Ibime:
Am 18 years into my Chelsea adventure . . . . God bless!

My close friend in high school was a Chelsea fan in the mid 90's the tragedy was that he jumped ship to arsenal around 2000 given that arsenal was a better team then.

He's now stuck with arsenal since its no longer easy to jump ship like in those days. Nowadays I make fun of him as one of the early fans who couldn't wait to see Chelsea get to their Canaan land

nitlad:


Musta been the Chelsea vs Madrid Super Cup that swayed you, no?

Na then the awareness/affinity started for me, albeit on the peripheral. . . The rest they say his history.

I can't remember such game. If it was played, it must have been in August 1998 (after our Cup Winners Cup triumph) when I was on holiday in Naija so I musta missed it. To be honest I'm not even sure whether Cup Winners Cup champions played the Super Cup.

Ma first Chelsea season was 96/97, the year before Babayaro joined. It was simply a case of a Calcio follower arriving in Britain and the ninjas like Zola, Gullit, Vialli etc all played for one team. How could I not support them? Besides my mum and grandad both follow Chelsea being from Surrey.

That same season, Chelsea came back from 4-0 down at halftime to draw 4-4 with Liverpool in the FA Cup, which only increased my passion, same FA Cup we won with Di Matteos thunder strike after 40 secs, and then Babayaro joined that summer. Nothing more to discuss - I'm a Chelsea fan.

The next season we won the Cup Winners Cup - 2-0 down on aggregate in the semifinal against Vicenza, we needed 3 quick goals to qualify in the 2nd half. Another miracle comeback instigated by Mark Hughes and we were in the final where we beat Stuttgart with a single goal from Zola. We also won the league Cup to make it a double winning season.

Over the next two years we won the FA cup again - infact we were the third best performing club in UK between 1996 and Abramovic in 2003, and we were the foremost Cup specialist in the EPL - so we've been glorious before they started accusing us of Glory hunting.

raumdeuter: Olodo product of NECO.

Did Chelsea and Madrid play any super cup 18yrs ago?

Oops! That was in 1998. 16 years. Mea culpa.

AirborneLacer: And I'm here guessing you were a big fan of Celestine Babayaro

LOL

My favourite player around that time was probably Edgar Davids. And it was not likely for footballing reasons. I could hardly form any independent football opinions around then, tbh. Perhaps for his goggles! Maybe I was an impressionable young lad.

nitlad:


LOL

My favourite player around that time was probably Edgar Davids. And it was not likely for footballing reasons. I could hardly form any independent football opinions around then, tbh. Perhaps for his goggles! Maybe I was an impressionable young lad.

To be fair, Edgar Davids was a chairman back in the day. He had the swag bar none.

How many niggas you know went on the pitch rocking sunshades and dada? Plus the man could shoot from outside the stadium, he was ridiculously quick, he could tackle, he could drimble....

Edgar was the MAN.

nitlad:


LOL

My favourite player around that time was probably Edgar Davids. And it was not likely for footballing reasons. I could hardly form any independent football opinions around then, tbh. Perhaps for his goggles! Maybe I was an impressionable young lad.

Impressionable indeed

You never thought of Emmanuel Petit's ponytail?

Speaking of that era, does anyone remember the Czech Republic team of the late 90s to mid noughties?

Nedved, Smicer, Repka, and the Almighty Giant Jan Koller.

Them boys were bad

Nihilist: To be fair, Edgar Davids was a chairman back in the day. He had the swag bar none.

How many niggas you know went on the pitch rocking sunshades and dada? Plus the man could shoot from outside the stadium, he was ridiculously quick, he could tackle, he could drimble....

Edgar was the MAN.

Na that igo lo ju omo odaran swag me gbadun am for. . .

AirborneLacer: Impressionable indeed

You never thought of Emmanuel Petit's ponytail?

Emmanuel Petit ko bon appétit ni.

Ibime: I can't remember such game. If it was played, it must have been in August 1998 (after our Cup Winners Cup triumph) when I was on holiday in Naija so I musta missed it. To be honest I'm not even sure whether Cup Winners Cup champions played the Super Cup.

Ma first Chelsea season was 96/97, the year before Babayaro joined. It was simply a case of a Calcio follower arriving in Britain and the ninjas like Zola, Gullit, Vialli etc all played for one team. How could I not support them? Besides my mum and grandad both follow Chelsea being from Surrey.

