₦airaland Forum

In 1997 the Brazilian squad had Cafu, Dunga, Roberto Carlos, Denilson and Ronaldo, while in 1999, Dida, Ronaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo starred for the Brazilian side. What a shame the prototypical striker thought starring in back-to-back tournaments was worth it.

Reminder: The Copa America has always been a farmer's championship yet the only time Pele starred in the tournament they were beaten by Argentina in the finals, Garrincha played too by the way. I mean if those two people could conquer the world, the mickey mouse championship should be easy to conquer, shouldn't it?

Common, can't you be happy for the man?

alaribe1992:
Simpletons spits tueh

One thing is certain about this People, they never learn. They are always on the look out for punchlines to frame in their minds. Surely he will another excuse if he's truly who he is.

Jodera:
Check this out bro
I'm sure dem never even think to born messi around 1916 and 1917, except you dey tell me say dem don dey prepare the way for am the way prophets of old and John the Baptist dey prepare way for Jesus

Just tell us you don't want Messi to win it. Stop cutting corners. . Very shameful.

LostMyZeal:
Please who has a concrete reason as to why the fraudulent FIFA cancelled last year's ballon'd crap

It's only fair that they compensate Lewy this year or else they should Jejely give it to Jorginho just like Modric

I don't even think any sane and reasonable individual holds that crappy award in high esteem anymore

Oyibo dey use us play ...idiots have robbed Sneijder, Ribery, Lewandowski and now Jorginho's about to be robbed

Somebody came to mind when you said this. Is that why he has 6 finals losses? . I didn't call anybody's name ooo.

birdman:
I think its the opposite. If the shots are there, take them. If not, let Jrue and Middleton carry the load. They gave Middleton those looks, and he knocked them down. Fantastic job by Giannis recognizing this, and still playing excellent defense.

On the other hand, Suns deferred to Booker too much, and he tried to carry the team. No one else on the team really got going. Thats the thing with superstar plays. If you rely on it too much, you have likely open teammates that are just standing there. Your stats will look good, everyone else's stat will look bad. This is what happened to Bucks in game 2, and everyone was praising Giannis and blaming the other 2. Now its the suns with Booker dropping 40 and everyone else looking bad.

I wasn't quite done. I have modified that quote.
I repeat, what the he'll are you talking about?
No be somewhere he dey start from?
Besides the talk of Golden generation is obviously a relative subject. It's our golden generation.

GloryIsaac:
What did our “Golden Generation” achieve?

R16 in World Cup.

That shouldn’t be the standard for a Golden Generation.

First bolded: Certainly a good point, which is quite unnecessary here, cos at one time we had a golden generation of players that were very Good. The Okocha, Finidi, Amokachi, Kanu e.t.c. They were the best of us and they were decent for our national team, getting to back to back knockout stages of the world cup. Some even claim they could have gone much further in 94 of if not for Ojoro. So there you go, those are role models.
Why are you only mentioning someone who only began representing Nigeria recently? Ndidi? Are you kidding me.
Second bolded: Better.This is certainly a statement of what is. I don't think the last of those is useful though. Nice one to include it when the European countries in question have always been competitive. Competition is common in the top European teams. There was a lot of competition for places in the English team as such.
But the distribution of talent has been historically different for the South American and African countries.A large majority of their best players were born in those South American countries.

Nice try with the Pogba point. I mean how can I argue with it when it has already. Before 2018, the last time they won was 98. That is a span of 20 years. You know how many of those players born to immigrant parents who never won?

I would rather not continue with this though. Cos in the end it's a personal decision.
Now the definition of what patriotism means is a little tricky. I mean is it in relation to where you were born or your heritage at most one generation removed. If it includes the latter then it's correct to say they are not patriotic. Now is it always practical, probably not.
And it would be unfair and insensitive to tell anyone what country to chose. He's going to be at the receiving end of it. But we'll always bring up the topic when issues like the use of racial slurrs happen. And it's human to make reference to these choices and say your story is sad but I am not so sympathetic cos you chose them over us. In the end perhaps these players understand and should always expect the occurrence of such offensive attack from fans, so that it doesn't ruin them. You can never underestimate the power those offensive stuffs can wield over the lives of people. I hope it strengthens him.

GloryIsaac:
This proves my initial point.

