₦airaland Forum

zuchyblink:
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There is no Joy like the kind of Joy a Son's success brings to his mother.

Happy Birthday Mrs Chukwueze. May you continue to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

geonyte:
Nwakeme scores

Our Jam body guy

Donald95:
For me, I concluded my schooling (Caritas Private University) and service when i was 22 years. I stayed with my widowed mother till i became 24. That 2 years was full time war because I battled within myself over my non- educated friends that are mostly into tanker and Container motor drivers flourishing while me that much is expected from had nothing but "thank you" whenever i finish eating my mums food ( not jealousy though)


Mid of my 24 years, i moved in to stay with my sister in Enugu. Away from home, i was more free to engage my self no matter how humiliating the work look.

I started with Teaching. I was paid 15k per month, after 5 or 6 months of saving, i rented my own apartment, Used the remaining money to buy rice, tomato paste and beans in large quantities. I made good savings before the year ran out.


The next year, i opened a phone charging place and employed a girl while I was still teaching . Money started flowing in small small. I had about 300k few months later so, I opened Firstmonie outlet.

I started massive saving. I was targeting to open an iron company where i will sell building materials last 2 years, but the required capital is too much so, I went into rice.

I am Thankful to God for where i am today.

You can still make it if you don't have a job. Just start as small as possible.

Move away from home and squat with your sibling or good friend if you are too ashamed or not free to engage yourself.

Completed NYSC at 27. Was jobless for 2months.

safarigirl:
Abeg, argument dey Twitter now,

Would you consider the likes of Ozil and Marcelo world class today?

Cc thesupernerd, joebie, andrew44, icon4s, komekn

Well, firstly I would say the phrase "world class" is relative and also subjective. And so such kind of argument will hardly come to a conclusive end.

What is the definition of "World Class"?
Simply put "being among the best in the world".

Do you consider this "world Class" rating as an instantaneous rating or rating over a given period of time?

If you want to judge them as world class or not based on how they are ending their career (which the phase they are currently in) would you also say players lile Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Wyne Rooney were or were not word class based on how they ended their career?

Ozil and Mercelo are getting to the twilight of their careers and it will be unfair to judge them based on their current form alone.

During their hay days they were world Class players. FORM IS TEMPORARY BUT CLASS IS PERMANENT.

I have seen comments like "he should be consistent all through......". All through till what time? Is there any player that remains consistently among the best all through his career? Even Messi and Ronaldo, a time will come when they will start struggling. Do you think it will be fair to Class them based on their later performances?

TheSuperNerd:
I read he was nicknamed "The doctor" due to his highly intelligent style of play. I remember the name from my history checks. I understand he was also Player of the tournament in that 1984 Afcon tournament.
In fact, a real force they were then. Thanks for the history class.

Yes o. The Doctor.

He is late now though.

jihday:
that second goal is very sweet, see as they rang rings around our defence

That was Theophile Abega the Cameroonian Maestro

AndSunGorilla:
How good was Abega? read he was very good. Just saw how he engineered Cameroun''s 2nd goal. And was that Milla withe the final goal? He finished keshi or whoever was marking him.

Theophile Abega was one of their star players at the 1982 Word Cup in Spain where they shocked eventual winners Italy 1:0 at the group stage. A skillful midfield player.

Cameroon were really a force in the 1980s.

Kog45, this was that very game in 1984:
Cc: Thesupernerd


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3kK-zEWfys

Kog45:
22 years old captain Stephen Keshi led Green Eagles against Idomitable Lion of Cameron(1984 Afcon final)in Ivory Coast which Nigeria lost 3-1.

Nigeria team was very young with Peter Rufai, Patrick Okala,Raymond Best,Sunday Eboigbe,Ademola Adeshina,Humphrey Edebor,Henry Nwosu,Rasheed Yekini,Yisa Sofoluwe,Chibuzor Ehilegbu,Clement Temile,Stephen Keshi with old warhorse Mudashiru Lawal.

