ETIM ESIN VS JAY JAY OKOCHA,NIGERIA'S FLYING EAGLES AND THE AGE-GRADE CONTROVERSY

I was already planning a write-up with the above title,wherein I intended to compare the unique skills of two of Nigeria's most gifted footballers ever - Etim John Esin and Augustine 'Jay Jay' Okocha,until I started reading the thoroughly unpalatable news of the face-off between the two over a telephone handset.Yes,believe me ,two very good friends washing their dirty linen in public over a mere telephone handset !

Of course I was concerned,and therefore took the time to get as much information on the issue,only to discover that it is nothing afterall.What's the story ? Jay Jay invited Etim to his Christmas party,and at the venue (which was Jay's house) a guest claimed to have lost his phone and immediately fingerred Etim as the prime suspect;then proceeded to search the former Nigerian international and his family thoroughly and in the full presence of the other guests including Etim's kids.Jay Jay heard of what was going on and swiftly asked 'Mr phone loser' to stop embarassing his guest,and the party continued.A few weeks later Etim got his lawyer,Festus Keyamo to threaten Jay Jay with a court case over the matter.

Now this is my candid opinion:

First,I've been following Etim's career for over two decades now,and I do not believe that Etim is a thief. Maybe I need to disclose something that many people do not know : Unlike most of our star footballers who struggled their way out of poverty,I doubt if Etim Esin has ever experienced poverty in his life.Even his travails since injury forced him into premature retirement is only relative, because people tend to compare his current situation with his lifestyle at the pinnacle of his career.

I happened to have been in Cross-River when Etim Esin came to limelight, and believe me it was not only the irresistable edikangikong and afang soups and the extraordinarily hospitable fine calabar babes that made my stay memorable.At that time Calabar Rovers were making waves across the country for their smooth,champaigne soccer and the Calaber Township Stadium was the place to be every saturday evening,especially for those of us Lagos boys who were used to the same atmosphere with Stationery Stores at the Onikan Waterfront.

Mid-field dynamo Isong Isang and left winger James Etokebe were absolutely delightful,and were soon to be joined by two new showstoppers who were to even surpass their feats as the ultimate football entertainers:These were Okon Effa (who later became very popular in lagos as John Ene Okon) and Etim Esin a secondary school student from the Boys High School,Oron. And guess what ? Etim used the visit of my darling team,Stores to boldly announce his arrival at the big stage. His biggest victim that afternoon being no less a personality that our dreaded and most dependable defender, Joe Appiah !

Sorry for that irresistable digression ! The point however is that it was a well known fact at the time that Etim was from an elitist family in Oron.His Dad - a very principled man ,if I remember correctly was a top shot in government at a stage,and his siblings were deep into serious academic pursuits here and abroad. Etim's problems originated from his extraordinary talents which brought him enormous wealth at the age of 18 or thereabout, and I do not intend to recount the story that we already know. But to summarise,I'll say he has a post-retirement weakness for booze.That notwithstanding,I've met and discussed with him personally as recent as last year, and I can say convincingly that he is a very responsible man who has taken his travails in good faith and is determined to make a success of his life after football.

On the other hand,Jay Jay,whose senior brother Emma, played for the Flying Eagles together with Etim, has impressed me with the way he has always treated Etim as a brother: Not for them, the kind of suppressed rivalry between Pele and Maradona, for instance. That is why I am highly suspicious that what happened at the Christmas party was a deliberate attempt by some envious people to create bad blood between the two friends and Nigerian soccer legends.

I will like both Etim and Jay Jay to think deeper about this incident, and bury the hatchet. Etim should stop any further activity on his court action: What is N100 million compared to human friendship? Some mutual friend or former international player should invite the two guys to lunch and get Jay Jay to apologise to Etim; and that should close the matter.

NIGERIA'S FLYING EAGLES AND THE AGE-GRADE CONTROVERSY

The performance of our Flying Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Youth Championship will be rememberred as one of the worst in history. And to put the issue in perspective,the Flying Eagles ( Nigeria's under-20 football team) has traditionally been adored by Nigerians,not just because of their numerous successes, but also because of the beautiful brand of football that they usually display.Nigeria's team to Rwanda produced neither.

I don't want to dwell on the already flogged issue concerning the competence of coach Ladan Bosso; rather, my concern is with the fact that the core of this disgraceful team is made up of players that only a couple of years ago won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for Nigeria. Remember also that just before the disaster in Rwanda the same Flying Eagles crashed miserably here at home during the WAFU Cup.So why did a collection of players who just two years ago ruled the world at the Under-17 level suddenly become so crass and incompetent? I agree that Bosso has his problems, but if the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF ) is only looking at coaching as the weakness of the team, then thay are making a big mistake.

