₦airaland Forum

I saw this article on main page. But the first comment got me pondering.


https://www.nairaland.com/4659251/jim-nwobodo-what-abacha-did


Jim Nwobodo, a former old Anambra governor, has revealed some events that happened during the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

A former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, relives the victory of the Super Eagles in Atlanta Olympics of 1996 and how he saved Kanu Nwankwo from Coach Westerhof.
The Super Eagles won the gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 when you were the Sports Minister.

Can you share with us the story of what happened then?
They (Super Eagles) beat Japan, beat Brazil and also beat other big teams. That was the time we had wonderful players. You can only know the best team when they go out of the country and play the best teams in the world. Mikel Obi is playing in China and there are other young boys like Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and many others.


There is one thing I like about Nigerian football. Nigerians are football lovers, there is no doubt about that and football has the ability to unite Nigerians.
I remember very well the 1996 event when we played in Atlanta Olympics. Nigeria was a pariah nation. The day we reached the climax was the day Nigeria met Brazil. We had a very strong team, those who were determined to do their best to make Nigeria proud.


Two things happened that day. We got into the field and, in the first half, they (Brazil) were leading Nigeria by 3-1. I sat by the side of then – FIFA President, Joao Havelange, a Brazilian lawyer, businessman and athlete who served as the 7th FIFA President from 1974 to 1998 and I told him we will beat Brazil and he started laughing because we were two goals down.


Half time break pep talk
During the half time break, I went to our boys in the dressing room and called them one by one, starting with Sunday Oliseh, then Daniel Omokachi, Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Celestine Babayaro and others. I urged them not to disgrace me and Nigerians and they assured me that they will beat Brazil. I then called the coach, Clemens Westerhof, who complained that Kanu was not playing well and that he would remove him.

I ordered him not to remove the young man. I threatened to sack him if he removed Kanu. He complied with my order and allowed Kanu to play in the second half. In the second half, Okocha scored the second goal, making it 2-3; another goal was scored by Kanu to make it 3-3 and second half ended. In the extra time, we had what is called the golden goal then and, five minutes after, Kanu scored the golden goal and the match ended. Everyone was surprised but God was at work and I heard Him (God) when I said Kanu should not be removed.

Kanu became the man of the match. We were excited and many whites and many Africans, who did not know about the Dream Team, started painting themselves in green white green. I was also told that families that were not in talking terms for ten years reconciled because of that match.


Sweet victory
Then – Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who was not in the habit of answering telephone calls, called almost all of us, including my wife. He did not stop there. He had to wait for us alongside some state governors for two days under the rain at the City Gate, Abuja when we returned to Nigeria and that was what that victory did to Nigeria. What a sweet victory!


The second thing that happened was that Chioma Ajunwa told me that she and other Nigerian athletes were yet to be paid their 300 dollars per day on the day she would compete. I saw reason with her but I told her it was a very small amount. I promised her that I will give her 10,000 dollars if she won a gold medal, she was shocked. I advised her to go for the long jump if she was good at that. Her first jump earned her gold medal for Nigeria and I gave her 10,000 dollars. This thing is about leadership and encouraging people around you.


So, sport, in itself, is something that, if properly developed, will bring the country together. Look at what sport is doing in the world today. If you are a sports administrator, you are known all over the world. FIFA President is bigger that any President in the world. My worry is that Nigeria has not given proper attention to sports.
What is your rating of journalists in Nigeria?
Nigeria has the freest press in the world; journalists write anything and get away with it and they hold people accountable and nobody can fight them. In Nigeria, I can say that we have a very free and strong press. I really don’t see anything wrong with what they are doing, except that they should always get their facts right.


What is your take on employers owing workers?
Any employer that owes his workers should not expect them to be loyal to him. Such could expose workers to temptation because they have to take care of themselves and their families. It is not good to owe your workers; whether they are journalists, footballers, civil servants, you don’t need to owe them. Workers deserve their wages. So it is not good at all. You should do everything possible not to owe your workers.


What about state governments owing workers?
I mean it’s unfair. It is ungodly and unchristian. If you don’t pay workers, what do you want them to do? In fact, when I was governor, I didn’t have anything as salary arrears. Throughout my stay in Government House, I never owed anybody for one month because one thing you do as a leader is to pay your workers before any other thing. That is the first charge and, from there, you motivate them to work harder.


So, any governor that owes workers for months is not fit to be a governor. Although, some governors have said that the problem about payment of salaries stems from the many problems confronting them, that argument does not hold water because you can still sit down and arrange your budget to make the recurrent less than the capital. You give capital budget priority over recurrent.

ChrisKels:
I'm marveled because, to me, Uwa aint worth keeping for another week let alone year. The article said, he is needed around to help the young inexperienced boys that make up the Monaco squad. Dude aint going out for another loan oo.

The hands of Monaco sporting Director. Michael Emenalo guy. We could possibly see another Nigerian player move there soon enough

John Ogu scores in CL qualifiers .