The team find it difficult against very experienced Cameroonian team that was full with players from Espana 82 World Cup.The Cameroonian team did not lose a single match but failed to qualify from group stage in 1982 World Cup.

This was a Cameron team young Green Eagles led by Keshi faced in the final,but I will never forget the semi finals match with young Peter Rufai showed his class but injury kept him out in the final and Patrick Okala was in goal.

Yes that was the game.

Experience won against Youth that night. Come to think of it that we scored first in an AFCON final and still lost 3-1.

1982 marked the end of the 70s Eagles era Which peaked at 1980 with the winning of the AFCON. Our outing in 1982 in Libya was a disaster with a group stage exit.

This 84 team was the beginning of a new era with some of the players still playing up till the 90s. Keshi, Yekini and Rufai. A year after (1985) was when Nigeria won the U16 World cup in China and finished 3rd at the U21 WC in Russia. A new believe was born in Nigeria. That also marked the beginning of our dominance in Youth football with some of those Youth players progressing to the Green Eagles, a progression which peaked at the 1994 World cup. (10 years after that 1984 rebuilding process)

komekn:
I would disagree very strongly with regards to your comparison between Oruma and Okocha they were in direct competition.

However, that competition brought animosity of you are familiar with Nigeria football you will know about rancour it created.

In my view Okocha particularly early on was very wasteful in show boating and playing to the gallery and not the team.

Oruma on the other hand did not have the frills bur on occasion was more effective but we never got to see it consistently because the team tactics could not accommodate them both playing at the same time.

Oruma was not in competition with Okocha.
Okocha was way ahead of him

Kog45:
Sir,i have never heard of any private sponsored league in any country,so why in Nigeria.

The organiser of this purported private league should have channel their resources into Nigeria league cos I still remember Alfusalami rocks,Leventis United,Abiola babes,Iwuanyawu Nationale,Flash Flamingo,Ibwa,Femo scorpion,ACB,First bank, Julius Berger,Ibukun Oluwa,Rancher bees,Nasco jet,Jasper united,Concord fc,Raccah Rover,BCC lion etc.These are private clubs that made Nigeria football beautiful to watch in the 80-mid 2000.

If they have any issue with LMC they should just go to the round-table on the way forward cos NPFL remain the bedrock of Nigeria football and bringing any private league would lead to total collapse of half dead NPFL.

Good point Egbon.

Some of us have come a long way with the followership of the Nigerian league and we would not want to see it deteriorate any further before our very eyes.

The LMC should have a round table discussion with Private club owners and Iron out their differences.

junnyjake:
There's no reason why Amaju pinic should step in here. The private league would just be like a a street football competition since it wouldn't be presenting teams for the CAF competitions.

The NFF can't stop people from organizing a village Christmas football competition, same applies here.

And this is what we would not like to see.

Danielnino00:
I don't know why these state governors won't sell off these clubs they claim to manage...
They are being run like other state owned institutions in this country... Underfunded, underperforming and yielding little profits..
They should allow the private investors take over abeg...

Good you have mentioned Private INVESTORS. So looking at it from the investment angle. Is the Nigerian league viable enough for you to sink Billions of naira in buying over a club plus it's facilities? What is the expected Return on Investment?

Kog45:
Chief,i think that was general belie that Oruma, Obodo even James Obiorah failed to live up-to expectations but forgetting that active Okocha will always getting the starting shirt.

Thank God he retired,player like Mikel would have been a bench warmer( 2006-2010) with Okocha still active.

Pls boss compare Kanu 1996-2006 to 2006-2010 with Super Eagles.

Chief, Kanu has nothing to offer after our failed 2006 World Cup qualifications,my opinion Chief.

Good you have brought in the Mikel angle.