That same season, Chelsea came back from 4-0 down at halftime to draw 4-4 with Liverpool in the FA Cup, which only increased my passion, same FA Cup we won with Di Matteos thunder strike after 40 secs, and then Babayaro joined that summer. Nothing more to discuss - I'm a Chelsea fan.

The next season we won the Cup Winners Cup - 2-0 down on aggregate in the semifinal against Vicenza, we needed 3 quick goals to qualify in the 2nd half. Another miracle comeback instigated by Mark Hughes and we were in the final where we beat Stuttgart with a single goal from Zola. We also won the league Cup to make it a double winning season.

Over the next two years we won the FA cup again - infact we were the third best performing club in UK between 1996 and Abramovic in 2003, and we were the foremost Cup specialist in the EPL - so we've been glorious before they started accusing us of Glory hunting.

Bros all these ones pass me o. When dem born me??

I know I started gaining sound football knowledge around the turn of the century and with the advent/spread of the internet and Chelsea featured prominently due to that impression from 1998. Pitched my tent with Chelsea around this time, cos people were beginning to pick clubs. Na Arsenal and Madrid plenty pass shar. Majority of the Madrid fans in my school later switched to Manure. Na only me and one junior like that loyal to Chelsea then. . .

I did not start watching live European games consistently until 2003 when dem do DSTV for my school.

raumdeuter:


My close friend in high school was a Chelsea fan in the mid 90's the tragedy was that he jumped ship to arsenal around 2000 given that arsenal was a better team then.

He's now stuck with arsenal since its no longer easy to jump ship like in those days. Nowadays I make fun of him as one of the early fans who couldn't wait to see Chelsea get to their Canaan land

Hehehehe. My junior brother chose Manure, then switched to Arsenal in 2000 with all the other Nigerians. He's been suffering since 2004.

nitlad:


Bros all these one pass me o. When dem born me??

I know I started gaining sound football knowledge around the turn of the century and with the advent/spread of the internet and Chelsea featured prominently due to that impression from 1998.

Some old niggas dey here like me, Deborah, Coogar and Dayo. No be say I old too much sha (Dayo must be 35 ) but some of us ninjas are old enough to have been watching footie since Senegal '92.

Ibime:

The next season we won the Cup Winners Cup - 2-0 down on aggregate in the semifinal against Vicenza, we needed 3 quick goals to qualify in the 2nd half. Another miracle comeback instigated by Mark Hughes and we were in the final where we beat Stuttgart with a single goal from Zola. We also won the league Cup to make it a double winning season.
.

Balakov, Bobic and our man Akpoborie really fall my hand that day

Nihilist:
Speaking of that era, does anyone remember the Czech Republic team of the late 90s to mid noughties?

Nedved, Smicer, Repka, and the Almighty Giant Jan Koller.

Them boys were bad

Never saw those dudes play.

On a personal note, the Czech team of 2004 were out of this world.

I can recall few names; Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Galasek, Poborsky, Nedved, Plasil, Koller, Baros etc

The team was a killer, too phucking balanced. This team has the honour of winning the finest game of Euro 04, a 3-2 triumph over Netherland after nateev's Oranjes had led 2nil after 20 minutes.

I burned a CD of that tournament; the best goals, the best players etc, that was one Euro you could easily mistake for the FIFA WC.

Ibime:


Some old niggas dey here like me, Deborah, Coogar and Dayo. No be say I old too much sha (Dayo must be 35 ) but some of us ninjas are old enough to have been watching footie since Senegal '92.

I started watching early because my dad was a huge fan of local football and my uncle a big Liverpool fan

My earliest memories was Canada 87 finals, everyone in my house regretted allowing me to watch that game because I cried till morning and was plotting how to kill the referee in my dreams. Since then all Nigerian games I dey follow. I carry my papa transistor radio go school during Seoul 88 to follow Nigeria vs "Yugosi-Alafia" (like one carpentar beside my area used to call them) . The teacher seized the radio and needed me to bring my mom to school.

European club football for me started around 93, When NTA would serve us dated Bundesliga games in "Football made in Germany"

Ibime: Some old niggas dey here like me, Deborah, Coogar and Dayo. No be say I old too much sha (Dayo must be 35 ) but some of us ninjas are old enough to have been watching footie since Senegal '92.

