Amos Adamu: Eagles Have no Reason to Fail!

I have a lot of respect for Mr. Amos Adamu. But if baffles me when people start talking not because they actually have something useful to say but because they feel like being heard. Fortunately for them, they are well placed and so the media is at their beck and call. Amos Adamu just is gradually taking over the role of talking about anything and everything from Onigbinde.

I hate to say this. Onigbinde dose so much talking take one may be mislead to think success in football comes through much talk. Recently Amos Adamu, a man who is yet to give us a proper account of COJA spending is also following his footsteps. They seem to think that once they become members of either CAF or FIFA, they automatically are appointed custodians of our football even when they had failed woefully in the same task in the past.

Who said the Eagles have no reason to fail? Champions are never made in a day. If the NFA including Amos Adamu was serious about winning the ANC, then we should have started early enough to prepare. At this moment the NFA is still having rifts with the NFL. So much is going down there and you wonder how a house in crisis can suddenly re-organize for success in Ghana.

Just because Large sums of money (that may not even get to the players) have been released dose not mean everything that was wrong with the eagles is now fixed.
Champions start training to be champions immediately after a tournament. In essence the eagles should have assumed training for this championship two years ago. It is not just how much the players will get in monetary terms. The players state of mind is even more important. If a team don't think like champions, they can't be champions and that doesn't happen overnight.

Calabar Christmas Carnival 2007 In Pictures

The
Christmas festival as Usual was a site to behold again most especially, the sight of the former Governor Mr. Donald Duke and his Wife Mrs. Onari Duke set the stage for another interesting action packed Christmas Festival. It was really commendable especially being the inventor of the Calabar Christmas Festival. For how long this will continue, only time will tell. Meanwhile yours truely was there to take pics. I figured i may not be able to represent all the action of the festival in words so opted to bring all the fun to you in pics.



Ramsey Noah Poses for The Master Blaster Band

Ramsey Noah and Rita Dominic(King and Queen of the master Blaster Band)
Directly behind Rita Dominic was Pete Edochie . Behind Ramsey is Sen. Florence Ita Giwa

Passion 4 Band Representing Health Care In Africa

The Calabar Carnival Medical Team In Deliberation


Above is the Winners Of the Carnival show for the past two years.
This year's Winners were Bayside Band (The Ex-governors Band: They were a site to Behold)




This picture depicts the three major Diseases plaguing Africa ( AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria)

Uduak Nta Of YOHEDAP

This the Egyptian Tradition on Display

Some of the festival Clowns



Enoidem Ekoriko Of Female Rights Empowerment Organization (FERO) Having Fun with some of the clowns




This Brings back memories of Colonialism

The KIng And Queen of PAssion 4 Band

Depicting the Joy and Hope Independence Brought to Us

Making Money From Betting Online

When i started Naija football fans Forum, i never thought of a possibility of creating an online betting environment till I found out what some websites which i can not even describe as niche sites are doing. These Sites just create an environment for people to not just enjoy football or any game for that matter but turn it into a money spinner.

I was introduced to this system by Akin Alabi a very popular online marketer in Nigeria and a regular user of my forum. I decided to taste the waters and and i went into a voyage of discoveries.

Online betting has become some sort of industry that owners now rake in billions yearly. I am now thinking of starting one for my forum, maybe just to see how Nigerians respond to it and will be willing to get assistance from anyone who is interested and can help.

Currently i use Fonbet simply because they accept e-gold. Some accept just credit cards and Bank wire. However, you might not want to use your credit card details on a betting site. Others include bet356, 888 etc. Before joining try to find out their modus operandi. Taking time to go through some online casino reviewing sites to get information about them before starting can do you a lot of good. If your interested in just sports betting you are very well going to get the kind of information you desire. Here you will get objective opinion of reviewers and other people's comment. Need any help to start? Drop a comment here on on the forum.

Merry Christmas To All The Forum Members

Merry Christmas To All Fans Of This Beautiful Game

For Nigerians in General we are Sulking though about our failure to have a representative in the first five of CAF African Footballer of the year award. But when we look back in the year we still have a few thing to be happy about.
Winning the U-17 world Cup (Despite losing oach Yemi Tella sooon after), makes our year a worthwhile one.