The dismal performance of the Flying Eagles in two successive competitions clearly calls to question the true ages of the former Under-17 players in that team, and this must be addressed seriously by the NFF. The problem with using over-aged players in age-grade competitions,most espesially at the Under-17 level is that it distorts the developmental plan of the federation. The oustanding Nigerian player in Rwanda, Uchebo was not in the last Under - 17 team, and now whoever takes over the Flying Eagles must have to start hunting afresh for quality players to take to the World Cup. Yet we have a World Cup winning group of 'Under-17' players who ordinarily should have been automatically drafted into the team.

This is therefore a wake up call to Henry Nwosu and the new Under-17 team he's moulding: Please go for authentic under-17 players only. Nigeria does not have to win the Under-17 World Cup at all means ! But we need to build a team that will serve as potent foundation for the Super Eagles and The World Cup in 2014 and beyond.There are thousands of exquisite and prodigeously talented footballers in secondary schools all over Nigeria - in fact, the likes of a certain Henry Nwosu who played for St. Finbarr's College some years ago !

My advice to the NFF is that henceforth, the names of the primary and secondary schools attended by every under-17 player selected to play for the country,and years of attendance should be published for everyone to see. Any talented 'youngster' who does not have academic record should be asked to try his luck with the U-20 or U-23s.We have had enough of this charade.

STATIONERY STORES RETURNS !, JAY JAY AND THE THRILLING NO. 10s

RETURN OF STATIONERY STORES FC

If not for the fact that the news appeared in the Guardian newspaper I would have found it difficult to beleive.But for the first time in a real long while I felt the adrenaline surge through my veins like it used to many many years ago - the darling club of Lagos, Stationery Stores F.C.(a.k.a Super Stores,Stationary Stores,Adebajo Babes,Flaming Flamingoes,etc etc) would return to the Nigerian soccer scene TODAY ! Ol' boy wahala dey oh !!!!!!!!

I felt the tragedy of Stores' long sabatical when I observed most of the young chaps in my office just staring at me worriedly as I lept all over the place with pages of the newspaper in my hand and shouting 'up super,up super, up flaming !'.Abi oga don kolo !

For the benefit of the under-25s, let me explain it this way:The frenzy around the Nigerian league in the 1970s and 80s could be likened to that of the English Premiership today. Rangers International F.C. of Enugu was the forerunner of today's Chelsea.Their football was direct,business-like (trust the Ibos) and devoid of fantasies.With a 'chairman' like Christian Chukwu who could spray precise through balls 40 yards across the field, what did they need midfielders for?Dribblers like Stanley Okoronkwo,Ogidi Ibeabuchi and Okechuckwu Obiora ('agarimojo') were pure nuisance to the fold ! As you would expect,Rangers won so many trophies both locally and on the African scene.

IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan on the other hand were like Man U. They had a little bit of everything; flair (Segun Odegbami,Kunle Awesu),Steel (Taiwo Ogunjobi,Ademola Adeshina) and precision (Muda Lawal with passes,Moses Otolorin with long throws).They won the first continental trophy for Nigeria.

Now you would ask, what of 'Arsenal' ? Which team provided Nigerian soccer fans with 100% guaranteed entertainment;no fakes,no pretensions ? For the answer you only need come to lagos - aka las gidi- and meet the great team with the cross-striped yelow/maroon shirt and white hankerchiefs flying everywhere :Super Stores, the legacy of the late Israel Adebajo,the pride of Lagos !

Now, unlike Rangers and Sooting (sorry,Shooting), Stores didn't win that many national trophies after dominating the late 60s,but their reputation for 'good football' just kept soaring.Only very few teams achieved their mastery of the smooth 'Brazilian' flair,and these were all temporary:Ismaila Mabo's Mighty Jets of Jos and Josiah Dobraye's Sharks of Port Harcourt in the 70s,the massive Felix Agbonifo - led Bendel Insurance of Benin, Isong Isang - marshalled Calabar Rovers team between 1983 - 87,and of course more recently the star-studded Leventis United where Wole Odegbami and James Etokebe knew no rules or restrictions when it came to dribbling.

Stores was not a rich club,but she produced many of the most gifted and reknowned flair players in Nigerian football.Haruna Ilerika of course remains the most popular,but Sani Mohammed,Yakubu Mabo,Olumide Banjo,Tarila Okoronwanta,Yisa Alabi,Arthur Moses and so many others were household names.In fact the reputation of Stores was such that even average talents became overnight superstars when they played for Stores:Remember Godwin Obiyan and the funny-looking lad called Idi-Isho ('yansh like nail') ?!

Unfortunately a long-arranged engagement will not permit me go to Onikan today,but I'm sure with a soccer-loving Governor like Babatunde Fashola (BRF) and unity among the Adebajo family,the long-elusive dream of reviving the Stores brand and by implication the glory days of football in Lagos will soon be realised.

JAY JAY AND THE THRILLING NO. 10s

Shame on the NFA.I say shame on you NFA.After serving this country meritoriously for so many years ,mid-field maestro Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha announced his intention to retire from international football since about four years ago and eventually hanged his boots two years later.All the NFA did was to keep prodding the guy to continue playing as if his body is a machine,and till date they didn't deem it worthwhile to honour the man who raised the profile of Nigerian football through his individual displays in the top leaques across Europe - Germany,Turkey,France and England.It had to take the efforts of a Nollywood actress,Tricia Esiegbe to bring world class footballers to Nigeria to honour Jay Jay;and even at that, the NFA top brass did not deem it fit to attend.Shame on you NFA:Shame on you !!!