My earliest footie memory was Atlanta '96 Final. (Maybe USA '94 faintly, very faintly.) I know I watched the match live, (Atlanta '96) but I no remember shingbain about the match (if not for tales and internet ). I do remember vividly the drum keg beating and euphoric wild celebrations that followed though.

Ibime:


Some old niggas dey here like me, Deborah, Coogar and Dayo. No be say I old too much sha (Dayo must be 35 ) but some of us ninjas are old enough to have been watching footie since Senegal '92.

AirborneLacer:


Never saw those dudes play.

On a personal note, the Czech team of 2004 were out of this world.

I can recall few names; Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Galasek, Poborsky, Nedved, Plasil, Koller, Baros etc

The team was a killer, too phucking balanced. This team has the honour of winning the finest game of Euro 04, a 3-2 triumph over Netherland after nateev's Oranjes had led 2nil after 20 minutes.

I burned a CD of that tournament; the best goals, the best players etc, that was one Euro you could easily mistake for the FIFA WC.

Yeah they were baaad....Jan Koller is one of my all time favourite strikers, alongside Dado Prso and Didier Drogba. He was the original Peter Crouch. King in the air, King on the ground. He was cold-blooded and lethal in the box.

raumdeuter:


I started watching early because my dad was a huge fan of local football and my uncle a big Liverpool fan

My earliest memories was Canada 87 finals, since then all Nigerian games I dey follow. I carry my papa transistor radio go school during Seoul 88 to follow Nigeria vs "Yugosi-Alafia" (like one carpentar beside my area used to call them) . The teacher seized the radio and needed me to bring my mom to school.

European club football for me started around 93, When NTA would serve us dated Bundesliga games in "Football made in Germany"

Yepa!

Dayokanu what are you still doing on earth?

You should be a dead granny mehn

raumdeuter:


I started watching early because my dad was a huge fan of local football and my uncle a big Liverpool fan

My earliest memories was Canada 87 finals, since then all Nigerian games I dey follow. I carry my papa transistor radio go school during Seoul 88 to follow Nigeria vs "Yugosi-Alafia" (like one carpentar beside my area used to call them) . The teacher seized the radio and needed me to bring my mom to school.

European club football for me started around 93, When NTA would serve us dated Bundesliga games in "Football made in Germany"

Am an early watcher too cos ma cousin was a tomboy who used to play for Rivers Mermaids, so she always had football on, and I've been watching from young. I vaguely remember the 2-0 loss to Portugal in Saudi 89, the 5-1 hammering by Raba Madger in Algeria 90 and the 2-1 loss to Ghana in Senegal '92, but from Tunisia '94, my memory is vivid as an elephant.

raumdeuter: I started watching early because my dad was a huge fan of local football and my uncle a big Liverpool fan

My earliest memories was Canada 87 finals, everyone in my house regretted allowing me to watch that game because I cried till morning and was plotting how to kill the referee in my dreams. Since then all Nigerian games I dey follow. I carry my papa transistor radio go school during Seoul 88 to follow Nigeria vs "Yugosi-Alafia" (like one carpentar beside my area used to call them) . The teacher seized the radio and needed me to bring my mom to school.

European club football for me started around 93, When NTA would serve us dated Bundesliga games in "Football made in Germany"

This bros na proper old skool lapeh!

Abeg which tourney Golden Eaglets take triumph wey Obey take sing for them? I know my mum used to sing the song back then. . . .

nitlad:




My earliest footie memory was Atlanta '96 Final. (Maybe USA '94 faintly, very faintly.) I know I watched the match live, (Atlanta '96) but I no remember shingbain about the match (if not for tales and internet ). I do remember vividly the drum keg beating and euphoric wild celebrations that followed though.

I'm guessing we're around the same age then.

Though I remember watching the Nigeria v Italy game at my Grandmother's house in Ogba. Shortly after the game, my elder brothers joined some hood niggas to rampage in the area(Maybe they heard Roberto Baggio had a shop closeby) and were promptly arrested by the police. I tagged along when my Grandmother went to bail them in the morning from Area G police station. I will never forget the numerous kokos my brothers were sporting after spending a night experiencing 'police hospitality'.

nitlad:


This bros na proper old skool lapeh!

