Nigeria: Dissecting the Super Eagles

With the demise of the Super Eagles in this year's FIFA World Cup, my blogging efforts have also had a set back. The good luck messages and predictions of victory from the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan just did not materialized, the last minute coaching staff changes proved to be too late, too little and at the end the Eagles could not pluck themselves from the nest for the Dream Flight take-off.

So what went wrong for the Super Eagles? 

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Nigeria: Super Eagles 'Kaita' red card on Facebook

Ahead of this evening's Super Eagles' final first round match against South Korea, fans of the Super Eagles continue to pour their emotions on players social network site's two Facebook pages. Among responses range from KAITAnolokopolous, a new Greek Soccer God, and "Kaita" as a new English vocabulary entry.

Meanwhile Kaita's inbox has been flooded with death threats for the fiery incident against Greece. 

Nigeria went on to lose 2-1.

Some reactions are also a hit at Global Voices

New English Word
KAITA (Kai-ta)
v. Kai*ta, Kai*tas, kai*ta'ed, kai*ta'ing

1. To single-handedly dash the hopes and aspirations of one's nation in the full glare of other nations
2. To karate-kick your way out of the greatest stage/spotlight ever known to man
3. To destroy/zap/siphon the energies of teammates plus 140 million people through unexplainable stupidity
4. To act foolishly, intelligently or irrationally and IMMEDIATELY regret the action by falling on your knees

Usage:
“Please, please, do not KAITA what we have been building for 50 years o! Oloshi!”
“I don't care what people say, I will KAITA the multi-billion dollar plan!”
“That man, you know, the hopeless, useless, vision less, KAITAing guy!”

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Nigeria: Enyeama a goalkeeping great?

 

Thomas Nkono                                                                Enyeama  

 
Essam El Hardary                                                                 Athumani Mambosasa                                                   

Surely he has been the busiest of goalkeeper in the tournament so far.

Vincent Enyema's magnificent saves has spared Nigerian embarrassment in both of their matches. In the game against Greece if not for Enyeama, Eagles might have been out of sight midway through the second period.

Enyeama, now twice Man of The Match, has succeeded where most goalkeepers have failed this season in keeping Lionel Messi off the score sheet.

While other goalkeepers, from Green to Australia's Mark Schwarzer, appear to have been struggling with the way the JABULANI ball behaves at altitude, the 27-year-old saved his team from a drubbing and may have already delivered the best goalkeeping display of this World Cup.

He's already catching lots of attention with fans, coaches and now overseas clubs are lining up for his service - according to MirrorFootball, West Ham are the latest to be interested in Nigeria keeper to replace England blunder keeper Robert Green. W.H new boss Avram Grant could use his Israeli connections to land the £4m-rated Hapoel Tel-Aviv stopper.

Super Eagles' shot stopper has also done something else with his show of brilliance in front of the net. He has turn upside down long-lasting false belief/myth of many football so called football pundits and commentators that African continent can't produce good goalkeepers.

There has been magnificently eccentric goalkeeping coming out of Africa.

And not just Enyeama has turned conventional wisdom about African goalkeeping on its head during the opening week of the first World Cup on the continent. Here are two of  other African goalkeepers shining at the World Cup:

Itumeleng Khune of South Africa's Bafana Bafana  was superb throughout in a 1-1 draw against Mexico.

Richard Kingston of Ghana's Black Star, despite being on the bench for his club,, Wigan Athletics of EPL-was outstanding in front of the post for Ghana in their win over Serbia. Kingston is also a captain of Black Star.

In fact Enyeama, Kingston, Khune  are among many goalkeepers (not net minder OK!!) who are following in the footsteps of great African goalkeepers:

Peter Rufai: is the former Nigerian # 1. He represented his nation in two FIFA World Cup: 1994 and 1998. Rufai also helped Super Eagles win the 1994 African Nations Cup. 

Essam El-Hadary: is the Egyptian goalkeeper, playing for Egyptian Premier League side Ismaily, he is also considered one of the best goalkeepers in African Football.

Idriss Carlos Kameni : is the Cameroon goalkeeper. He was named Best African Goalkeeper for 2006 – Spanish club Espaniol goal keeper defended the goals for 497 minutes and made a history.

Chokri El Ouaer former international Tunisian goalkeeper Chokri El Ouaer, was recently  elected as the best African goalkeeper in the past 40 years.

In my opinion Thomas N'Kono, Joseph-Antoine Bell are arguably the best African goalkeepers of all time, both Cameroonian - the Cameroon coach had always had a hard time who to choose to be in front of the sticks. My favourite is the late Athumani Mmbosasa - the Tanzanian  best goalkeeper of all time.

Goalkeeping in this years' FIFA World Cup seem so far to present the only moments that I find myself cheering aloud for African teams..BRAVO!

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Greece: 'Bring on the ouzo!'

It took two World Cups and five games, but now the 2004 European champions finally have something to cheer about as  Greece pulled off a 2-1 victory Thursday afternoon. After a start reminiscent of their sloppy and uninspired play against South Korea in the opening game, it took an opposing goal and a red card against the Nigerians to wake up the Greek side.
  Nigeria came in brimming with confidence and a red hot goalkeeper after an impressive display against the Argentinians completely fell apart after the straight red card 15 minutes before the half.
  For a country that has been in the news in a negative light over the last few months this is something positive that the Greek supporters can rally around and lift their spirits.
  Greece now goes into a tough final match against a powerful Argentinian side that looks like the heavy favourite to win the World Cup at this point. Regardless of the outcome of the next game the Greeks are a celebratory bunch and festivities started before the game and have only intensified after the win.

  In Greektown this afternoon I caught up with some fans to discuss their thoughts:

"Whatever happens now I'm still satisfied. It's a great day we got the sun, the food and a Greek win.... Now bring on the ouzo!" Michael Georgopoulos has been camped out at the Fox and The Fiddle since 9 a m  and it looks like he'll be staying there for a while longer

"I've been waiting for this for 16 years, this is almost as amazing as the Leafs winning the cup!" Jon Catsaris or "Captain Greek", which seemed more appropriate considering his paraphernalia

 As the Greek team retreats back to their South African resort to prepare for Tuesday's pivotal game, their supporters will enjoy this win and hope for an upset on next week to progress to the knockout rounds.

About Costa Kladianos

Clawless Super Eagles fail to soar over Greece

A lone Super Eagle fan in the sea of blue and Greek supporters.

Before the match.

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Embrace the Vuvuzela

"buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" 

Get used to the sound...Vuvuzela is here to stay.

Vuvuzela  has become a favourite topic of conversation at the FIFA World Cup and on the streets of Toronto.

As a fan of beautiful game and of African football I must come to Vuvuzelas' defense.

Critics say the Vuvuzela is too noisy and it should be banned from the World Cup. Their complaints have ranged from outright alarming — Vuvuzela spread viruses faster than coughing, to the absolute laughable players will not hear referees’ whistle!. And oh, TV viewers can't hear the commentator.

C'mon.

Vuvuzelas, drums and singing are part of African football culture. It is part of African celebration, it is part of African traditions and history. Accept it.

Blowing the Vuvuzela was also meant to blow away the injustice of apartheid.

For me taking away or hating the Vuvuzelas - that even the apartheid regime in South Africa did not seem to mind, is really being narrow minded, it will symbolize to South Africans intimidation, and restriction on their hard-fought freedoms after decades of racism, prejudices and abuse by the brutal apartheid regime.

Vuvuzela also symbolized and enabled Black South Africans to Dream about 'Freedom One Day.' It was the blowing of Vuvuzelas freely in football stadiums during the apartheid that gave Blacks in South Africa a minute taste of freedom.

There is an old African saying that goes like this: 'The baboon is killed by a lot of noise'.

South African football fans make as much noise as they can to confuse the opposing team on the field. Its gradual increase in loudness capable of striking fear into the hearts of the opposing team or maybe just to give their own team a wake up call.

Football is not like golf or tennis, where you are actively encouraged to keep quiet. This is a loud game Guys!. And I bet most of the Vuvuzela critics and haters have never ever before been to the football stadium or watch Liverpool play at Anfield, that is why they yawp.

I am not advocating that it makes a lovely sound, but you cannot deny the atmosphere it creates within the stadium. It can be incredibly intimidating for opposing teams at a packed Soccer City with 94,000 people blowing their lungs out in support of their boys. It gets the crowd going, and gives them an identity.

I am glad the Vuvuzela is out there, loud and proud - regardless of how it sounds. It stands for a bit more than that. Do I expect the critics to understand it? may be!