Well my own way of honouring Jay Jay is to recap on some of the other 'Jay Jay's we've had in Nigerian football.In my opinion and based on observation over the years,I think any team aspiring to be 'great' should have the following ;an instinctive and ruthless striker, a good goalkeeper,an intelligent central defender who can organise the rest of the team,and most importantly a skillful midfielder with immaculate dribbling skills,vision and passing ability - the ultimate crowd pleaser,the one worthy of the special jersey no. 10 - Pele's number.Unfortunately that last quality is what most 'good' teams lack,and which stands between them and greatness:Greatness meaning Brazil with Pele,Holland with Gullit,Man U with C.Ronaldo,and Arsenal with Fabregas.

Nigeria's football folklore is replete with stories of Peter 'Baby' Anieke,but I've never watched
him play.With Haruna Ilerika however I was luckier.Barely out of secondary school,he anchored The National Team,Green Eagles to victory in the All Africa Games in 1972. A very tiny frame,he had a magical left foot and popularised several tricks such as 'window' which was the act of putting the ball in between the marker's two legs and invariably leaving the marker sprawling shamefully on the turf, and 'heighting' ,where the ball is knocked over the marker's head and controlled !Josiah Dombraye who played for Port Harcourt's Sharks was very similar in style but sometimes played to the gallery.

Ilerika was a product of the highly coveted Principal's Cup in lagos which produced so many stars for Nigeria.One of the most astonishing dribblers out of that competition was Adokie Amesiamaka.He was well-read and intelligent,and that made him even more dangerous on the field.He would dribble his markers,calmly take his time to review the situation and then dribble them again and again until he was sure that his striker was properly positioned to score.Adokie didn't waste passes at all.

The most popular product of the Principal's Cup however was Henry Nwosu,one of the rare players who could dribble perfectly with both legs.His unique quality was the overhead kick ('zangalo'),and with Taiwo Afinih,Stephen Keshi et al he made St Finbarrs College the team of the early 80s.

John Mastoroudes built a very efficient team in Leventis United of Ibadan.But for the fans they will always remember the team's wingers who dribbled almost with reckless abandon .Wole Odegbami operated from the right,while James Etokebe had the left wing.Both also played for the Green Eagles.They were dribblers per excellence and always had the stadia packed full
of ecstatic supporters.

Despite the direct style of Rangers,they still produced some very exciting players. Stanley Okoronkwo was one.Johnny Egbuonu was another.Christian Madu was Rangers' most exciting player of all time.

Very few teams can boast of having no less than three dribbling masters at the same time.We know Brazil of 1970 and 1982.We also know of the great Bendel Insurance when Felix Agbonifo,Sam Okpodu,Henry Ogboe,Lawrence Akpokona,and the Egharevba brothers raved in the 80s.Calabar Rovers also matched that feat a few years later when Isong Isang,Uwem Ikono and James Etokebe propelled a scintillating display of champaigne soccer in 1983 - 86.Isong Isang was the terror-in chief,but Rovers' greatest ever player was an Oron Boys High School product named Etim Esin.Many that watched him in Nigeria and Europe saw in him the same qualities in Diego Maradona.Not surprisingly Etim was a multi millionaire long before his 20th birthday,but unfortunately the rest of his story,riddled with gunshots,rape framing,drug allegations,etc is history.

Etim however inspired a lot of Nigerian footballers,one of which was a junior brother to one of his international teammates Emma 'Jay Jay' Okocha.That kid was Austin Okocha,who not only adopted his senior brother's nickname,but also the skills and style of his idol,Etim.Little wonder then that football scouts in Europe quickly spotted him and ferried him to Europe even before Nigerians knew about him.

Local scouts however did not miss the preceous talent in Nwankwo Kanu.The gangling teenager,about 15 years old announced his arrival with a man-of-the match performance for Iwuanyanwu Nationale at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.The rest of his story you all know more than I do.

Female football has also produced some exciting players since it officially became a national
vocation in the 90s.Florence Omagbemi is undoubtedly Nigeria's most accomplished,but when it comes to raw skill,giving the fans what they want to see ,the lady to watch was Nkiru Okosieme.She obviously took after her brother Ndubuisi who,together with Mike Obiku,Samson Siasia et al made Warri's Flash Flamengoes a delight to watch.

Many have however been asking for the knew Jay Jay.Well, there will not be another Jay Jay,just like Jay Jay himself did not replicate an Etim or Ilerika.But I see an Ikechukwu Uche already displaying the qualities of a great no. 10.I see Emmanuel Ekpo with plenty of skills to offer;and I still see in John Mikel Obi the potential to be a truly great no. 10.