Abeg which tourney Golden Eaglets take triumph wey Obey take sing for them? I know my mum used to sing the song back then. . . .

Oladimeji . . . is a skilla/
He pass the ball to Osando/
Osando pass to Ohenhen/
Ohenhen put. . . inside the net/
Ohenhen. . . put the ball o. . . . inside the net!/


The next tournament. . .

We play Russia, we win Russia/
We play USA, we win USA/
We play Portugal. . . . Portugal give us 2 nought/
Aroma style eh eh eh/
Isawonaromba eh eh eh/

raumdeuter:


I started watching early because my dad was a huge fan of local football and my uncle a big Liverpool fan

My earliest memories was Canada 87 finals, everyone in my house regretted allowing me to watch that game because I cried till morning and was plotting how to kill the referee in my dreams. Since then all Nigerian games I dey follow. I carry my papa transistor radio go school during Seoul 88 to follow Nigeria vs "Yugosi-Alafia" (like one carpentar beside my area used to call them) . The teacher seized the radio and needed me to bring my mom to school.

European club football for me started around 93, When NTA would serve us dated Bundesliga games in "Football made in Germany"

87?u be big bros be that o

Ibime:


Oladimeji . . . is a skilla/
He pass the ball to Osando/
Osando pass to Ohenhen/
Ohenhen put. . . inside the net/
Ohenhen. . . put the ball o. . . . inside the net!/


The next tournament. . .

We play Russia, we win Russia/
We play USA, we win USA/
We play Portugal. . . . Portugal give us 2 nought/
Aroma style eh eh eh/
Isawonaromba eh eh eh/

Wasnt that Blackky?

Nihilist:

Wasnt that Blackky?

Na remix. . . .e be like na Ras Kimono sing the original

nitlad:


This bros na proper old skool lapeh!

Abeg which tourney Golden Eaglets take triumph wey Obey take sing for them? I know my mum used to sing the song back then. . . .

China 85. I didnt watch that.

I started with Canada 87. When Nigeria played "CCCP" in the final. Some people called them Russia, Some called them USSR, But I saw CCCP on their jersey. So why the confusion.? My young mind couldnt understand

Ibime:


Oladimeji . . . is a skilla/
He pass the ball to Osando/
Osando pass to Ohenhen/
Ohenhen put. . . inside the net/
Ohenhen. . . put the ball o. . . . inside the net!/


The next tournament. . .

We play Russia, we win Russia/
We play USA, we win USA/
We play Portugal. . . . Portugal give us 2 nought/
Aroma style eh eh eh/
Isawonaromba eh eh eh/

This was saudi 89, where we came from 4 goals down to draw 4:4. Against ussr
We eventually lost to portugal via penalty in the finals.

Nihilist: I'm guessing we're around the same age then.

Though I remember watching the Nigeria v Italy game at my Grandmother's house in Ogba. Shortly after the game, my elder brothers joined some hood niggas to rampage in the area (Maybe they heard Roberto Baggio had a shop closeby) and were promptly arrested by the police. I tagged along when my Grandmother went to bail them in the morning from Area G police station. I will never forget the numerous kokos my brothers were sporting after spending a night experiencing 'police hospitality'.

Ibime:


Oladimeji . . . is a skilla/
He pass the ball to Osando/
Osando pass to Ohenhen/
Ohenhen put. . . inside the net/
Ohenhen. . . put the ball o. . . . inside the net!/


The next tournament. . .

We play Russia, we win Russia/
We play USA, we win USA/
We play Portugal. . . . Portugal give us 2 nought/
Aroma style eh eh eh/
Isawonaromba eh eh eh/

Saudi 89 na Chris Nwosu, Ohenhen, Mutiu Adepoju, Angus Ikeji/Emeka Amadi not forgetting Mike ONYEMACHARA

Osondu Oladimeji and Tony Emodofu flopped in that tournament

mikeywise:

This was saudi 89, where we came from 4 goals down to draw 4:4.
We eventually lost to portugal via penalty.

Portugal beat us 2-0 No penalty. IBB even gave us a public holiday for the finals

In the semi finals I think there was a USA player named Lagos

raumdeuter:


Portugal beat us 2-0 No penalty. IBB even gave us a public holiday for the finals

In the semi finals I think there was a USA player named Lagos

Those days, I used to think those portuguese were over aged. They were way bigger than our boys.