Who will win the World Cup?
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- Category: Sports
- Written by ODEGBAMI ON SATURDAY
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Holland have done better than was predicted by football pundits at the start of the 2010 championship. They have played well but not brilliantly. That they have survived up to this point is more the quality of their opposition (except Brazil) and plenty of luck than the brilliance of their team. A team that will win the World Cup must have more than luck and good play throughout a championship. They must play and win on the strength of exceptional performance that we have not seen in the Dutch since their first match.
I think luck will have little part to play in the final match. On the basis of consistent high level performance, I think Spain have the edge. They have been the team with the best passing and movements off and on the ball in the entire championship. They easily remind you of the most attractive football playing club in the world, Barcelona FC. The national team is a reflection of that club.
On the balance, it is difficult to see how Spain can be stopped by Holland from taking away their first global trophy.
Occasionally, I join the ‘party’
One afternoon, Jay Jay and I decided to go for lunch at Homebaze. We get there and meet a large number of Nigerian football officials and journalists. Some of us decide to join tables so that we can eat together and banter. Over mounds of pounded yam with egusi or bitter leaf soup, catfish pepper soup, bottled palm wine, good South African Red wine and chilled Lager, we talk about our experiences of the World Cup and Nigeria’s place in it. We also talk about how hosting the World Cup has impacted on South Africa and on the lives of South Africans.
It is a very refreshing conversation. Generally, no visitor can fail to appreciate that South Africa, infrastructurally, is as advanced as most developed countries of the First World. The World Cup appears to have provided them the additional fillip to take the country to an even higher level compared with other African countries. As the world perches on the edge of history I cannot but long for the actualisation of my own dream, a truly African experience, that will involve 4 or 5 neighbouring countries and impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of Africans in ways now considered ‘impossible’.
Impossible? The conversation has been going on very smoothly until now. The food and drinks are also going down well. There is general laughter everywhere. Then I raise the issue of how Nigeria could have itself benefited from being the host of the 2010 event that South Africa is celebrating today, if only the country had not abandoned the idea in 2003 when it was mooted. Sure, South Africa was better prepared in every way to be hosts, but the revolutionary idea of a 4 or 5 country joint-hosting in the sub-West African region could and should have created a championship unseen before in the world. There is silence developing now. A ‘mad’ man is now ranting. I go on regardless. I am looking into the future with the benefit of what we are all experiencing in South Africa. Unlike every other international sporting event, hosting the World Cup offers a guarantee of tangible and intangible benefits to a host country with useful legacies for generations of its people to come. All eyes are now riveted on me. I throw the final bombshell. Nigeria should start planning to host the next African World Cup in the year 2022 or even 2026!
I cannot still believe the reaction across the table. I am shocked to say the least. The ‘biggest’ man looks at me with incredulity written all over his face. He gets up from his seat. The others start to get up one by one.
‘I think its time to go’, the big man announces to his audience. Every one gets up except Jay Jay and I. There is no need to say anything more. The silence speaks for itself. I get the message, loud and clear! I am looking like an alien from ouster space, like a fool!
I can’t believe it. Not one person amongst the 10 of us gathered at the Homebaze that afternoon believes that even in 12 or 16 years time Nigeria will not be ready enough to host the World Cup. What a shame.
Letter from Tony Blair
Well, we are in the dying days of the World Cup spectacle in South Africa. Immediately Nigeria were sent out of the championship my spirit waned. The moment Ghana that took up the gauntlet from where Nigeria left off were knocked out, the spirit of the World Cup ‘died’ in me. Since last Tuesday, I have been trying to rekindle my interest more because I have a responsibility to carry out my assignment with Coca-cola than because there was anything of major interest to me left in the championship. I am trying all I can to sustain my interest particularly since I have a responsibility to Coca-cola to see the World Cup to the very end through my eyes.
