My October 1st lesson...

I sat out with some friends yesterday to celebrate Nigeria's independence and at the same time watch Arsenal destroy Galatasaray. One particular guy (Who ironically is a long standing comedian) was so bitter about the way Nigerians spewed so much negativity about our nation and choosing to rather magnify her dark part on her independence day. (Every country in the world has its issues) Many have compared Nigeria to other long standing developed nations and as such have ended up seeing us as not only backward, but primitive.

He however made one statement which I found quite profound:
''Insulting Nigeria on her independence day, for not being as developed as other 1st world nations, is like insulting your father on his birthday for not being as rich as Dangote''. It made a lot of sense to me. That was my first October lesson. I believe in this nation, and the promise it holds. 

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!!

I'm grateful...

I thank God for the gift of his son Jesus in my life, I am eternally grateful.
My parents - for giving birth to me. Because if there is no them, there will not be me.
My family – for being my closest kin in the world.
My friends – for being my companions in life.
Sense of sight – for letting me see the colors of life.
Sense of hearing - for letting me hear trickle of rain, the voices of loved ones, and the harmonious chords of music.
Sense of touch - for letting me feel the texture of my clothes, the breeze of the wind, the hands of loved ones.
Sense of smell – for letting me smell the good scents in life
Sense of taste – for letting me savor the sweetness of food and drinks.
My speech – for giving me the outlet to express myself.
My heart – for pumping blood to all the parts of my body every second since I Was born; for giving me the ability to feel.
My lungs – for letting me breathe so I can live.
My immune system – for fighting viruses that enter my body. For keeping me in good health so I can do the things I love.
My hands – so I can type on my computer, flip the pages of books, and hold the hands of loved ones.
My legs - for letting me walk, run, swim, play the sports I love, and curl up in the comfort of my seat.
My mind - for the ability to think, to store memories, and to create new solutions.
Good health – for enabling me to do what I want to do and for what I’m about to do in the future.
Tears – for helping me express my deepest emotions.
Disappointment - so I know the things that matter to me most.
Fears – so I know my opportunities for growth.
Pain – for me to become a stronger person.
Sadness – for me to appreciate the spectrum of human emotions.
Happiness – for me to soak in the beauty of life.
The Sun - for bringing in light and beauty to this world.
Sunset – for a beautiful sight to end the day.
Moon and Stars - for brightening up our night sky.
Sunrise - for a beautiful sight to start the morning.
Rain – for cooling me when it gets too warm and for making it comfy to sleep in on weekends.
Oxygen - for making life possible.
Internet - for connecting me and others despite the physical space between us.
Transport - for making it easier to commute from one place to another.
Mobile phones – for making it easy to stay in touch with others.
Computers – for making our lives more effective and efficient.
Technology – for making impossible things possible.
Movies – for providing a source of entertainment.
Books – for adding wisdom into my life.
Time – for a system to organize myself and keep track of activities.
My job – for giving me a source of living and for being a medium where I can add value to the world.
Music - for lifting my spirits when I’m down and for filling my life with more love.
My bed - for me to sleep comfortably in every night.
My enemies – for helping me uncover my blind spots so I can become a better person.
My mistakes - for helping me to improve and become better.
Heartbreaks - for helping me mature and become a better person.
Laughter - for serenading my life with joy.
Love - for letting me feel what it means to truly be alive.
Life’s challenges - for helping me grow and become who I am.
Life - for giving me the chance to experience all that I am experiencing, and will be experiencing in time to come.

