Eko Holiday Inn and Suites when they play in Lagos. So, in South Africa, why take them to hotels in the category of two or three stars?

Ballito is just 40 minutes away from Durban, the city with the highest population of Nigerians in South Africa, so who will stop fans from invading the hotels? With Nigerian police that apply force, it is a Herculean task controlling fans from invading Eagles camp when they stay in fenced hotels in Abuja and Lagos. How will it be with the South African police?

If the hotel is not good enough, the training pitch located at Ashton International College, Ballito, a few minutes from the hotel, is in terrible shape. Joe Erasmus, who introduced himself as Senior College Head, said the entire community is delighted to have the Eagles in Ballito. Erasmus said the school has made history after being chosen by the Eagles. Asked how the Eagles will train on a pitch that is in bad condition. He replied that he didn't want trouble, so he would rather not comment on that. But there has to be a miracle between now and June 3 before the Eagles could train on the pitch.

Our opponents' hotels

Whereas the Eagles are still talking about the suitability or not of hotel and training pitch, their opponents have put that behind them. Argentina, the country Nigeria will play come June 12, seem to have the best base of all the 32 teams competing at the World Cup.

Diego Maradona and boys have chosen the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre (HPC), which is Southern Africa's first elite performance sports facility. It boasts of world-class training facilities, medical services, accommodation, nutritional food, scientific expertise, research and hospitality. The facility has local and international reputation for excellence and success.

Greece, another opponent of the Eagles, will be staying at Beverly Hills Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks,

KwaZulu Natal. This hotel is renowned for its superb personal service and luxury accommodation. It overlooks the Indian Ocean, and offers glorious views of miles of unspoilt beaches.

South Korea, another country in our group, will be based at Hunters Rest, a paradise beautifully situated in the foothills of the Magaliesberg just outside Rustenburg. This 6000-hectare resort, boasts many splendid facilities that help to make it one of the most sought after destinations in South Africa.

For Algeria, they have chosen Zimbali Hotel, a 370 hectare (925 acre) residential and resort estate, located on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The hotel overlooks the incredible Indian Ocean. Its golf course is the first in Africa to be designed by former British Open and South African Open champion, Tom Weiskopf.

Our not so rich neighbour, Cameroon, will be based at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. A review of the hotel by Sunday Tribune gives an insight into what it look like: "The grand dame of local hotels, the Oyster Box, is about to step back on the stage - not treading gently but making a sweeping entrance. It's been no ordinary revamp. The new Oyster Box Hotel splashes of colour, elegant bedrooms, a cool blue terrace, exotic detail and attentive staff like porter, Smanga Mthethwa."

Another not so rich neighbour, Cote d' Ivore, will be based at Riverside Hotel and Conference Centre. This unique hotel and conference centre is situated on the banks of the Vaal River (See box for list team hotels and Google their names for information and images).

Lagerback on Eagles' base

Surprisingly, the Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback, was said to have inspected the Eagles hotel and was said to have been pleased at what he saw, said the Media Coordinator, Idah Peterside.

"We visited the hotel and the coach is very happy with it. The place has been renovated and put in the right shape for the World Cup and it has been approved by FIFA. So, we don't foresee any problems. We also looked at the training ground and the pitch is in good shape," Peterside said.

If Lagerback is satisfied, as Peterside told the media, then the Swede's standard and taste must have taken a spiralling fall from the time he took Sweden to World Cup in 2006.

For the Germany 2006 World Cup, Lagerback chose The Park Hotel, Bremen, as base. The hotel is one of the Leading Hotels of the World, a perfect combination of a country idyll and city life (See image of Park Hotel and compare with Hampshire Hotel).

A diplomat with the Nigeria High Commission in Johannesburg said he was disgusted when he saw the hotel. He claimed that NFF members did not contact the High Commission before they settled for the hotel.

He said the hotel is insecure, and it does not befit Nigeria.

"Go and look at where other countries are staying and look at where Nigeria is staying; it does not befit us. There is no security, the gym and the pool are sub-standard. Well, we don't have any problem with NFF, we will get in touch with Rotimi Amechi.

"The Presidential Task Force seems to have all the money. We will get a befitting hotel for the Eagles. Lulu and NFF members can stay in Hampshire Hotel,'' said the diplomat.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/Football/5546644-146/nigeria_last_among_equals__.csp


Lets compare with that of the three lions (England)
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/766289/Sneak-preview-of-20-million-South-African-pad-for-England-football-team.html

Looks like a good and conmfortable place to stay.

Na hotel dey wan chop.Make dem play ball o

This is funny. All the countries choose where they want to be based. This clearly means that your FA didn't do their homework. South Africa and FIFA, they're not responsible for the other stuff. Our responsibilty is to make sure that after you choose wher to be based we provide your teams with security and the neccessary logistics to make your stay a pleasant one. Where were your FA bosses when the countries choose FIVE STAR accomodations for their stay. Nigeria should sougt out their mess, it is their responsibility.

Mpele:

This is funny. All the countries choose where they want to be based. This clearly means that your FA didn't do their homework. South Africa and FIFA, they're not responsible for the other stuff. Our responsibilty is to make sure that after you choose wher to be based we provide your teams with security and the neccessary logistics to make your stay a pleasant one. Where were your FA bosses when the countries choose FIVE STAR accomodations for their stay. Nigeria should sougt out their mess, it is their responsibility.

Ah shut up you mixed breed,

Mpele:

This is funny. All the countries choose where they want to be based. This clearly means that your FA didn't do their homework. South Africa and FIFA, they're not responsible for the other stuff. Our responsibilty is to make sure that after you choose wher to be based we provide your teams with security and the neccessary logistics to make your stay a pleasant one. Where were your FA bosses when the countries choose FIVE STAR accomodations for their stay. Nigeria should sougt out their mess, it is their responsibility.

who has blamed south africans for anything? the article finds fault only with our nff so wats your problem? anyway the hotel is decent and thats the main thing. most of these boys are from humble beginings so who are they to say they cannot stay there? as for having a poor training pitch thats just pathetic and shameful if true.

morpheus24:

Ah shut up you mixed breed,

Who the fvck are you to tell him to shut up, you dimwit?!

He speaks the truth. NFF has embarassed the whole of Nigeria with the choice of that hotel if everything that is reported in that external article is true - mind you, I'm not judging based on the pic.

This's an old news, lagerbeer already saw the hotel and he's satisfied with it.

^^^ Take my time for what?, you half-@ssed misguided folk. Do you think I care who the hell Mpele is? I guess you believe the number of NL posts you have determine your hierarchy. What a joke. Take that sh.t out of here.

Btw, thanks for also highlighting your bias and narrow-mindedness towards "mixed breeds" (aka half-castes). Yeah, way to go. . .
Oh, and next time you might want to avoid quoting yourself as someone else AND at the same time the person you are replying to, dufus. =__=