If we don’t care, our elite athletes may not care
By Adokiye Amiesimaka


OBAFEMI Akinwunmi Martins in an interview with brilafm.net as reported in SPORTING LIFE of March 12, 2010: ‘‘They have to sort things out between themselves. I believe if things are right the players will be ready to play out their hearts. I remember that we have talked about the insurance thing, but it is not there yet. We can even see the case of Yusuf who got injured and is still not playing. After taking him for surgery, they are now saying he will be out for about eleven to twelve months. How is he going to cope for all that time, what support is he getting? If they want us to die for Nigeria, they have to sort things out over there.‘‘
SPORTING LIFE, May 27, 2010 (two and half months later): ‘‘Sudanese giants Al Hilal may have pulled out of an agreement to sign Nigeria international defender Yusuf Mohammed as they are now not forthcoming about paying the $600,000 fee they offered him in January. According to the top Sudanese sports daily, Goan Sport, Mohammed, who suffered a very serious Achilles tendon injury during the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and was out of action since February, agreed to join Al Hilal from Swiss side FC Sion. However, his agreement with Al Hilal was reached during the Nations Cup before his injury in the semi-final against Ghana.‘‘


SPORTING LIFE, June 4, 2010: ‘‘. . .Obafemi Martins will be given a cold shoulder by Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback at his debut World Cup unless he has a change of attitude, officials have disclosed. Officials have informed MTNFootball.com that Lagerback has been far from impressed with the attitude of Martins in training and came close to dropping him from the World Cup, but for the injury to Victor Anichebe. Martins has scored 16 goals in 31 appearances for Nigeria, averaging a goal every other game.‘‘


Please cast your mind back to last January 8, and recall that THE NATION quoted Nigeria international midfielder John Mikel Obi as revealing that poor welfare packages from the NFA made it difficult for the players to give 100 per cent while on national assignment, and that it was responsible for their ‘‘sloppy form.‘‘ That was only a few days before Angola 2010. Did we see anything other than their ‘‘sloppy form‘‘ and nonchalance throughout that tournament?


Do you now get the picture?


`Lars Largerback‘s Super Eagles squad to the South Africa 2010 World Cup this month almost completely mirrors the unimpressive outfit to the Angola 2010 Africa Cup of Nations several months ago. When former national coach Shuaibu Amodu could not find a single player from the ‘‘best league in Africa‘‘ that was good enough to make his team, he became an object of derision. But, I have gone through the much- touted domestic players‘ ‘‘messiah‘‘ Lagerback‘s list and I still cannot find a single local player on it. Where are the creative midfield players that Angola 2010 did not showcase? Has ‘‘lazy and undisciplined‘‘ Yakubu Aiyegbeni become ‘‘technical expert‘‘ Lagerback‘s ‘‘boy‘‘ too? What about Nwankwo Kanu, does this ‘‘oyinbo na oyinbo‘‘ too not have the courage to drop the ‘‘weary legs‘‘? How truly professional is a player like Osaze Odemwingie who will throw away numerous chances that will come his way (as he did in the Nations Cup semi-final against Ghana) only to put the blame on his coach?


No doubt, every player that makes his national team should be respected. But for a squad that is going to the greatest football tournament in the world there is nothing in this one to inspire hope of a brilliant performance. From the foreign coach to the players there is just nothing world-class about this squad. In a squad in which individual flair, brilliance, and creativity are such scarce attributes, salvation can only come from sheer ‘‘agidi‘‘ or ‘‘I no go gree‘‘ or ‘‘do or die‘‘ spirit. But, even that too may not be found in the Super Eagles.


Whatever opinion we may have of the quality of our players, each and every one of them is a multi-millionaire in Naira terms with the hope of earning huge sums of money in their club every week. In view of the bitter experience of some former national team players that suffered career-threatening injuries (Yusuf Mohammed being one of the latest victims), how can we even expect them to sacrifice their good fortune for a country that does not care?


Let it be hereby known that a ‘‘send-forth‘‘ party, for instance, may facilitate socialisation and provide a forum for the players to meet with very senior government functionaries. But, no matter how lavish it is, it may be forgotten even before the tournament begins. A party in which invitees, more than the players themselves, help themselves to choice food and wine may not be seen by the players as showing that we care for their welfare. Rather, the expression of high hopes and the setting of unrealistic targets by dignitaries, without more, may only reinforce the notion that what matters to us is only what we can get from them. That is hardly any way to motivate players.


No matter what the inherent limitations of our players may be, if we must get the best from them and make the most of a bad situation, they must be convinced that we consider their welfare to be of paramount importance to us. Seemingly simple matters like avoidance of unnecessary delays at airports, promptness and attention to detail in hotel arrangements can make them feel appreciated and cared for.


A fundamental mistake that we make when dealing with professional players is to think that merely promising them a few more thousands of dollars as match bonus will make them think less of the risk of injury. Or, that playing in the World Cup is enough motivation. What we do not consider is the fact that at the back of every pro player‘s mind is his career that may span several years. An attractive match bonus may be desirable but not enough to make him pull out all the stops. Why should he not mind breaking a leg or suffering an Achilles tendon injury while playing for Nigeria in mere anticipation of match bonus of a few thousand Dollars if his team wins? How would it enhance his career if he sustains a debilitating injury during the tournament?


That is why I can say categorically that the Super Eagles are not in the frame of mind to play out their hearts in South Africa 2010. The fear of being abandoned to their fate by the NFA in the event of any career- threatening injury may make them show less than total commitment. But it may not be too late to do something about it before our first match against Argentina next Saturday. More than anything else, what each member of the Super Eagles needs to perform to the full extent of his ability is to be given a certificate of comprehensive insurance.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100606144351

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As if Nigerians care to know the truth.

My brother we do not care to treat to root of our problems we condemn the players and the coaches where as our problems is from administrators of the game.

not just the admin, Nigerians as a whole are the problem of Nigeria.

Adokiye is one of the few who still tries to provide a complete and fair analysis of Nigerian football. Most of the others are too busy obsessed about players, coaches and other distractions to provide a complete view. The whole system needs fixing not just parts of it.

If they are not happy in a place.They shoud leave and stop whining .Is it by force to adorn the national team colours, Stupid unpatiotic animals.What the hell is obafemi talkin about insurance.Upon the money wey beckham get,whIch insurance ensuRed the fixing of his legs.I have only two things to tell obafemi-quit or play.STOP CRYING

It is wasting of money to hire oyinbo ,#300m to take us to south africa.