This may be the World Cup, but it is Africa's World Cup just like previous 18 were Europe's, Asian and South and North American. Taking away the Vuvuzela would be nothing short of another page of cultural imperialism exercised by Europe on Africa.

There are many who are struggling to find anything African in the stadiums except the infamous Vuvuzela.

So lets enjoy the African culture and beautiful game and Let the fans blow their Vuvuzelas during the World Cup.

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THE place to watch the Super Eagles vs Ganalolefki

Catching a World Cup match at one of many sports bars at the Danforth on Sunday afternoon. The Greek Town will be the hottest spot to watch a must win match for both the Super Eagles VS Ganalolefki.

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Nigeria: Super Eagles, down but not out

 It was surely a disappointing first outing for Nigeria's bird of prey, the Super Eagles, as they lost their opener against Argentina at FIFA 2010 World Cup. Once again Le Selection, and Maradona got away unscratched.

One positive thing the Super Eagle's fans can take from the Saturday's game is the fact that the Talk Of the Town in South Africa, Nigeria and even here in Toronto was not Messi, not Maradona's salt and pepper beard or the suit but Super Eagle's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who was also named FIFA's Man of the Match. He was Nigeria's main man in goal making six fantastic saves in the match.

“The goalkeeper was phenomenal,” Messi said after Argentina were limited to a 1-0 win at Ellis Park with Enyeama producing a series of tremendous saves to thwart the world player of the year.

“He takes all the credit. We played a great game today and created a lot of chances. We just couldn’t get the second goal.”

The Super Eagles fans are now hoping Super Eagles follow the Black Star of Ghana in the winners column by winning their upcoming encounter with The Greeks/Galanolefki.

The Black Star became the first African team to win after beating Serbia 1-0 in South African capital Tshwane/Pretoria on Sunday.

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Time for an African upset?

'Waka Waka,' This time for Africa...

Deck the living room with your team gear. Wave your country flag. Adopt a country to cheer if yours didn't make it. And after four long years of waiting, the football family will be glued to the action this morning. The 2010 World Cup kicks off as South Africa takes on Mexico.

Every football lover will always remember the opening day of FIFA World Cup and the surprises that can happen during the curtain-raiser. 

African sides are always good for a surprise:

For me it will always be the 1994 World Cup in Italy when the world champion Argentina with her beloved son and captain Maradona were all out to quiet the Indomitable Lions.

Then in the 22nd minute of the scoreless second period match, the unthinkable happened. Francois Omam-Biyik headed the goal that secured Cameroon a 1-0 win in one of the biggest sensations in the history of the beautiful game.

Will South Africa with the help of the 12th man on the pitch blowing Vuvuzela usher a surprise, bringing joy to home fans ?

Maradona's threat:

Diego Maradona has promised to run naked through the center of Buenos Aires if Argentina wins the World Cup.

The Argentina coach made the promise during a radio show. The unpredictable Maradona was speaking a day after Argentina defeated Canada 5-0 in its final warm-up match before the World Cup.

The Argentine press is sure Maradona will keep his promise as he earlier posed naked for the El Grafico magazine.

But before Maradona realizes his dream. The Le Selection have to hop through the Super Eagles hurdle, who in their own right are out for revenge and hoping the Maradona XI's chemistry does not click. Because if it does then 'Look out."

Argentina plays in Group B, opening against Nigeria on June 12.

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Where to watch Super Eagles soar on Saturday

Located at 164 Bathurst St., in the heart of Queen Street West - The Football Factory is where I will be catching the Super Eagles VS Argentina game. That's where other passionate, knowledgeable football fans will also be and that makes for a great football atmosphere.

With wall-to-wall high-definition flat screen TVs, beautiful food and two signature cocktails, the Red Card and the Yellow Card Martinis as well as a wide variety of penalty shots, The Football Factory is a Football Mecca.

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The Nigerian Canadian Association, wishes to invite all Nigerians, supporters and friends of Nigerians to the biggest ticket in town, where Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from all walks of life will be gathering on June 12 starting at 9:00 am., for a picnic and live viewing of Super Eagles vs Argentina, La Seleccion (The Selection) World Cup match. Venue: Northwood Recreation Park, 13 Clubhouse Court, North York. For further information and registering visit Nigerian Canadian Association Website.

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