I am brooding over anything that can rekindle my spirit. I open my mail box and find it! It has been waiting for a few days. It is a personal letter from Mr. Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister and Chairman of the Beyond Sports Ambassadors. Do you recall that my pet project, The International (Sports) Academy, Wasimi Orile, was nominated for an international award last year as one of 5 other such projects in the world in the Social Inclusion category? Although the school did not finally win the award, its work did not go unnoticed. Since then, work has been rather slow in development both in the Wasimi Orile Community as well as in the school, I believe because of the economic crutch which has reduced Corporate Social Responsibility activities of many organisations. I have showed no interest in the 2010 awards as a result, and even when there was the opportunity of accessing an international fund to develop two tennis courts in needy communities around the world I choose not to seek it but to request that the two courts we have built already in the school be fenced so that my students would not have to scurry after balls flying into the bushes around the courts. in chase of balls flying into them after every shot! Playing tennis in Wasimi has become as cumbersome as running miles in the bush without fencing! It may have been the sincerity in my humble request, or that they felt or sense my frustration. I may never know, but then comes this God-sent letter. Let me reproduce a part of it that did to my ailing spirt in South Africa what all the ongoing football drama could not do.
As my late father used to advise me: ‘be consistent, one day the rewards will come’. Apparently one of those rewards is here, in the acknowledgement of my little effort in grassroots sports development, community development and education. Mr. Tony Blair has extended an invitation to me to be a part of the Beyond Sports Summit and Awards in Chicago in September! His letter reads in part:
‘I’m delighted to invite you to attend the second annual Beyond Sport Summit in Chicago between September 29-30.
As a specially selected invitee, and an individual with the influence to facilitate change, we hope you will participate in this unique gathering of leaders from across the world.
Your insight and experiences are crucial to the success of Beyond Sport. It is our hope that you will confirm your attendance to this exciting event and lend your voice to our ongoing goal of understanding, developing and celebrating sport’s power to change lives for the better.
Sincerely,
Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
Chairman of Ambassadors, Beyond Sport’
The letter more than warmed me up for the final match of the 2010 World Cup coming up tomorrow at the magnificent Sun City stadium, Johannesburg, where the two most enduring teams of the championship, two teams that will be setting a new record as two finalists that have never won the World Cup before.
Articles
Who will win the World Cup?
Category: Sports Written by ODEGBAMI ON SATURDAY Hits: 625
Holland have done better than was predicted by football pundits at the start of the 2010 championship. They have played well but not brilliantly. That they have survived up to this point is more the quality of their opposition (except Brazil) and plenty of luck than the brilliance of their team. A team that will win the World Cup must have more than luck and good play throughout a championship. They must play and win on the strength of exceptional performance that we have not seen in the Dutch since their first match.
I think luck will have little part to play in the final match. On the basis of consistent high level performance, I think Spain have the edge. They have been the team with the best passing and movements off and on the ball in the entire championship. They easily remind you of the most attractive football playing club in the world, Barcelona FC. The national team is a reflection of that club.
On the balance, it is difficult to see how Spain can be stopped by Holland from taking away their first global trophy.
Occasionally, I join the ‘party’
One afternoon, Jay Jay and I decided to go for lunch at Homebaze. We get there and meet a large number of Nigerian football officials and journalists. Some of us decide to join tables so that we can eat together and banter. Over mounds of pounded yam with egusi or bitter leaf soup, catfish pepper soup, bottled palm wine, good South African Red wine and chilled Lager, we talk about our experiences of the World Cup and Nigeria’s place in it. We also talk about how hosting the World Cup has impacted on South Africa and on the lives of South Africans.
It is a very refreshing conversation. Generally, no visitor can fail to appreciate that South Africa, infrastructurally, is as advanced as most developed countries of the First World. The World Cup appears to have provided them the additional fillip to take the country to an even higher level compared with other African countries. As the world perches on the edge of history I cannot but long for the actualisation of my own dream, a truly African experience, that will involve 4 or 5 neighbouring countries and impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of Africans in ways now considered ‘impossible’.