The coming year will have a lot to say about what becomes of Nigerian football come 2010 world cup in South Africa. I'll leave this one for another days discussion.
For now let's Celebrate Christmas and also hope that the coming year offers us something good especially as we prepare for African Nations Cup in Ghana.

On Nigerian Football fans Forum

I wish to also use this opportunity to promise that this blog is going to be more frequently updated from now on, so a trip here on a daily bases will sure be one worthwhile.
The forum also has been arround for a year now and i also invite you to join our forum where everything and anything is on discussion. The forum with over 3000 members is Nigeria's first and Biggest Online Fan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barca, Madrid AC Milan, Inter fan, this is the forum with the highest conglomeration of football fans in Africa.

Meanwhile enjoy Chrsitmas and keeep it simple. Don't drink and drive. If you are travelling , please keep it at 100km/hr. Rather arrive late that be a Late. I have to run now. My girlfriend told me she'll be preparing Friend rice and grilled Chicken. I have been slivating for the past 3 days. Today is the D-day and I really have to run.

Real Madrid Consolidates Lead At Top After BEating Barcelona

Real Madrid continues a beatiful season yesterday by first of all making Barca seem like all the noise made in the transfer window in the summer was just for the sake of it. Babtista and Ruud boy ensured that.

A look at the kind of attack Barca presents sends the chills down an onlookers spine but yesterday we found out that, that is as far as it can get.

Loosing at at Nou Camp to Real for me is the high point of their fumbling as that has also ensured that Madrid now have a more comfortable lead of the La Liga table with 7 points.

Ronaldinho has become a shadow of his old self and no longer imposes himself on games as it used to be in the past.
If Messi dosen't click these days Barcelona dosen't seem to click too.
Dose these mean Barca is surrendering the title so early in the race to Madrid?

David Beckam Moves To Arsenal!

David Beckam’s Current move to Arsenal is viewed by many as another of Arsene Wenger’s tricks in the bag. Though according to Arsene , Beckam has come only to train with the team and get fit for England as he’s said to be desireable of a landmark 100 caps for rEngland . He’s said to currently have 99 caps. Arsene Wenger thinks Beckam can achieve 120 caps for England.

Could it really be true Wenger is trying to pull another fast one on us all?

Arsenal Faces Tough Quater Final With Ac Milan

I heard this news on BBC this evening and I was like waoh! what a game that will be! Last time it was Man U, now it's Arsenal. Heard Arsenal Wenger is traveling to Italy to watch the Milan Derby to watch how the team plays. According to him, he has to discover Milan's Euro Secret.
Man U and Liverpool also have a dificult game. But you'll agree with me Arsenal has got some work to do especially when you cast your mind back to the return Leg with Manchester United last season. Gatuso was a handful. Can Arsenal surprise us again? It might be the key for a possible run to the final like the last time. Last time, it was Juve they needed to beat to gain momentum that drove them to the final.

Carling Cup Fall-out: Benitez's Technique In Question

Again Rafa Benitez proved to us all that he's defficient in technique.Let's see the way it played out.Before Peter Crouch was red carded (A deserved red card), the game was balnaced even though Chelsea had scored a goal.But it was Benitez's place to make a tactical chanllenge in order to cushion the effect but he once again failed to make the right change.
Veronin was the only person close to a striker left for Liverpool. I imagined Benitez needed a real striker to come in for a midfielder to have a presence up front. Again before Crouch was red carded Liverpool choosed to keep the ball on the ground despite having a peter crouch upfront. He could get no real serve as chelsea defence ensured that.
I expected to see Benayoung come in quit alright but not to replace Babel. Liverpool could have done better with both players in the field. But Rafa choosed to subsitute Babel for Benayoung and the effect was even was than before the substitution.Someone has got to call RB to order, seems to me he's getting close to losing his job at Anfield.How long will Benitez's mistakes continue to make liverpool Lose matches?

Is Fabio Capello The Answer?

If you ask me i will say no. A big NO.
From my perspective, Fabio Capello has the knack of running into troubled water with world class footballers as well as players who love the lime light. In his reasoning it breeds indicipline and lack of dedication.
Examples exists in the case of David Beckham, Ronaldo Delima and a couple other players.
He also lacks the ability to manage people which is very critical in football success. His past records will make one jump to the conclusion he's a very technically sound coach which i don't dispute.

But Being a manager isn't only about being just sound with football techniques. In England you have to be able to manage the press. It is different from else where and English players as we all know thrive on press hype.

It will be a colossal task to change an age long tradition. His major problem will be with the press and the big name players in the English team.

In my opinion Jose Mourinho is the one coach who can handle that because he also loves the hype himself.
He knows how to use the press to achieve results. Playing mind games using the press just before a game has helped in the past to demoralise the opponents and gives him free ride.

Capello on the contrary thrives more in a quiet and eccentric working Environment which is not available in England.
To make matters worse key players in the English team has openly called for Mourinho to be signed as their next coach.
In the next few months, we'll see how it plays out. His relationship with Beckam, Terry, Lampard and Gerrard might be the key to his success because these are big names who love the limelight.

Why Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool won't Crash During African Nations Cup

Want to know why Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will not be affected too much by African Nations Cup? Read this. First, Arsenal will lose 2 player not three as Adebayor won't be playing in ANC. Or are you counting Song? Song is useless even if he's available for all I care.Toure already has a cover in Juorou who is going to be recalled from Bermingham for this purpose.
Eboue will be the only person Arsenal will miss, but that gives Diara a chance to prove himself.
I think Arsenal just survived the most critical period of this title Challenge after the following games against Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Midleborough and Chelsea especially doing so in three of these games without 4 first team players. The absense of just two players shouldn't have a more devastating effect. The difference is that Chelsea is always found wanting when Essien is not there to drive the midfield with his power. But If only Mikel would still be there it wouldn't have been too much problem for them. But Lossing two critical Midfielders and two strikers for almost 4 weeks is unimaginable for Chelsea fans.
Eboue, Toure, Kalou, Essien, Mikel and Drogba will be playing for the favourites at the competition and an early exit for them to return is unlikely. It seems like that but from my scrutiny Arsenal seems to already have a back up plan. Same with Chelsea who are currently thinking of bringing in Anelka to cover for Drogba and who knows what other plans they have!
If any team should be worried it is neither Arsenal, Chelsea nor liverpool but Portsmouth

Super Eagles Team List For Ghana 2007

Super Eagles team towards Ghana 2007 is not the usual list of galacticos we are used to in the past. Many have questioned the inclusion and ofcourse omission of some players. However, whatever the game we have only succeeded in cooking up a team i will rate average in every department. Gone are those days when we used to have some extra ordinary players in the Eagles squad.

While i don't mean to sound like a doom sayer, i sincerely will say we stand no good chance of doing well in Ghana. Well for a Nigerian team is nothing shot of the title. Can Berti spring any surprises with this squad? See team list below.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:Austin Ejide (Bastia/FRA), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda/ISR), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR)

Defenders:Rabiu Afolabi (Sochaux/FRA), Danny Shittu (Watford/ENG), Onyekachi Apam (OGC Nice/FRA), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion/SWI), Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG), Ifeanyi Emeghara (Steaua Bucharest/ROM), Kingsley Udoh (Akwa United), Efe Ambrose (Kaduna United), Taye Taiwo (Marseille/FRA)

Midfielders:Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves/ENG), Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland/ENG), Richard Eromoigbe (Levski Sofia/BUL), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Sani Kaita (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), Onyekachi Okonkwo (FC Zurich/SWI), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kyiv/UKR), Lukman Haruna (Crystal Academy), Rabiu Ibrahim (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Oladapo Olufemi (Boavista/POR)

Strikers:Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka (Portsmouth/ENG), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Mannaseh Ishiaku (MSV Duisburg/GER), Ikechukwu Uche (CF Getafe/SPA), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton/ENG), Ayodele Makinwa (SS Lazio/ITA), Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona/ITA), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle/ENG)

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Naija Football Fans Forum

Premiership: A Two Horse Race?

The much awaited and hyped weekend has come and gone. Though we so a lot of action, not much has changed at the top of the premier league table. Arsenal still on top and Man U still very close in second spot. Chelsea and Liverpool though slowing down a little, still maintain their spots.