ChrisKels:
Now if u wanna know why other West African leagues have been exporting quality players to Europe compared to the NPFL, watch this match btwn Enyimba and Williamsville of ivory coast. 90percent of the Ivorians look under 20 while almost all the Enyimba players look way beyond their 30s bar Ikouwem Utin Udoh . This match is a match btwn old men and teens. These Williamsville players look like Academy players, they even look younger than Paul Aigbogun's under 20 boys.

Put this in perspective, a country of less than 50 million to a country if about 170 million. That's almost four times it size. We do have a larger number of young players in Europe equally

komekn:
Once again you can't even have a knowledge based discourse. CHALLENGED to a substantive discussion you have chosen your usual option EVASION.

You have made a lot of noise wild emotive hate filled and prejudiced deductions. Defend them,that's all.

I gave you specifics but all you have done is made noise.

It's sad because you probably think you are a progressive youth. Add to that a student at university afraid to get into a discourse based on fact and rational. [color=#990000][/color]

Even when you lie your words say something about you.

Chei this fourth paragraph gave me goosebumps.

andrew444:
Modric is a better player than rakitic we all know

But as far as this World Cup is concerned rakitic and subasic has been Croatia best player.

And how many man of the match performances has that fetched Rakitic and Subasic.. As far as the world cup is concerned Modric has won more man of the match performances

This English team, mark my words is guaranteed the next semi finals in Qatar....

Grupo:
This is my first time of hearing there is a country called Kazakhstan. Nigerians don't like to read and learn. That's why agents deceive many.

Your first time hearing about Kazak equally means you have not been reading and learning, so don't judge others

Should England face Russia, there is need to tighten security

ALL HAIL JAPAN....

France could only score 3 goals in the group stage, today they are 4 goals up against Argentina .

Croatia scored their highest number of goals in the group against Argentina, which was 3

Iceland got a point Argentina

But my Nigeria

In all sincerity France is not even playing anything against this Argentine, yet they are winning.

I thought we did well against Argentina, but watching France beat them with little effort now, and remembering how Iceland held them, I think it's a slap to our face. Eagles really screwed up

Would Nigeria not have been a credible opponent against this France.

If we were why did we lose against Argentina?

Look at how Mbape is playing this Argentine defense. Terrorising the defense and running them ragged

Thank God we are out, some people would have been advocating for Ighalo to start against France. Like he would ever score any goal. His miss today hurts me above Yakubu Aiyegbeni's miss against South Korea.

Can we now agree that Ighalo is a FOOL

Plss shut up and stop shouting Ighalo..... Just relax and enjoy the second half

Good day my Nigerian people.

I regret to inform you that today I will expel you from the world cup, so do not bother.

I will get 2 goals against nigeria

Google translate used here. Fu*k off bit*ch this ain't the Argies thread

Siasia just dey say "yea yea" on super sport as he de analyze football. He said yea like a thousand times now

But Iran na strong team ooo. Win one, Draw one, lose one( which was also an intense match with Spain) kudos to them. I remember the 2014 World Cup how they pushed Argentina to extra time too.

Brilliant performances from Morocco and Iran tonight.

M7even:
If you want to know how useless an African team can be, watch Tunisia against Panama and see how they would only salvage a draw against Panama.

I wasn't thinking Egypt woukd loose sef.

forgiveness:
Senegal can beat Colombia too.

As long as dey almost beat Japan dat trashed Colombia and defeated Poland, Senegal will match Colombia.

The Colombian team was a man down as early as the third minute. Hopefully Senegal can have them play a man down again, and this will make it easier like the Japanese side had it with Colombia. But 11 against 11, I'd have to give kudos to the Senegalese side if they scale through

olapluto:
Ighalo DID NOT BEG ROHR TO COME IN.
After rewatching our win against Iceland many times, especially FIFA.com highlight, I can safely say Ighalo was not begging to come on. He was already warming up before the goal. After the goal, he asked if he was still NEEDED or if the coach wanted to defend the 2 goals, in which case he wouldnt need to increase his warm up tempo.

The camera only flashes through.How did u manage to observe that long conversation between Rohr and Ighalo

KevinDein:
African teams beat Iceland and Poland not long ago.

Hahahahahaha..... African teams have lost to Uruguay, Portugal, Croatia, Russia, England, Belgium and wait for it Iran. Well I know these are better oppositions, but Panama!!!. No way near that.

If you want to know how useless an African team can be, watch Tunisia against Panama and see how they would only salvage a draw against Panama.

LieDetector:
My line up to take us to the next round

Uzoho

Balogun Ekong Omeruo

Moses Mikel Etebo Ndidi Ebuehi

Iwobi Musa

When you said your line up I thought you were presenting something new or different from our last game's line up

columbus007:
mcteeeeew,i even think say na mia khalifa the op write self

Oh boy u too like porn...

3k dollars, naira, euro or pounds. Pls specify. Some guys here might take it if it were not in naira at least

Las Las Our jersey 2 fine 0

After Ighalo entered the attack just died. See him begging Rohr to play him when musa scored the second goal

Tim Sherwood: Nigeria has got no identity.