Impossible? The conversation has been going on very smoothly until now. The food and drinks are also going down well. There is general laughter everywhere. Then I raise the issue of how Nigeria could have itself benefited from being the host of the 2010 event that South Africa is celebrating today, if only the country had not abandoned the idea in 2003 when it was mooted. Sure, South Africa was better prepared in every way to be hosts, but the revolutionary idea of a 4 or 5 country joint-hosting in the sub-West African region could and should have created a championship unseen before in the world. There is silence developing now. A ‘mad’ man is now ranting. I go on regardless. I am looking into the future with the benefit of what we are all experiencing in South Africa. Unlike every other international sporting event, hosting the World Cup offers a guarantee of tangible and intangible benefits to a host country with useful legacies for generations of its people to come. All eyes are now riveted on me. I throw the final bombshell. Nigeria should start planning to host the next African World Cup in the year 2022 or even 2026!
I cannot still believe the reaction across the table. I am shocked to say the least. The ‘biggest’ man looks at me with incredulity written all over his face. He gets up from his seat. The others start to get up one by one.
‘I think its time to go’, the big man announces to his audience. Every one gets up except Jay Jay and I. There is no need to say anything more. The silence speaks for itself. I get the message, loud and clear! I am looking like an alien from ouster space, like a fool!
I can’t believe it. Not one person amongst the 10 of us gathered at the Homebaze that afternoon believes that even in 12 or 16 years time Nigeria will not be ready enough to host the World Cup. What a shame.
Letter from Tony Blair
Well, we are in the dying days of the World Cup spectacle in South Africa. Immediately Nigeria were sent out of the championship my spirit waned. The moment Ghana that took up the gauntlet from where Nigeria left off were knocked out, the spirit of the World Cup ‘died’ in me. Since last Tuesday, I have been trying to rekindle my interest more because I have a responsibility to carry out my assignment with Coca-cola than because there was anything of major interest to me left in the championship. I am trying all I can to sustain my interest particularly since I have a responsibility to Coca-cola to see the World Cup to the very end through my eyes.
I am brooding over anything that can rekindle my spirit. I open my mail box and find it! It has been waiting for a few days. It is a personal letter from Mr. Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister and Chairman of the Beyond Sports Ambassadors. Do you recall that my pet project, The International (Sports) Academy, Wasimi Orile, was nominated for an international award last year as one of 5 other such projects in the world in the Social Inclusion category? Although the school did not finally win the award, its work did not go unnoticed. Since then, work has been rather slow in development both in the Wasimi Orile Community as well as in the school, I believe because of the economic crutch which has reduced Corporate Social Responsibility activities of many organisations. I have showed no interest in the 2010 awards as a result, and even when there was the opportunity of accessing an international fund to develop two tennis courts in needy communities around the world I choose not to seek it but to request that the two courts we have built already in the school be fenced so that my students would not have to scurry after balls flying into the bushes around the courts. in chase of balls flying into them after every shot! Playing tennis in Wasimi has become as cumbersome as running miles in the bush without fencing! It may have been the sincerity in my humble request, or that they felt or sense my frustration. I may never know, but then comes this God-sent letter. Let me reproduce a part of it that did to my ailing spirt in South Africa what all the ongoing football drama could not do.
As my late father used to advise me: ‘be consistent, one day the rewards will come’. Apparently one of those rewards is here, in the acknowledgement of my little effort in grassroots sports development, community development and education. Mr. Tony Blair has extended an invitation to me to be a part of the Beyond Sports Summit and Awards in Chicago in September! His letter reads in part:
‘I’m delighted to invite you to attend the second annual Beyond Sport Summit in Chicago between September 29-30.
As a specially selected invitee, and an individual with the influence to facilitate change, we hope you will participate in this unique gathering of leaders from across the world.
Your insight and experiences are crucial to the success of Beyond Sport. It is our hope that you will confirm your attendance to this exciting event and lend your voice to our ongoing goal of understanding, developing and celebrating sport’s power to change lives for the better.
Sincerely,
Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
Chairman of Ambassadors, Beyond Sport’
The letter more than warmed me up for the final match of the 2010 World Cup coming up tomorrow at the magnificent Sun City stadium, Johannesburg, where the two most enduring teams of the championship, two teams that will be setting a new record as two finalists that have never won the World Cup before.