All the legends the South American players look up to are locally-born. So they made their nation great from the roots, the streets. They didn’t fly back from some foreign nation to come do it.

They set a standard from home.

What standard have we set from home? Olympics? AFCON? Entertaining viewers with skills and tricks? or shouting “eeh eh eeh eh” at the viewing centers?

So it hits different when those born and bred in a foreign nation read about the exploits of these football greats. They naturally want to replicate it.

Success has many fathers, but Failure is an orphan.

If Nigeria does well with these current crop in an international competition like the World Cup, it’ll spur the foreign-born guys to consider representing us.

There’ll be pride when they read about Ndidi, Senior Man etc. for their exploits in the World Cup, not their exploits at club level.

A foreign-born will only represent his nation if he’s:

1. Not good enough for the adopted team.
2. Good enough but heavy competition. Means place is not guaranteed.
3. Native team is stronger than adopted team.

You don’t expect a person who knows absolutely nothing about Nigeria to come and try become our Maradona when he has a guaranteed place in his adopted team with more quality players. It’s an exercise in futility.

Pogba plays for France, his brothers play for their native team. Pogba has a World Cup medal, his brothers don’t. Pogba won’t have that medal if he followed his brothers based on patriotism.

Check every foreign-born who came back to represent their native nations, and weigh their options if they chose their adopted team. Weigh it against the 3 points given above.

I am disappointed you think this is a problem. You think say when Ekong and co join, them know pidgin, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa e.t.c well?

raumdeuter:
Maybe Etoos son was not good enough to represent Spain. You think if Kante Pogba Zidane were representing Guinea Algeria and Congo anyone would be mentioning them?

Remember George Weah your first example of patriotism? and current president of Liberia, I will think this icon of patriotism son will be playing for Liberia, yet he is representing the USA.

Do you think any of the Ayews is talented enough to make the French team?. Was Mejbri talented enough to have broken into a top team in Europe?

Haaland was born in UK and according to wiki was taken to Norway at age 3. I am sure Haaland cannot remember anything about growng up before age 3 in England, All his memories are from Norway and the country he feels very Norwegian just like Osaze born in Uzbekistan but by age 2, he was moved back to Naija so most of his growing up was in Nigeria

So imagine for Naija dressing room boys begin blow Yoruba Igbo Hausa and pidgin and you want Saka to be blowing cockney accent there? How will he even connect with the fans

Permit me to say this, what the hell are you talking about? No be one person they start the long line of great players? I cannot believe anyone would bring before us a basket of points. You couldn't mention anybody but Maradona, someone a significant number of people consider the GOAT? Must you be a GOAT to be a role model? Must you be Pele, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo e.t.c to be considered a role model? The very best of you in a field are by default role models with respect to that field. People look up to them and then do better, others look up to those and you eventually get some guys doing better, it goes on and on. Must someone have the talent/greatness level of Messi to be considered a role model? Be very careful.

GloryIsaac:
Who?

What are the achievements of the people they should look up to?

Can you compare that to Maradona or the Brazilian team of 2002?

Sorry, but can they not be someone other players look up to?

GloryIsaac:
Forget these patriotism talk.

If Nigeria wants talents like Saka to represent them, they should do better in major competitions like the World Cup.

The South Americans have Diego Maradona to look up to, they have De Lima Ronaldo etc. these things subconsciously spur them to represent their nations. They want to repeat the success of these icons with their home countries.

Playing for the national team doesn't secure anybody anyway. Na CLub dem really dey get their money from.

CapitalCee:
Leave them na. Go to Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile etc and see how those countries are even Mexico. They have more national deffieciencies than us yet they still go back home and whenever they are representing their country they exude patriotism. If George Weah with all his Ballon dor should chose Liberia thats into war with very despicable leaders then why not these Nigerians abroadians? Etoo, Drogba, Okocha and Kanu are african legends and are recognised as such. So why didnt these people chose foreign countries so they can be secured.
Like i mentioned Gascoigne declared bankruptcy, maybe his playing for England made him eternally rich

It's not better to play in anything. Opari, you don miss penalty, and you don hear wetin those people really feel about you even when you get British passport. For his sake, i hope that makes him stronger. It's a terrible thing to wish anybody bad, especially when they make personal decisions like that.

elrony:
Maybe AFCON of old, no be this one wey be like assembly of low budget criminals

Better to play in the Euros than AFCON bro

And the grand stage analogy is right, England has a higher chance to win the world cup than Nigeria.

