OH BIG BROTHER NIGERIA: SLOWLY PLEASE SLOWLY
Looks like our big brothers from Naija – the Super Eagles are very badly wounded by their dramatic collapse at home and their failure to beat Leone Stars in Freetown. In the hours following the match, they were on all social media platforms saying really derogatory things about this LAND THAT WE LOVE. Strangely enough, it was not about the performance of the Eagles on the pitch, it was about the physical condition of the stadium and our infrastructure generally. Come on our brothers and sisters from Naija, what is all this for?
So, we absolutely understand why our relatives feel so hurt about our refusal to surrender even away in Naija. Ours is a country run on less than half the budget of the smallest state in the powerful Naija federation and if we pay keen attention to some details, Naija is making a contribution to our national budget. So how dare this small country of less than seven million people stand in the way of the country with the biggest economy and largest population in Africa? We understand that. We really do.
Anyway, let’s use this opportunity to say a few words to the big brother and then close this chapter for now.
1. It is good for our big brother Naija to keep an eye on us at all times. Because they concentrated on other people over recent times, they didn’t notice that we had produced fantastic players who can hold their own against the greatest, anywhere in the world. That’s why they were so shocked about what happened in Benin republic.
2. There is a sense in which some of the tactics of big Naija players have become a little stale. All of us in this small country are familiar with the way they play in the big leagues of Europe. They have no idea how ours play. Our players work in Asia and America where football is only taking off.
3. We encourage Naija teams to buy some of our local players for their professional league. In fact, some could end up in the Super Eagles because their fathers came from Nigeria. Once again keep your eyes on us.
4. Next time, you are drawn against Sierra Leone in any competition, please humbly ask us not to produce the kind of drama we saw in Benin republic. We will understand that. Millions of Sierra Leoneans support Super Eagles in all continental competitions as long as we are not there. In fact, that’s always the case. Let’s work something out quietly. FIFA will not be allowed in the meeting.
5. The good people of this small dilapidated country are on their knees begging FIFA and CAF never to draw us in the same group as Naija. We don’t want to constantly annoy our big brother because when the bully up the road comes to our door, we will definitely have to rely on big brother Naija. Long Live Nigeria!
UBA lights up Regent- Grafton road
Some business houses are just about innovative, even when it comes to showing their corporate social responsibility. That’s just what one of the foreign-owned banks here is up to lately, and we’re talking here about United Bank of Africa or UBA. The vital Regent to Jui road is being lit up by the banking institution with the installation of solar lights along the way. This initiative would not only give motorists and commuters a better vision at night but can also help dissuade ill -intent people from carrying out criminal acts on that road late into the night. In the early days following the opening of the road to vehicular use, there were reports of carjacking, mugging and robbery in extremely dark and isolated places along the way, all happening at night.
Over time as the route became busier, acts of criminality have lessened but not stopped completely. Young men have devised various ways to rob people there; sometimes they will get someone to lay sprawled on the road, pretending to have been hit by a passing vehicle and just when a curious driver stops, the gangsters waiting in the thickets would then emerge with projectiles, encircle the car and then rob its occupants. Some thieves will use a young lady or a child pretending to hitch hike on a spot that is clearly an ambush point and will then jump on their prey. Smashing raw egg on the front windshield of a passing vehicle to force the driver to put on the wiper and cause froth to blur vision, thus forcing them to stop, is another trick the criminals have used. The area around Bathurst past the bridge towards Mothaim village is notorious for such attacks. People will now feel quite relieved that the solar lights have come to help keep those gangsters at bay. UBA were certainly aware of the vandalism and theft that settlements with solar lights have experienced before, and were prudent enough to get lights with inbuilt batteries and panels to discourage theft. Brilliant idea indeed by the bank! The institution should be applauded for exercising its corporate social responsibility in such a classy manner. Sure indeed, they have their brand name and the products they offer displayed, which is just another smart way of doing marketing. Kudos to them for brightening up that road at night!
Listening to Rodney Michael on radio
Football enthusiast, stakeholder and philanthropist Rodney Michael has been explaining to the public about his plans for Salone football if elected as President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). The man was quite passionate about what he intends to do for the game should he be elected into office. The way he articulated on how he would ensure that the national team embark on football competitions under meticulously arranged schedule, was quite impressive. Our national teams in the various levels of the game have faced very embarrassing situations for far too long when on international duty and Michael in his presentation sounded credible and quite au fait with football administration, giving an impression all those untidy stories will be put behind us, if elected. We have to be honest enough to say that Michael was the most popular candidate leading up to those last acrimoniously laden SLFA elections. So much has passed under the bridge down the years and the least said about it all, the better. With all his tribulations, Michael in the interview never appeared bitter, a class act indeed. We want sanity to return to the game and for visionary and progressive figure at the helm of affairs. It is up to our football stakeholders to make the right choice for the benefit of footballers, fans and the country in general. We are watching!
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