EFCC vs NFF!

After the just concluded World cup, and the hurried exit of the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles, the President "banned" the National team from any international tournament. People (particularly football lovers) opined that the President erred in his decision. The National Assembly even pleaded with him to rescind his decision - all for the fear of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). BTW, FIFA actually stands for the phrase "Fédération Internationale de Football Association" which is a french phrase.

Well, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) decided to put their house in order and the result was the immediate removal sack of some key players of the NFF - Mr. Sani Lulu (NFF president), Mr. Amanze Uchegbulam (NFF vice-president), and Mr. Taiwo Ogunjobi (head of the technical committee).

Following that shack up, the NFF promised "to take urgent steps to address the maladministration of football in the country".

The shake up paved way for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to carry out investigations into the alleged acts of financial impropriety by some officials. Contrary to the claim that NFF had no money, the EFCC discovered large sums of money in some of the NFF's bank accounts! One bank account had about N144m (One Hundred and Forty-Four Million Naira), another account had 2 million US dollars, while another had 6 million US dollars deposited in it! Now that is MONEY for an organisation claiming not to have money!

Right now these accounts have been frozen by the EFCC.

Usain Bolt!

The date was 16 August 2008. The event was the men 100 meters race at the Bejing 2008 Olympics. I was actually watching the Olympics! Anyway I was glad I did because I watched Usain Bolt bolting his way through the race! That was a very good race. I personally feel he would have achieved a lower record time if he had completed the race before celebrating. Some meters before the finish line, Usain throw out his arms in a manner that says "come get me if you can" to the other athletes. Be that as it may, USAIN BOLT set the new world record by finishing the 100 meters race in 9.69 seconds! What a speed!

As if that was not enough. Usain went on to snatch the gold in the mens 200 meters race! He set another world record with a timing of 19.30 seconds.

Bolt is now the current fastest man in the World after Carl Lewis who made the World Record in 1984! With these great achievements, Usain is now the proud holder of the World and Olympic records in both 100 meters and 200 meters! Also, he is the first man in history to break both world records at 1 Olympics!

I join the World in celebrating his great success! Today 21 August 2008 is Bolt's 22nd birthday. Happy Birthday Usain Bolt. You gave yourself a very good birthday gift. Congratulations!

Count down to the 2008 Olympics

The Olympic Games is an international sports competition, held every four years at a different site. During the competition, athletes from different nations compete against each other in various sports, some of which are football, basketball, swimming, wrestling, baseball, hockey, gymnastics, rowing, javelin etc

This year, the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing from the 8th to the 24th day of August 2008. So it is tagged Beijing 2008. (That reminds me of Beijing 1995!)


History has it that the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Hercules, son of Zeus. Although the Olympic Games had been going on for many years, the first Olympics ever recorded was held in the year 776 BCE. It was at during this Olympic Games that a cook from Elis, Coroebus won the only event at the Olympics. Having accomplished that, Coroebus became the very first Olympic champion in history.

Another important historical fact worthy of note is the five Olympic Rings. The rings were adopted by the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin in the year 1913. However it was debuted at the Olympic Games 1920, although there was no record of the Olympic Games. The five rings represent the five major regions of the world, that is Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Also of note is the fact that every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors, which are blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

Do you know that there is a motto for the Olympic Games? Well there is, and the motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius." These Latin words mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger." These words were borrowed from Father Henri Martin Dideon, the then headmaster of Arcueil College in Paris. Father Dideon used the motto to describe the great achievements of the athletes at his school. Baron de Coubertin borrowed the motto because he felt it could be used to describe the goals of great athletes all over the World.

The theme for this years Olympic Games is - One World One Dream!

It is 7 more days to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games! Brace yourself for some entertaining events!

Up MAN U!

At least I can join the MAN U fans to say 'UP MAN U! 

The final match of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, which was between CHELSEA FC and MANCHESTER UNITED FC was played last night. The match which lasted over 3 HOURS ended in penalty shoot outs in which Manchester United FC came out tops 6-5. This is very interesting! 

Although I am not a football fanatic, I can identify some players and or the teams they play for. I just watch the game (if I have to) for mere entertainment. However, when there is a National match I watch a little and then do something else, so as not to have a blood pressure. Watching a live football tournament is like watching a thriller because you are always at the edge of your chair (at least if you are sitting). 

Yesterday, there were several parades by the Nigerian chapter of the various fan clubs, particularly the fans of CHELSEA FC. While the match lasted I heard the shouts, the screams, the jeers and the cheers of the fan club members (Nigeria Chapter) from the nearby viewing center. They were even chanting fans songs. Talk about solidarity! 

The first 90 minutes of the match resulted in a draw. Thereafter the teams played again for another 30 minutes and still no winner! After 120 minutes and no winner, it was then a case of who will score the most goals during the penalty shoot out! At this point, hubby kept pacing between the sitting room and the bedroom. (Tension don grip am!). 

Both teams played VERY well. It was a great game!