It is now looking like we can afford to count Chelsea oput of the title Challenge this season. Though i have already excluded Liverpool from the start of the season (i'm yet to be proven wrong by Rafa and his antics), Chelsea seem a strong force but have failed to hold fiem against the biggest challengers this season.
Is the title challenge set to be a two horse race?

Michel Platini's Harsh Policies May define Sports In 2007!

This is rather a difficult question to hurriedly give an answer. But if you take out time to ponder longer, you may come along so many defining issues and events that in your view, defined 2007.

I started watching football at the age of 8 years. Well that was rather late but you can not blame me because, when i was younger my parents wouldn't buy a television set. And so while i have developed love for the round leather game earlier it wasn't until i was eight years old before i could have the luxuary of watching football matches. As a matter of fact it wouldn't have been if not that i became increasingly obnoxious at home and will never stay put in the house as long as a football match was going on. The only reason my father yielded to buying a TV set was to get me to stop going to other people's house to watch matches. He felt it was embarassing to him, so he agreed with my mother if there was a TV set at home I would stop going to people's houses- And it worked!

Since then my interest in football has grown into some colossal sort that i may claim to be an unrecognized football comentator. I did not play football because my father wouldn't have it. That one was not negotiable but i'm sure he would have seen things differently if it was to be now. Apart from that i don't like getting injured. For me football is a game of injuries.

This is not a story of my life but to say that i have never been worried about an issue like i am currently about the policies Michel Platini is about to introduce or has introduced which is about to destroy this beautiful game that i have loved with all my life.. Most disagreeable is the quota system bruhaha.

I have more than the one reason opponents of the policy are fronting.
Let me be a little selfish here. Starting from home,
1. I think Eyimba wouldn't have achieved the fit they achieved if the team was made up of only indigenes of Abia State.

2. A quota system will take world football backwards and worse than the pre Joe Havalanche Era when football development was lopsided and African and Asian teams were minnows. I know that the only reason why FIFA tries to make the hosting of the World Cup go round is to give these countries and their neighbours the opportunity to grow football.

4. It will take away genuine competition and what will be left is a boring talentless football all over the world.

I think that Platini is not trying to save football but unkowing killing it because of a myopic attempt to make European teams always have the better of African teams. In my view it is selfish and improper.

Africans currently have talented players who can not be absorbed by the level of football at home. While European players shall have their homes to fall back to, African players shall either have to become bench warmers in their various clubs or retire. In the long term, the effect will lead to a widened gap between Europe and Africa in World Championship. African teams are increasingly becoming strong enough to beat these world football powers showing that football has moved to a different level in the continent. Platini despises this and is bent on reversing the trend.

The Players Union in England recently in a release called 'Meltdown' declares their support to Platini's stance on this matter.

I see this as a declaration that African players who have help to developed European Leagues (despite the Peanuts paid to them as wages) are now being considered parasites who deserve only to be trampled upon. We are supposed to be living in a global world where national boundaries are of little or no importance. Have we been deceived again? I think this though very recent will define sports in 2007.

What in your view has defined sports in 2007? Join the Debate Here!
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Naija Football Fans Forum

Arsenal Survived a Scare!

Arsenal are starting to feel the absence of it's midfielders sidelined by injury. Arsenal's strenght is known to be in the midfield, but in the last two games when Cesc, Flamini and Alex hasn't played together, for the first time i saw Arsenal play without midfield control. It was so bad so that rather than play the usual 4-5-1, due to depletion of midfielders Arsene had to play a 4-4-2 starting an Eduardo something is unlikely to do in such critical matches.
Though Newcastle had enough Motivation to come all out and play the way they did, i still think yesterdays result should not be viewed as a bad one for the gunners. A point away from home against a team who's manager's job is at stake was a hard earned 1 point and i refuse to see it as a bad result. I think it is rather a result that shows that even Arsenal are maturing and now able to soak pressure when it comes and not break at the first weight of pressure. That was something Man U did very well last season. Chelsea did that very well three seasons ago and in the Carling cup final last season. The ability to hold on when the pressure comes is part of the attributes of champions. So i will say, let's hail their efforts! Newcastle also ofcourse had a deserved one point. There isn't any better way the points should have been shared. It would have been unfair for either of the teams to have lost. If they can replicate that spirits other games, they definately should be on their way back up.