Dream
Team’s victory is good beginning – President Buhari
The practice in the entire world is
that people associate with successful individuals, just as the Nigerian
President, Muhammad Buhari did to Nigeria’s dream team – over their win, in the
ongoing Olympic Games.
“On behalf of the government and
people of our great country, I wish to express my support to our athletes who
have arrived in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. I am particularly delighted by
the outcome of the football match early this morning in which our football team
defeated their Japanese counterparts.
“The sweetness of the victory comes
from the fact that it came against all odds.
Our team overcame several challenges to put up a sterling performance.
This is a good beginning.” The President said.
The
diligent shall stand before kings (Prov 22:29)
In the passage above, the Bible
said, “Sees thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings;
he shall not stand before mean men. KJV.
There is a lesson for all Nigerian
youths in this passage, coupled with the dream team’s victory and what the
President has to say to them.
The President (recently) expressed
optimism that the country’s team will put up an impressive showing at the 2016
Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. This was contained in his message to
the Nigerian Olympic contingent.
The President, in a statement by the
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, hoped that the
victory of Nigeria’s Under 23 football team, the “Dream Team Six” over their
Japanese opponents will serve as an inspiration to the entire contingent.
“I am already aware that you have made
personal sacrifices in your journey to the Olympic Games. The motivation comes
from strong discipline and the love of the nation.
“As you embark on the search for
honours for the nation, I seize this opportunity to assure our Olympians that
you have my support and those of all Nigerians.” The statement read.
Dead
Peter Ogaba, Former Golden Eaglets defender
In the case of Peter Ogaba, Nigerian
football can (further) be likened to what the Bible called ‘a good name’ is
better than riches and honour.
“A good name is better than precious
ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth”. Eccl 7:1, KJV.
Man lives and dies, but majority people
are running after wealth without mindfulness of their end: whether it would be
good (both on earth and with God) is totally out of many people’s concern.
The Assistant Training Officer of
the FCT Coaches’ Association, Kenny Owojori, reported that Ogaba died after a
brief illness in Abuja.
Ogaba was the youngest member of the
Nigerian U-17 team that took part in the 1987 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Canada.
He also featured at the 1989 FIFA
U-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, where Nigeria finished second behind Portugal.
He played professional football for
clubs in Portugal and France.
Is
it not good when players become miracle workers?
Of course, a lot of people will like
to visit a man of God that has a ministry with public show of power, signs and
wonders but there is danger in that (a bit), as most of the so called miracle
workers indulge in manipulating people.
Perhaps, Coach Siasia was not
determining the end of his team to be manipulative with the Nigerian populace.
As Nigeria U-23 team’s Head Coach,
Samson Siasia described the performance of his players that saw them defeated
Japan 5-4 in their opening game of the football event of the 2016 Rio Olympics
barely five hours after arriving Manaus as a miracle.
Jesus Christ had said, “For there
shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and
wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect”. Matt 24:24, KJV.
Majority expect little performances
with Nigerian football team (in any competition) due to their usual
disappointment, coupled with various crisis that rock the Nigerian Footbal
Federation, NFF, overtime.
However, Siasia might be
resuscitating hope of the masses in the team. “I just can’t describe what
happened today. My boys defied science to win this game; what gave us this game
was the mental toughness of the boys. For a team not to train for two days and
put up this type of performance is a miracle. You know that when players are
tired they tend to lose focus. That is why we conceded four goals. For now, all
I can say is I just want to go and savour this victory with my players.”
On his plan for the next game, Coach
Siasia said, “We just won a game, we can’t and won’t allow this victory get
into our heads. Our target here is to win the gold and this is just the first
step of us achieving that aim. No two games are the same, for me this hurdle is
over, when I wake up tomorrow I will then think of my next game.”
Describing the Japanese as good, he
said, “The team we defeated is a good side; I respect them for pushing my boys
to the limit.”
On
a serious mood now
The Nigerian sport arena, especially
the football, presents some ups and downs as may be found in the life of a man.
No matter what your challenges might
be, you need to forge ahead with great resilient and optimistic spirit. Life is
not a bed of roses (you know that): life will not give you what you want but
what you request of it, you have also been told that (over time).
Then, dust yourself (from any point
of life that you are set back) and begin to move forward. Make yourself
relevant to solving the problems of these generations.
Seek God, find Him and build a final
relationship with Him (throughout your existence): He is the only one that can
guide you into all truths, through the Bible and the Holy Spirit – about Jesus
Christ.