Oruma/Obodo were supposed to be replacements for Okocha but they were not just cutting it like expected because they didn't have the qualities close to those of Okocha so we had to rely on Okocha a little longer. But Jay-Jay could not play for ever and that was when God blessed us with a young Mikel. I remember his first game was against Zimbabwe in our 3rd group game at the 2006 AFCON. Less than 5mins after being introduced, Mikel scored on his debute and that was when we knew Okocha's replica had arrived so we had to accept in our hearts that it was time to let go of him. 2 years earlier at the 2004 AFCON Okocha had a stand up performance and so even during the 2006 WCQ which were played in 2004-05 he was a player we really relied on especially as Oruma, Obodo and Obiorah were not measuring up as expected.

Now to Kanu, Yes just like Jay-Jay, he had his best days before 2006 but from 2006 - 2010 he still had major impacts in the team even as we hardly had a player that could fit into his shoes due to his versatility.

Do you recall that Kanu's last game for Nigeria, which was the 3rd place game of the 2010 AFCON, Kanu Nwankwo played the CM role. And we were like..as if he just thought the CM players how to do their job.

Egbon, this particular issue about the later years of Kanu and Okocha was very much an argument back then. To some fans they were "Old tired legs" that must give way for young players. But some of us saw that the team needed the experiences of such players in the team for a smooth transition. And it was not as if we had numerous top rated young players then.
Young players of that time (2006 - 2010) that were pushing for starting places in the SE:
Taye Taiwo (Capped in 2005)
Mikel Obi (Capped in 2006)
Chinedu Ogbuke-Obasi (Capped in 2006)
Victor Anichebe(Capped in 2008)
Obinna Nsofor (Capped in 2007)
Other up coming players then:
Brown Ideye
Sani Keita
Isaac Promise
Odion Ighalo
And then the defensive crop of (all of which later made the national team):
Efe Ambrose
Onyekachi Apam
Dele Adeleye
Adefemi Olubayo
Chibuzor Okonkwo

As at that 2006-10 there were hardly any upcoming players that were major threats to the SE forwardd then. It was just Nsofor and Obasi and you and I know they were at that time not in the class of Yakubu, Martins, Utaka, Kanu, Osaze and Ike Uche.

mkrest:
A new professional Football league to rival NPFL is set to debut in the country, Complete Sports has exclusively gathered.

Baring any last minute hitch, the league will be unveiled in Abuja, on Saturday with a press conference to announce the birth of the first privately owned professional football clubs league in the country.

Complete Sports checks reveal that a maximum of 10 clubs will pioneer the league which is said to have tacitly received the backing of the Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare.
If and when eventually started, the League has as N20m star prize for the winner.

Findings revealed that a Chief Executive Officer, CEO, (names withheld) has already been slated for the league with a pool of private football heavyweights in the country said to be involved in the venture.
The league has equally been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Abuja.
Already, those who have been working from behind the scene since late last year to midwife the venture are understood to have sealed a TV sponsorship deal which will ensure that the matches are beamed live on the tubes to the sitting homes of the football loving World.

“They have also pulled a N400m take off grant”, an insider hinted Orient Sports on condition of anonymity. “When we start, clubs will get their due share of the funds and the league will be a reference point to others,” he added.

It was also learnt that even though all the participating clubs will be affiliated to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, just as the matches will also be officiated by the NFF accredited referees.

Ironically, winners of the league will have no stake in flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF inter club competitions. That (Nigerian representation in CAF inter club competitions) is for the winners of the NPFL and the domestic cup.

One of the major requirements for participation in the Private Clubs League, Complete Sports was told, was that all the clubs must own a private stadium.

For me, this is disaster for the Nigerian league.

Kog45:
Not Enyeama's fault but Yobo who got lost the moment Akwa Fabrice received the ball and turned him before volley the ball which would have beat any keeper..

This was the game in Luanda. The game in Kano they scored via a Free kick.

Kog45:
Chief as at 2006.Okocha and Kanu have nothing to offer again and building that Team around the duo was a mistake.

A team captain skipping matches then what do you expect from his teammates.