''Bomb scare''

I was at the bank to do a service activation, on a day, the banking hall was so full...I noticed this young lady in white hijab trying to get in, but the door wouldn't open, as the ''Woman inside the door'' would ask her to go drop the metal object she had on, blah blah blah.
Immediately my mind swung into action: ''That lady had explosives strapped to her body, which the door detected, that's why she had difficulties getting in.'' I melted on my seat and literally felt my tummy churn, as I froze in fear. I thought of standing up and dashing upstairs. (At least the impact won't be much,since I won't take a direct hit) She eventually got in on her fourth attempt, and at the same time, the bank staff that was attending to me, got up to leave, making his seat the only available one in the banking hall, and this suspected ''suicide bomber,'' made straight for that seat which was right beside me, sat down, then looked into my face with such a stern look. And the next thing she whispers...''Stupid bank and their stupid door, everytime I come here that door embarasses me.'' I tried to force a smile but my heart was beating too fast out of fear for a smile to pop up. I was trying too hard to douse the now palpable fear. She then dipped her hand into a part of the hijab that looked like a pouch,at that moment, I concluded she was reaching for the detonator. I'm sure I had died even before she would have blown us all to smithereens ...A quick thought came to me suddenly: ''Hold her hand, stop her from pressing the death-button and become a hero'', but before I could do that, she had pulled it out >>> A pack of handbills, for a summer holiday program for children. Handed a copy to me, then shared the rest and made to leave some with the customer-service lady, who directed her to the right spot where she could drop them.

As I stepped out of the bank , I instantly developed this sharp headache, coupled with a mixture of anger and at the same time laughing at myself.
I guess the boko haram scourge has made us all edgy and suspicious.
I REALLY WONDER HOW YOU GUYS THOUGHT IT ENDED!!!

Super Eagles 2014 World Cup campaign: All about the players...

The Super Eagles have landed in Brazil for the World Cup and its followership wait for the commencement of hostilities with a very gloomy air of uncertainty as to what will become of the team in the land of the Samba boys. The team’s dreary performance in the 1 – 2 loss to USA in its last official warm-up match after drawing the two preceding games with Greece and Scotland has cast serious doubts as to the team’s ability to scale past the first round.

Neither the loss nor the thoroughly unimpressive performance surprised me going by the team’s antecedents under Coach Stephen Keshi’s tutelage. Much as the players have a part in the outcome of the game, I will not dwell on their individual culpability at this point because Coach Keshi ought to be perfecting match-winning strategies with such games.

Coach Keshi remains a legend for winning the African Nations Cup, and as a Nigerian, I am proud that he is widely touted as the best coach IN AFRICA (though I often wonder why). But for how long will we continue to bask blindly in the proud euphoria of that lucky victory and wake up to the contemporary reality of mediocre performances culminating in a winless streak against non-Africa opposition due to Keshi’s indiscretion in the selection of players and lack of tactical nous?This inability to beat quality teams outside Africa (aside minnows Venezuela and Tahiti) whether in competitive or warm-up matches has continued in the run-in to the world cup (oh, now I see why he is the best WITHIN AFRICA).

Coach Keshi has, to this day, claimed to be building a team of dedicated and disciplined players, witch-hunting and vindictively refusing to invite some of the country’s better players, because according to him, “they do not fit into” his plans. Plans which remain undefined, and could very well be business-oriented – as widely speculated (going by the inclusion of FOUR players managed by his friend, Agent Tony Harris).
No doubt, dedication and discipline are good recipes for success, but I have failed to see where the “discipline” and “dedication” of mediocre players alone have translated to success on the global stage. I am yet to see how these two attributes have improved the fortunes of his team’s shaky defense, lacklustre midfield and blunt attack.

I am not a coach but I have observed and consistently made reference to the lack of midfield creativity as one of the Super Eagle’s Achilles heels. It therefore beats my imagination how the entire coaching crew could be totally oblivious of this that they actually went ahead to pick four defensive midfielders (Gabriel, Onazi, Azeez and Mikel) and deployed a striker (Uchebo) to improvise as an attacking midfielder!

The defense is even poorer. It is centred on a budding central defensive partnership (a currently unfit Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona) which has been impressive, though still learning the ropes. It is devoid of a natural, quality right-back. Suddenly we have forgotten Efe Ambrose’s defensive vulnerability because he played better than the aging Yobo, the sloppy Egwuekwe and the far inexperienced and Odunlami in recent friendly matches. The first choice left-back Elderson Echiejile is injured and the coaches have refused to effectively replace him with a natural left-back, rather a winger was recalled in his stead, in a bid to redeem the poor selections previously made.

