FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES

Sam AwedaTuesday, October 20, 2009
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THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN JUDGED AS UNDESERVING OF SPORT GLORY

t is that great king, David of Israel, who prayed to God to help us number our days aright that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Psalm 90:12)


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Our failure in succession in the game of soccer in recent time is a further indictment of this government's poor administration and I only wish it learns how to read the indices and the signs of the time so that it can turn a new leaf as its failure in administration is resulting in failures in other areas.

They can't remain wicked and insensitive to the groaning of the citizens, playing jungle politics and expect God to reward them with accolades or laurels on the international scenes. If that happens then they will boast that God has approved the way they are running the affairs of the State.

I sympathize with the poor boys, the Super Eagles trying to get a place in South Africa 2010. Same with the under 20 team, the Flying Eagles who failed to go any length in the just concluded Egypt 2009.

Contrary to the tongue lashing and bashing of the boys and their coaches from all quarters, I am surprised that no one has linked their failures to the abysmal failure of those who govern us.

Had they won all the matches, who would have taken the credit? Madam "Rebrand" will have been adorning the screens of our TV with her beautiful face beaming in smile. Members of the two houses will have been flying their flowing babanrigas and adjusting their Gucci, Armani or Hugo Boss suits and ties bought with money greedily grabbed from the peoples' treasury. They will have been blowing useless grammar on the floor of the houses, calling for hopeless motions of congratulatory messages to an innocent President who they are using to achieve their sinister goals.

Of course, they will have documented the success as some of the achievements of their time. But God has decided not to give them such an undeserving glory, when they alone, constituting 1% of the population have impoverished the rest 99% turning us to beggars.

What else would any one have expected from those teams that they did not do? Except we just want to give a dog a bad name. They gave all their energy. Their dribbles were beautiful to behold and super excellent, their passes were accurate, the team work is super excellent but I want to believe that the sins of the Government were only being visited on them and I hope this government got the message to amend their ways and start to do the right things so that those they govern can have a taste of good life. Otherwise, such success will continue to be elusive during their time.

Someone may ask about the admission of the Country into the non- permanent seat of the security council of the United Nations Organization (UNO), which happened about the same time. Dan Anyanwu, the National Chairman of the Labour Party had addressed it on a programme of the Focus on Africa last Friday 16 October. Dan pointed out that the admission was not because of any credibility on the part of this government but because of its population as the biggest black nation on the Universe. He gave other reasons.

I watched all the matches. One can see glaringly that the Tunisians adored the Super Eagles. They came to Abuja not to win but to settle for a draw at its best. So they played a cautionary game all through. The Super Eagles were on the onslaught all through. Unfortunately within a minute after the Super Eagles got on the lead, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia answered. The Nigeria Super Eagles increased the tally again and when it appeared that the victory was a done deal, in the dying minutes of injury time, the Carthage Eagles equalized and they had their objective of a draw, met. They savoured the victory and the hope of Nigeria's journey to South Africa in 2010 becomes like that of a camel trying to pass through the eyes of the needle.

The victory of the Super Eagles last Sunday, October 11 against Mozambique was a consolation by God only to the Super Eagles and their coaches for their brilliant effort. Any one who watched the match will admit that Mozambique was a match for the Super Eagles and a time came that I admitted that if Mozambique won, I will not be bitter as painful as it might be. Peter Osaze Odemwengie was fantastic. He was the Locomotive as well as the Utility player. What wing did that handsome lad not play? Inside right, inside left, outside right, outside left, he was there. He pulled back to struggle for ball. All of them in the team did excellently and God decided to let them have a goal so that they will not be demoralized too badly.

But then far away in Nairobi, Tunisia also gained another 3 points, neutralizing our victory over Mozambique. So we are back to square one. Only a victory by Mozambique over Tunisia and a victory for the Super Green Eagles over Kenya can lighten our hope to South Africa in 2010. I only pray that Mozambique puts up the type of fight it did with Nigeria when it meets Tunisia. If it does, I strongly believe it will devour Tunisia and we can laugh to South Africa.

Now to the just concluded Egypt 2009 involving the Under 20; at the opening game, the Flying Eagles no doubt outplayed Venezuela, yet all we had was a draw. The Flying Eagles outplayed Spain in the match 2, they were every where but the Bulgarian referee robbed the Eagles of a deserving victory. Two Spanish players were clearly in the "off side" position when Spain opened the score, yet the Bulgarian referee allowed it. The commentator, before the ball passed through the goal mark had announced an off side. The camera beamed it several times. A perfect header into the net of Spain by a Flying Eagle was denied by the Bulgarian referee, yet awarded what the match commentator described as "a cheap penalty" to Spain to give Spain two goals. I pulled calls to few places on the globe to friends who are not Nigerians but was sure would be watching the game to hear their opinion as the match went on. The Arabic commentator has this to say I was told "The Bulgarian referee decided the outcome of the game and not what the players played. He gave the victory to Spain"

I had thought that The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) was going to write a strong protest and that the Bulgarian will never referee again for life, but I was surprised to see him again referee in the final between Brazil and Ghana. He was neutral this time because he is neither friend to the Black or to the "Oyibo Potoki"

The round 2 match between Germany and the under 20 Eagles was a replica of the Super Eagles versus Tunisia. Twice the Flying Eagles went on the lead, twice within moments, the Germans leveled up and in the dying minute into the injury time, Germany had a goal that gave them the victory and so Nigeria crashed out completely.

I wonder however whether these soccer failures in succession bothered our Government as long as the oil continues to flow from the wells of the Niger Delta region. Perhaps that is the only thing that can cause them to shiver and luckily for them the price has again reached an all time high in a year. But I pray that their inner minds be opened so that they may perceive the signs of the times.

Thanks to God anyway, that the Under 20 FIFA cup stays in Africa, courtesy of the Black Satellites of Ghana. Who says God is not involved in games? In fact the satellites were virtually absent in the early 25 minutes of the game such that I shouted whether these boys knew that they were not representing Ghana at this juncture but the whole black continent of Africa. I called a friend in Ghana out of anxiety and frustration, I could not reach him. Few occasions, when they got the ball, they passed it to the opponent. Their passes were inaccurate. But God used the Satellites goalie, Daniel Agyei to save us the embarrassment and they managed to curtail Brazil at 0-0 till even the end of the extra time of 30 minutes and penalty shoot-out had to be used to decide the winner. God was on the side of Africa through Ghana, after all her Government has been upright, providing for the needs of her citizens.

Sam Aweda is President & Snr. Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission

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