₦airaland Forum

I promise, this is absolutely the last one. I did this one because of the strikers. I can't create greatest teams and leave out Rossi and Kempes.

9) Paolo Rossi
8 ) Mario Kempes
10) Svonimir Boban
7) Jean-Pierre Papin
11) Dejan Savicevic
6) Andrea Pirlo
4) Fernando Hierro
5) Daniel Passarella
3) Javier Zanetti
2) Marcel Desailly
1) Sepp Maier

Coach: Mario Zagallo

BascoVanVeli:
Anybody can write a report, next.

I didn't want to go into that, but that's the other issue. I remember that there were reports before the World Cup that the players were going on strike, but the reports turned out to be false.

The video and pictures.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDp5cLd4Pu0?si=3GYCJl460jYV-60S

lovewins:
Much of what Onome received was criticism. Yes some personal attack here and there but the vast majority of the commentary was criticisms.

Thank God at least you admitted that there were personal attacks. Insults about her appearance, age, etc. to the extent that she had to lock her comments section.

lovewins:
Ask an average premier league player who they think is the best player in the world and 99% of them won't mention themselves. Delusions like this only happens at the beginning of a player's career. As they grow they also grow out of it. Only very elite players have the privilege of arguing and everyone in the context of our discourse isn't that. Conversations about who the best player in the world is doesn't extend to Joe Aribo for instance and he also isn't deluded to think that.

Also, this is women's football where an average player doesn't earn enough. They'll obviously do anything to scrap. This is even more valid considering that the player in question is nearing retirement. Also, the NFF doesn't typically owe for tournaments because they either get money from the organisers or they get money from the FG. Players re usually owed allowances from qualifiers and at best WAFCON. They almost always get paid for world events.

Premier League players won't mention themselves because the media would attack them for being too proud. How many times have you seen Premier League footballers fighting over who should take a freekick? Do you remember Drogba vs Ballack? Do you remember when Mido refused to leave the pitch at AFCON or when Kepa refused to be substituted?

Did you witness what happened online between Oshoala, Oparanozie and Ordega when the 2017 African Women's Footballer of the year was announced? That gives you an idea of what the issue is.

I repeat, no player would risk their future prospects and go to a global competition just to embarrass themselves. That future prospect also includes future earnings. Do you realise that the whole world (including coaches and club officials from all over the world) is watching??

When did 1994 players receive what they were promised? What happened at the 2016 Olympics? How many times have the Falcons protested at World Cups?

When did the 1980 Nations Cup team get what they were promised?

lovewins:
By shaming I mean calling them out for being selfish. It doesn't extend to verbal attacks outside the borderline of decency. We've always condemned that.

But that was exactly what was happening to Onome Ebi and why people spoke out about it.

Electorate:
Op, I thought it was Shehu Sani that has issues with El-Rufai, show us link and proof Uba did have issues with El-Rufai. Abi you are confusing the names.

I only engage in discussions with serious people.

Goodbye (I don't need to tell you that I won't read your posts. You already know.

lovewins:
This is where you are wrong. Players at some point come to that realization. At the beginning of their career every player thinks they are the best in the world. However few years into it every player can tell you at what level they play even if they publicly feign ignorance.

And yes players can lobby to go to events as bench players just for the monetary incentive attached. This is Africa where there is extreme poverty and people do literally anything for money. How is this inconceivable to you?

I am not wrong at all. In fact, what I said is the norm. If a player believes that he or she is no longer good, then they'll retire.

But if a player is in the Russian league and scoring goals and getting acclaim there, then they'll believe that they are the best in the world. Perceptions differ and are not always accurate.

That's why people always argue about awards, because people have different perceptions and each person believes that their own perception is correct and others are wrong. You see a player arguing that they should have won an award and you wonder how, but they truly believe it.

Players that have reached national team level, played in clubs all over the world, etc lobby to go to global events for the glory. They won't if they are not good enough because the embarrasment would affect not just their ego, but their future prospects. Only upcomers and unknowns lobby for the money and that's not what we are talking about here (besides, experienced players know that they often get owed and that there is stress attached to national team football).

lovewins:
Did I at any time mention bribery? I don't believe I did, but just in case I did let me correct that. I believe I used the word influence. I can't prove bribery even though I'm not necessarily ruling it out.

Shaming players doesn't necessarily translate in players being left out, but it will.be on record they were to some extent held accountable. When we recall events like this historically it will be on record how certain people got their way. Players are free to be shameless but fans shouldn't also be told not to shame which is the point.

1) That also depends on what you mean by "shaming". Obviously people have freedom of speech and nobody can take that away, but there are limits to freedom of speech.

2) History will easily forget the shaming. It happens all the time. Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, etc. there are many players that Nigerians tried to shame, but nobody remembers that any more.

No player believes that he or she is not good enough. I can see that the player is not good enough, you can see that the player is not good enough, but the player will believe that he or she is good enough.

No player lobbies to go to the World Cup or Olympics to go and disgrace himself or herself. The player believes that he or she is good enough to give the best.

It is up to coaches and officials to see that the player is not good enough and to say no.

lovewins:
Your argument is still flawed. It is like saying someone KNOWINGLY enjoying the proceed of corruption isn't liable in the court of law. Let's even remotely assume that Ordega isn't an active participant in this (which obviously isn't the case), don't players like this have a responsibility to refuse invitations they know came by shady means? Will the official in question go to great lengths to include Ordega without her consent? I don't disagree with holding officials accountable, but you seem to be totally absolving the players in question which is the problem for me.

Players are free to dream, but no sane person goes where they aren't wanted, except those who cheated others to get there.

1) You shaming the players achieves nothing. If you ask any footballer to choose between not being shamed and going to a global tournament, theu will take the shame every single day, so your shame will not stop any player from wanting to be in the team. Perfect example is Onome Ebi.

2) My dad was a sports administrator decades ago. I remember Green Eagles players coming to our house, but it's not about them coming to our house it's about what my dad would decide to do. I repeat, it is up to the officials.

3) It's not only in Nigeria, all over the world players will do anything to be in the team. In 1990 and 1994 it was the President of Cameroon that got Roger Milla into the team. I was angry in 1994. Cameroon had better and younger players. Jean Claude Pagal slapped the coach on the training ground when he told him that he was not going to make the team (because the President of Cameroon wanted the older and famous players). Remember Romario wanting to be in the 2002 squad and Baggio also?

It is up to the officials. No player can pick his or herself. Even your claim of bribery is just a claim, no concrete proof. Players will put pressure on officials and coaches to be picked. Coaches can do like Thomas Dennerby and quit, officials can go to their superiors and the media to complain. There are manu things that they can do, but no player picks the team. The one who picks the team is the one who decides, who is at fault and who is to blame. He is the one that you can influence through political pressure and he is the one that has the most to lose