This was part of the thinking that led to the clamours for inclusion of new players at the detrement of quality and experience.

As at 2005 Okocha and Kanu were still very much in the thick and thin of the game.

Oruma and Obodo that we thought would fit into the shoes of Jay-Jay were not really measuring up to the standards Jay-Jay had set.

Even though Okocha retired after the 2006 AFCON Kanu still went further to play 2 more AFCONS (2008 and 2010).

Kog45:
Oh you forgot that Okocha and Kanu cost us 2006 WC qualification with them skipping matches and Yobo failed at the last minutes against Angola by allowing Fabrice Akwa all the rooms to score that important goal.

Not only Okocha and Kanu selected matches, some other players too did.

I remember that game in Luanda that we lost 1:0. That game was why we trailed Angola for the rest of the qualifiers. The problem was they underrated Angola. Many star players were missing. And then there was also the chant of "Try new players".

However, that doesn't mean Kanu, Okocha and Yobo wouldn't have turned up with their games at the WC if we had qualified.

This is one thing I respect Rohr for. Every game is very important to him. He usually calls up the best available players.

TheSuperNerd:
Exactly. Just imagine that team at the WC. A team that thrashed Algeria 5-2 in Oran. We really blew it mehn. That WC miss pained me ehn... It was another dagger to my heart in the mid-2000s.

That Team with a proper coach could have caused major upsets at the 2006 WC. With Martins, Yakubu, Utaka, Osaze all at their peaks. Buoyed by Okocha and Kanu with all their experiences. Young Mikel and Taye Taiwo just broke in. Yobo and Odiah were also at their peak.
Obodo, Olofinjana, Ayila, Lawal and Oruma part of the midfield. And of course the trio of Enyeama, Ejide and Aiyenugba were among the best in Africa.

TheSuperNerd:
You are right Elyte man. Reason why the name Fabrice Akwa cannot be erased from my memory.

I remember Martins' debut for us against Republic of Ireland in 2004. He totally obliterated their defence with his lightening speed and quick change of direction. Indeed missing that 2006 WC was a major blow.

The man that shot Nigeria down

Amazing

Kog45:
Kanu made Flying Eagles team to Mauritius 93 but failed to see a game.He was not dropped.

After the team failed to qualify for World Cup, Kanu and Emma Babayaro were drafted to U17 team based on Westerhoff recommendation cos they are still eligible for Golden Eaglets,then Eaglets were struggling in their games during qualifications.

Ok I see.
That must be after the U17 team lost 2:0 to Guinea-Bissau away even though they had earlier won 3:0 in Nigeria.

ChrisKels:
The jewel of the cathedral, from 042 to the world. Enugu will never stop churning out exceptional talents, too bad Chriskels never went professional but that is story for another day.


Obinna is a super talented AM, I will never forget the joy he brought to all Rangers faithfuls back in 2016 when we trampled upon every team in Nigeria to lift the NPFL title. Rangers was so good, with Nwobodo our star player, that I seldom missed any of our home matches. I still remember when my boy dey do apprenticeship(igba boy) to be a roadside welder, whilst playing for rangers feeders team.

Another case of a talented player that has not met expectations.

Kog45:
No Chief, Karine Ojigwe was the defensive midfielder while Kanu played as No 8 behind Anosike.

True that.
Ojigwe was the DM

It was in the 1993 Flying Eagles team that I think Kanu was drafted as a DM even though he was later dropped because of his size

TheSuperNerd:
Yes Dad. He's bound for RB Salzburg in Austria. Interesting that he goes to Austria but the kid he benched at the WC (Daniel Francis) is on his way to Bayern youth.
I hope both make their way up and become relevant futures stars for us.

Don't forget too soon the story of naija kids that moved straight to big clubs and how they came down the ladder while the ones that started from Small clubs were the ones that Finally moved up.