As one other person suggested, If those folks can do it, why not us. Please don't come with the it's just not worth it argument. You must think some of these South American countries don't have their national team problems. Most of them still go home regardless. You are making millions for crying out loud. It would be nice if some of us in the diaspora do something tangible to help and not just rant on social media, as most do. Most importantly encourage your kids. Instil patriotism(with some those care ) in them. For a significant number of diasporans, na village people dey live for Nigeria. In the abroad after living for a few years the spirit of condescension descends on them. The thing dey pain and vex me at the same time.



Disclaimer: I am not saying it's a wrong decision. For me it's neither right nor wrong. I am not putting money in their pockets.

GloryIsaac:
Considering how it is for athletes in the nation, it’s not just worth it.

Some people here may have to be constantly checking their BP this season. It would be nice if some of us here check up on others from time to time. Na to avoid watching the games come check reactions after.

Perhaps Chelse agberos and all the people here can now understand that taking penarities and scoring over 90% of them is not an easy business. Bruno comes to mind. . And another thing, you fit do the same things i dey do but we fit still get different results. . Jorginho comes to mind. Life no just balance.

Nigerians are largely not patriotic, especially those in the diaspora. His parents probably told him, play for Nigeria ke. We must all live with the consequences of our decisions.

GloryIsaac:
I doubt they make their choices based on patriotism or any of that passionate stuff.

It’s more about the benefits to be gained playing for the national team. Welfare packages.

With the English team, the chance of silverware on the grand stage is much higher.

Manchester United will be in the news tonight.

Surely you can foul Grealish in the English half.

Raheem Sterling dey talk say na foul, ask coach make he comot you if you don tire.

Magwaya don start to clear ball anyhow. Wahala.

People wey talk say like Southgate like Ole may not be far from the truth.

Oasis007:



Why Mount is still on the Pitch?! He offers nothing in this Match...... absolutely nothing.

England no fit hide now. Come out and play.

Chielsa na ball player. If better player hold ball you go no. . Solid.

The Italians are playing really well together. I love those papapa combinations, but why can't they get that final connection?

Men, you cannot press a good midfielder. You go just turn yourself to basket.

If you see a good midfield you know it. The Italians are really good in the middle.

90k is quite decent. To answer this question, you will have to tell us what your friend intends to do in Turkey.

Fisherlala:
Any suggestions will be appreciated.Hello gurus In the house, my friend wants to relocate to Turkey in search of the proverbial greener pastures, currently he works with a company in Nigeria with monthly earnings of 90k....is it advisable he makes this move? .. any advice and suggestions is welcome.

Sorry.

TrebleChamp:
I pray Brazil and England win tomorrow, make our players sef kiss trophy....

Just happy for them small now. , even if na friendly.These are stuffs made in dreams. And that's correct, unless you are stacked, coaching makes a lot of difference. In the end it won't matter if they are handled like eran ileya at the olympics.

Roland17:
I was really impressed by the showing of the Tigers. They moved the ball extremely well and penetrated the weak interior defense of the US. With that being said, I would like to see them play this level of intensity and discipline when the Olympics start. We hit our perimeter shots especially the 3, I think we hit like 20 or so.. Can they do same when it matters?

As for the US, the way the team is constructed makes it easier for opponents. There is absolutely no interior defense or even perimeter defense on this night. The combination on the court would determine how far this team will go else we would be relying on individual brilliance. A good team will use the pick and roll to tear this US team apart. While I understand some players in the finals will join the squad, I don't think it will much of a difference in terms of strategy.

Isn't that because most of our midfield players are just not deft with the ball?

96forever:
Fred can actually do that, he’s only behind Pogba when ranking our flair midfielders.

By effort I hope you meant passion. You are not getting paid to do that, otherwise some fans here deserve to be paid. . You are getting paid to play to your talent level so do so and stop giving slick passes. .
Let me be very clear though he's been good for this Brazilian side.

GloryIsaac:
Another slander

Well, at Manchester United, it’s about the result, not the effort.

That’s why Daniel James gets roasted too. He’s so passionate about playing for the club but there’s only so much he can do on the pitch.