It is increasingly becoming clear that the attack is henched on whatever the wide players can conjure up. It is believed that Moses, Odemwingie, Uzoenyi and Musa can provide that. Unfortunately, so far, it has remained just that – a belief. Common sense should tell anybody that perhaps a change in formation can bring out the best in these players. But like I said, I am not a coach…

Beyond the issues of poor player usage and selection, now encumbered by injuries, there are other issues of concern, mostly tactical. Excerpts from FIFA’s 2010 World Cup technical report has it that, “Teams needed outstanding individual players to make their mark…” How true as evidenced by Vincent Enyeama’s constant heroics which has bailed the team out in many games. Now aside Enyeama (and to a lesser extent, Emenike and Moses), can we boast of any other truly world-class outfield player in the ailing departments of the team?
The report also has it that, “Best teams were adaptable in their approach”. Even the fiercest supporter will attest to the fact that Coach Keshi’s Super Eagles has been an epitome of chronic tactical ineptitude and inflexibility. Whether winning or losing, the team only shuffles personnel but no visible tactical change. The Technical report after the 2013 Confederations Cup also re-emphasizes this:“Teams temporarily abandoning shape were rewarded more than those who remained rigid.”

The same 2013 Confederations Cup Technical report has it that, “Successful teams ensured progression of the ball rather than just possession”. The unprogressive utilization of all the possession it had in the friendly loss to USA shows that perhaps the team is not exactly on the path to success.

By the foregoing, the current Super Eagles team looks to be lacking some of the very basic strategic and tactical ingredients (it ought to be building on) for success at the World stage. This begs the following questions:
Is this all we have to show for the more than two years of “rebuilding”? Can we honestly say this team is capable of positive surprises? Is there any realistic chance of, at least, a quarter-final berth?

It would not only be patriotic but overly delusional to think the Super Eagles team will win the World Cup, but going by the ever-unpredictable nature of football I believe that a respectable performance is not entirely beyond the Super Eagles – its glaring deficiencies notwithstanding. The recent poor performances could actually turn out to be the needed tonic to spark the team to life in Brazil (I hope), though you cannot give what you do not have.

In the final analysis, after having qualified for and won the AFCON, played in the Confederations Cup, as well as qualifying for and coaching at the World Cup, Coach Keshi really has nothing to lose! He is out of contract after the World Cup and so if the team reaches the quarter-finals, he takes the glory; if it doesn’t, he won’t be the first coach to crash out of the group stages or the second round.
So I suppose a good world Cup outing holds more at stake for the players. It is therefore in the players’ best interest to dig deep and do the nation proud – more so, for the sake of their international and club careers.

 - Imowo Mbede

Strengthened through defeat...

Victory and defeat are what you make of them; it is how you deal with them that matters. Since defeat is inevitable in life, you must master the art of losing well and strategically.

First, think of your mental outlook, how you absorb defeat psychologically. See it as a temporary set-back, something to wake you up and teach you a lesson, and even as you lose, end on a high note and with an edge; mentally prepared to go on the offensive in the next round. So often, those who have success become soft and imprudent; you must welcome defeat as part of a Grand Strategy to make you stronger and wiser.

Second, you must see any defeat as a way to demonstrate something positive about yourself and character to other people. This means standing tall, not showing signs of bitterness or becoming defensive (rather than get angry, get even).

Thirdly if you see that defeat is inevitable, it is often best to go down swinging. That way you end on a high note even as you lose, planting the seed of future victory in present defeat.

Finally, end on an ambivalent note. If you are reconciling with an enemy, subtly hint at having residues of doubt - that, to gain your trust once again, the other side must prove itself to you. That the wounds still fester and you could hit back at any moment, regardless of the fragile peace that must exist between you two. By ending on a note of ambiguity and ambivalence, you gain the upper hand for the next round in a most subtle and insidious fashion.