TheSuperNerd:
Young Naija Talents watch

Tochi Phil Chukwuani. Born March 24 2003 to Nigerian parents. A two footed central midfield talent. Plays for Nordsjaelland in the Danish Super Liga.

Already capped for Denmark at U-17 level. Highly rated by the coaches at the Danish club which saw him make his senior debut at 16 yrs and 182 days on September 22 last year earlier in the Danish Super liga 2019/2020 season.

Another young lad who could be more. Another one to watch.

This one na food for the Danish national team

TheSuperNerd:
Played only a few mins in the first game vs Hungary at the 2019 U-17 WC in Brazil. I understand this lad has been signed up by Bayern officially.
Now we have a top young DM prospect at Bayern. Exciting.

He obviously couldn't get games at Brazil 2019 b'cos of just one lad... Samson Tijani.

Abeg where is Samson Tijani now? Any deal for him yet?

Joebie:
Didn’t Kanu play 10 for the Golden Eaglets? Correct me if I’m wrong. And Oruma as striker?

Kanu played defensive midfield while Oruma played Central midfield. Peter Anosike was the main striker.

TheSuperNerd:
Lol... This is why. Even Awaziem had a go at him... Wicked lad.

Looks like Iheanacho has fattening tendencies

TheGoodJoe:
"Papilo [Kanu] you know is so crafty. When I watched the game later, I saw the way he positioned his body before he played the pass, he confused the defenders, they were thinking he was going to play left," Utaka said on Instagram Live.

"I knew what he was going to do, so immediately I wasn't even waiting, I started going. Against Angola away he did the same thing, that was years after.

"Whenever I see him positioning himself I'll go because I know he will drop the pass. When I got that ball I said the only thing I can do is not to waste time because the goalkeeper will close down the more I waste time.

"I was looking right but I knew I was going to play left, he got a slight touch on the ball.

"I needed to drag him to the right so that I can confuse him because the goalkeeper is huge as well. I said if I take one more touch, he will close down on me so I said let me release the ball first time. "

Utaka on Kanu Nwankwo.

---

There is far more to offensive play from a striker than goals. Watch the clip below and look at the split decisions, the dropping deep to build play, covering multiple offensive positions and how Kanu brought the other offensive players into the game. Finally, watch his gifted techniques on the ball.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuIPjDAvasw

This is why I said he will make for a modern day number 10.

TheGoodJoe:
That is the point of modern day strikers. It is not about leading the strike line but bringing them to play. We have less creative attack midfielders because it is now a space controlled by creative strikers.

Below is a major requirement of modern day Hitmen. Tell me who you would prefer on the ball in these situations. Kanu or Yekini.


Below are Lewandowski and Haaland

Firstly, let's remember the argument is about which of Kanu or Yekini is our all time best striker.

We are not talking about whose style of play best suits the modern day game.
Good enough both players are no longer playing.

And like I will always say, the modern day game has become so dynamic. Averagely a Very good players should be able to play up to 3 positions comfortable to be able to remain relevant to the coaches' tactics and continue to make squad list.

There are some games you play that you need your striker to play as an old fashioned number 9. There are certain games you play and you chose to adopt a false 9 option.
There are others that you play and your striker does the ball holding and distributing job.

Looking at the way Kanu played, if you have him in a today's team, it will be a waste of resources to have him as an Old number 9 kind of Striker. He is more of a holder and distributor which also agrees with your assertion.

But again the argument is not about now. It is about who deserves to be our " all time best number 9". That person is Yekini

andrewbaba44:
Agreed

Kanu just get big name sha

Kanu was a great player, even though I would not agree to making him the top striker in the "all time best 11".

Personally I don't see Kanu as a CF. He was actually not much used as a CF. He was more of a supporting Striker (what we called number 8 those days). Kanu may not have scored many goals for the Super Eagles but his contributions to the overall play of the team was immense.

He was involved in build ups to several goals, he gave us several free kicks in dangerous positions and created a few penalties too.

In today's football Kanu would have been best played as a "number 10".