Sports loving and indeed all Nigerians have been so concerned on the
unexpected loss by the nation’s senior football team, the Super Eagles
to the South African side, the Bafana Bafana on Saturday, June 10, 2017
at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
In the light
of this, the Super Eagles coaching crew led by the Manager, Gernot Rohr
and the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
have separately previewed the result and offered reasons as to why the
Super Eagles lost, and the measures to correct such abysmal outing in
order to put the team back in its drive to play at both the Nation’s Cup
and World Cup respectively.
It is however unfortunate that while
these laudable appraisals are being done by the authorities; a few
persons have elected to fan embers of disunity by raising spurious and
misleading issues in a bid to misguide the public and possibly influence
a change of venue for the Super Eagles outside Uyo.
While nobody
may contend the decision as to where matches of the Super Eagles or
other national teams may be held, as the decision rests squarely with
relevant authorities; it is however distasteful to see how political and
mischievous dimensions have been introduced to blackmail Akwa Ibom
State and particularly the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium from
being used as the designated venue for Super Eagles’ home matches.
Public discourse can never earn the desirable outcome in the face of
wicked and fallacious campaigns as being canvassed by the propagandists.
The issues are there to examine, which bother on the state of the Super
Eagles and the players fielded to play in the ill-fated derby.
Employing superstition is completely outside the issue and it is
condemnable.
The insinuation that Godswill Akpabio International
Stadium has an “uneven” surface is laughable. The Sports authorities in
Nigeria and beyond do reckon with the stadium and regularly commend the
state-of-the-art facilities. So who should complain?
Besides,
the football fans’ friendliness in the Uyo match venue is legendary. Can
we make recollections as to the harsh treatments meted to the Nation’s
team before Uyo was finally considered? Even our Sports authorities have
severally commended the fans in Uyo for always supporting the Super
Eagles during their matches to the very end irrespective of match
outcomes as it happened last Saturday, June 10, 2017.
Do we need
to recall that when Nigeria defeated Algeria last year at the Godswill
Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo in a World Cup qualifier, that nobody
raised any eyebrow or questioned the facilities or any extra mundane
issues that might have propelled the team to victory? So, why now?
We also recall that the Super Eagles went to Zambia last year in a
World Cup qualifier and successfully got an away victory and we are
aware that the surface of the pitch in Zambia is not comparable to the
Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
In terms of support, the
Super Eagles have found a home in Uyo with the overwhelming passionate
support they have enjoyed on and off the field by the Government and
people of Akwa Ibom State including sports lovers who travel far and
near to watch matches.
Do we need to remind ourselves that it
has happened in some cities in Nigeria where football fans will either
boo the Super Eagles or desert the venue for abysmal performances or
conceding goals?
It is obvious that under such situations, the
stadium could have been deserted after the second goal scored by South
Africa last weekend, but as patriots, the fans in Uyo sustained their
support for the Super Eagles - cheering and singing, all through the
encounter irrespective of the final score line.
We are therefore
constrained to advice ‘mischief makers’ who have taken the path to
mislead the gullible Nigerian public to refrain from their acts of
deceit and to team up with concerned sport-loving Nigerians to pray for
the Super Eagles and the Sports authorities as they re-launch the team
on the path of victory.
The facilities at the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium, Uyo is so far the best in Nigeria and those who
should know, have repeatedly said so, which accounts for the use of the
Stadium.
The present exploits of premier league side, Akwa
United Football Club, whose home ground is the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium, Uyo is a further testimony of the good state of
the facilities at the stadium especially their home win against Wikki
Tourists of Bauchi in a re-scheduled week 23 fixture three days after
Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana clash.
Let us not introduce any
political twist into match venue as being orchestrated against the
Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
The hospitable nature of the
people of Akwa Ibom State has remained legendary, and having to support
the Super Eagles to win matches, it is a task that must be sustained.
The recent award bestowed on Governor Udom Emmanuel as Football
Friendly Governor of the Year during the Nigerian Pitch Awards on June
10, 2017 is a clear testimony of his commitment in driving sports
development.
Therefore as we discuss the Super Eagles loss to
South Africa, let us separate facts from calumny. This is how to be a
patriot knowing that football is a rallying point and a tool for
national unity.
Elder Patrick Albert Comrade Solomon Bassey
State Chairman, NUJ State Chairman, SWAN
Comrade Amos Etuk Comrade Emmanuel Akpan
State Secretary, NUJ State Secretary, SWAN
CC:
His Excellency
Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
Executive Governor
Akwa Ibom State
Rt. Hon. Monday Ebong Uko
Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Youth and Sport
Akwa Ibom State
Elder Paul Bassey
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on
Sports/Chairman Akwa United Football Club
Akwa Ibom State
No comments: