EAGLES OF HOPE: AMODU NEEDS TO SEEK GOD’S ADVICE IN CHOOSING THE FINAL 22 FOR THE NATION’S CUP.

Coach Amodu has chosen the provisional team, and it includes most of the players that played in the qualifiers. This is a wise move as continuity is best for the Super Eagles at this moment in time. But great caution needs to be taken in choosing the final 22 players that will carry out the assignment. I will advice Coach Amodu to seek God’s help in choosing these players, as it was God that brought us to the stage that we are right now, so neglecting God will not be a good idea. May I remind us that right from the first match we played in the qualifiers for both the Nation’s cup and the World cup, we have always been seeking God’s help; it is advisable to seek him in choosing the players for the coming tournament. God wants us to always ask for his advice and favour and he is always willing to help. If we look in the Word of God we will see that people were able to make a lot of progress only after they have prepared themselves through praying. The people of Israel learned to pray before going to any war, they sought for God’s directions and instructions, and every time they followed God’s advice, his favour was upon them. But the moment they choose to do things by themselves and ignored God’s advice they end up defected. Coach Amodu needs to learn from this and seek for divine intervention always. May I remind anyone that the very moment Coach Amodu invited God to help us in our matches he has chosen to put his trust in him, so God expects him to do that all the time in everything he does with the national team.

Luke 6:12 says that Jesus went on top of a mountain to pray to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Now if Jesus could seek God’s advise in choosing his apostles, who are we to think we can do things by ourselves?

Whilst it was good for Coach Amodu to be loyal to the players that qualified us, he needs to take a close look at some of the players that are coming out of injury. There are question marks on players like Obafemi Martins, Joseph Yobo and Danny Shittu are they going to be fit enough for the tournament? . I hope Coach Amodu will put the country first and choose players that are 100% fit and ready to fight for the nation.

HAND OF HENRY NOT OF GOD

This might be a belated comment I am making on this incident in the match between Ireland and, France but it still counts. My take on this is simple, people had no right labelling this the hand of God. There was nothing miraculous about what Thierry Henry did, infact I will call it cheating. Though Henry showed some compassion for the Irish players after the game, he should have hold a press conference and apologise for what he did, and that will have nail everything in the bud. As for the Irish, they need to stop crying over spilt milk and just move on. This incident should not damage the relations between the two countries, after all it is just a game. Fifa did the right thing not allowing a replay as that will lead more countries calling for the same thing. One thing Fifa can do is use Henry as an example by banning him from the first two game in the world cup. That will deter other players from doing the same.

EAGLES OF HOPE: GOD’S FAVOUR CONTINUES

ARGENTINA

NIGERIA

KOREA

GREECE

The recent world cup draw in south Africa has brought some joy and sadness to the countries involved, in the case of Nigeria’s group, I can not help but proclaim that God’s favour is written all over it. It is a known fact that when God starts something he goes on and finish it, I believe Nigeria is going through that process right now. Looking at the teams in our group, I am happy that we will be meeting Argentina and Greece again for these are teams that we have played against before. The South Koreas are a team we have never met at the senior level before, but for the fact that they qualified from their region they cannot be under rated. Our preparation for the world cup in South Africa in my view will determine how far we will go. I believe we have the players that can do us proud at the world stage. Now that we know who are opponents will be at the group stages, it will be advisable for the NFF to organise friendly matches with countries that are similar in style of play to the ones we will be playing against. For example in other to prepare for Argentina, friendly matches can be organised with all of the South America teams that also qualified for the world cup be it (Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and brazil). Countries similar in style of play with Greece include (Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia), whilst country similar to South Korea will be North Korea. All these matches must be played in Africa in other to acclimatise for the tournament in South Africa. Organising these matches should not be a problem considering the fact that these countries will be looking to play friendly matches and acclimatise at the same time for the world cup. I will recommend we play all of the countries mentioned starting from after the African nation’s cup (February). By playing all these matches about eight in number we stand a chance of gaining a better knowledge of our opponents and this we give the coaching crew the opportunity to have a close look at the players. I believe it is possible to organise a friendly at least once a month leading to the world cup. The PTF and the NFF must put all hands on deck to make sure we have a good preparation for the world cup. The NFF should approach corporate bodies in the country and get them involved in organising matches for the Eagles. I read in a Nigerian newspaper about a corporate body willing to organise friendly matches against Brazil and some other countries, if this is true, it is a good development.

Playing in the world cup is every footballer’s dream, so Nigerian should expect to see the very best of our boys. Nigerians should stop judging our boys on what they saw in the qualifiers. Preparing for every match in the qualifiers was not the best as far as Nigeria is concern but we were still able to qualify without losing a single match, and this cannot be attributed to the fact the we had an easy group, all the matches we played in the qualifiers were competitive. Starting from the African nation’s cup Amodu Shuaibu now has the chance to build his team. I believe he knows his team already so the only thing left will be to fill the weak areas.

Back up for Mr Amodu:

I read in a newspaper about the PTF and the NFF holding a meeting and concluding that coach Amodu will need some support for the world cup. This is a good development, and this support should not come from anyone other than Samson Siasia and Stephen Keshi. Hiring a foreign coach will only destabilize the work that was been done since the qualifiers. The coach will come with his own ideas only to quit or be sacked after the world cup, and we will end up turning to another home base coach to lead the team. Apart from this, it is very important to keep the people God has decided to work through in place. Nigeria cannot keep making the same mistake; it is time to put our trust in our own and pray for God’s continuous favour.

EAGLES OF HOPE: THE NEED FOR AMODU TO CONTINUE

Nigeria’s qualification for the 2010 world cup is still a mystery to many people including non- Nigerians. There was a conversation I heard between a Nigerian man and a Ghanaian a few days ago on Nigeria’s qualification. Looking at the man’s face I could see amazement written on it, the man could not believe how Nigeria could have been so fortunate. The man’s words were like this “so Nigeria actually qualified? Tunisia lost”. As I heard this statement and saw the surprise on the man’s face, I was thinking to myself if they only knew it was GOD that did it. We Nigerians should see ourselves privileged that GOD answered our call. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” . It was not just the prayers of the team that got them through; it was the prayers of millions of people that got us through. Since GOD as chosen to come to our aid, it is save to say that he will be with us in future battles. However, it is crucial that we get our house in order if we are to be the head and not the tail. We have to at least dress for battle and are ready to fight. GOD has to see our preparation towards wining the Africa nation’s cup in Angola and the world cup in South Africa. Wining these tournaments is not too big a dream if we know the GOD we serve and the players that he has given us. I believe the players that we have now are capable of doing us proud. There is no need for us to start looking for something that is not lost. The current eagles can achieve a lot if given the right preparation and are been guided by the right coach. This coach should not be any other person than Shauibu Amodu, the man who is the only indigenous coach to qualify the country for the world cup. Looking at our qualification record for next year’s world cup, I cannot help but praise GOD and congratulate coach Amodu for the wonderful achievement. Going through the qualifiers without a defeat is a first in Nigeria’s qualification history, and it was done by a coach that many Nigerians do not see as been technical astute. I think it is time Nigerians start to look at Amodu and his coaching crew with a close eye, if not, they might miss something very important. I have a strong believe that if Nigeria is to achieve anything meaningful in both the Africa nation’s cup and the world cup it is going to be through Amodu. You do not remove a man that GOD has decided to work through to get us to the promise land. The moment a foreign coach is brought in to take over from Amodu is going to be the moment the Super Eagles will be diverting from GOD’S will. The best thing to do now is just to leave things as they are and give the necessary support to the present coaching crew prepare well for both tournament and continue to seek God’s favour. I recommended the addition of Samson Siasia to the coaching crew; this I believe will help both Amodu and Siasia as they stand to gain from each other. Amodu can gain from Siasia’s technical and motivational skills whilst Siasia can gain from the Amodu’s experience with working with our top players. There is no way the combination of Amodu, Siasia, Amokachi, Amoo, and Agu can fail if given the right support.

Super eagles: What’s is in a name?

I read Mr Segun Odegbami’s your article recently about changing the name of the national team back to the GREEN EAGLES. While I do support your reasons that you gave, I personally will like us to keep the name SUPER EAGLES. It is believed in Christianity that saying good things to oneself will make it come to pass. GOD wants us to say good things to ourselves, so I see the name as a prophecy of what is to come. Every Nigerian will like the eagles to be super and win any tournament there is, I believe we are on our way to this stage. All we need to do is believe in GOD and ourselves, a lot can be achieved if we give ourselves a chance. We need to claim that name SUPER EAGLES and pray to GOD that it comes to pass.

SANNI EMMANUEL: FROM ALTER BOY TO WORLD DOMINATION

Nigeria's new sensation at the recently concluded Under 17 world cup in Nigeria turned out to be a boy that GOD has decided to guide to stardom . His name is Sani Emmanuel , a boy who is a member of Pastor T.B Joshua's synagogue church in Nigeria. Sani came from a very poor family in Nigeria, it is believed that the pastor of his church is taking responsibility for his family. Sani was discovered playing for My People Football club, a club set up by the pastor of his church to help your boys in the community. He was invited into the under 17 team and the rest is now history. His introduction into the world stage was a bit special coming from the substitute bench to score 5 goals in world class tournament to win the second highest scorer and the most outstanding player of the award. Sani Emmanuel will be a bit of fresh air for Nigerian football as he is bound to rule the world. Sani was humble throughout the tournament always showing his appreciation to GOD every time he scores a goal. Sani believes GOD gave him the talent that he has and everything he achieved in the tournament. For the bible says in Philippians 4:13"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". I pray that GOD's favour continue to dwell in his life.

NIGERIA'S WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION: GOD'S INTERVENTION

I will like to first all congratulate every football loving Nigerian on the this planet, as our qualification for the 2010 world cup in south Africa will be remembered for years to come not only by Nigerians but by non- Nigerians as well. Every Nigerian in the UK are still talking about our qualification, while the wise ones among them recognise that it was the work of GOD, the unwise ones were claiming juju was used. I am one of those who recognised the work of God on that day. Infact as I was watching the match against Kenya , I have never felt the kind of calmness that I felt during that match in any Nigerian match that I have watched, and this was even before we equalised after going a goal down. During the match I was receiving assurance that once Obafemi Martins comes on goals will start coming, and that’s exactly what happened. This assurance I received, I later realised from the Holy Spirit. Being a born again Christian and blessed with the holy spirit, I was so consume by the game to realise who was assuring me everything was going to be ok. It was after the game was almost over that I realised that it was GOD communicating with me.

Casting our mind back to the game in Kenya, our darling team the Super Eagles did not put in a good display, it was only the goals that came from individual brilliance given by GOD to our players that got us through. The hero of the match turned out to be Obafemi Martins, the same player who threw away two golden chances that could have won the game in Maputo.

I will like to bring it to every Nigerian’s attention that GOD who qualified the country for the 2010 world cup is not finished with us, he is the same one that will lead us to win it. But it is very important that we help ourselves first, through good preparation and commitment, this applies to both the players and the NFF. I will recommend that PTF should now have a change of duty, which should be from qualifying for the world cup to winning it. This is not a dream that is too big, for the bible says in Philippians 4:13 ‘ I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGHTENS ME’. There is a reason why GOD helped Nigeria to qualify and that reason is to win it. The world has already seen a taste of what the Super Eagles can do when we beat France in a friendly match. This is God’s own team, and the reason for this is because the players plus the whole country always seek HIS favour before we start any match. For the bible says in 2 chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land". The bible also says in Deuteronomy 28:13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

ANYONE REMEMBER THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN FROM THE WWF WRESTLING FAME ?

After all the fame and the women that came with it , The million dollar man (real name Ted DiBiase) is now a born - again Christian. He is now involved in preaching in prisons, orphanages, youth detention centres.

DOCTOR GOD FOR HARTSON

Shame to hear about about John Hartson having cancer. Hartson has been a wonderful footballer both in the premiership and the SPL playing for big clubs like Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic. Mr Hartson's sister recently pleaded to fans to pray for him. I think it is time Mr Hartson starts thinking about giving his life to Christ. He needs to communicate with GOD himself. The devil is responsible for all affliction, the bible says In 1John 3:8, “... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” GOD is loving and he is the best of all doctors. HE is willing to help if only Hartson will ask.

THE CASE OF CASTER

This is an extra ordinary case in the world of sports, and it has brought a lot of embarrassment on the athlete, the IAAF and the South Africa sports federation. The IAAF and the South Africa sports federation should have handled this case better, and save the little girl the shame. Caster has every right to compete with other women, it is not her fault that she has three times the testosterone a woman should have, she didn't made herself GOD made her and it is to prove a point. Caster should be allowed to continue to compete with other women, infact the IAAF should let her keep her medals, but they may have to give another gold medal to the woman that came second in the spirit of fairness. The solution to Caster problem is simple, in future races, she should be willing to give a head start to other athletes, since she has an advantage over them due to her testosterone level. CASTER SHOULD NOT BE CAST OUT, she is a human being like the rest of us. Infact she is a SUPER WOMAN.

DOES GOD BOTHER ABOUT SPORTS ? THE ANSWER IS YES.

This is to let the people who think GOD will not have anything to do with sports know that HE has involvement in sports. Lets start with the Athletes that entertain people on the field of play with their skills. God made these people, and he gave them the talent that they have, everytime you see a footballer dribbling and doing wonderful things with the ball, or a sprinter running faster and breaking the world record, thats GOD gift that you are witnessing whether the athlete acknowledge it or not. God has been producing exeptional athletes from time to time. He has been producing these athletes in all kinds of sport. Every sports can point to one or more exceptional athlete. Lets take for example a sport like athletics and lets focus on the sprinters. Usain Bolt is now been regarded as the greatest athlete of all time because of his recent achievement in 100 metres clocking 9.58 seconds. Before Bolts, athlete like Michael johnson was seen as greatest. Same thing applies to football , basketball and any other sport. Before Kobe Bryant, Shaq O'neil, Messi, Ronaldo there were athletes regarded as the best. If you look at the pattern, you will see that God is always providing something better. Psalms 72:18(NLT) says: Praise the LORD GOD, the GOD of Isreal, who alone does such wonderful things.

The world of sports should be thankful to GOD for he has provided all these talents, without the talents sports will not be interesting, it will just be a repetion of achievement, nothing mindblowing.

ATHLETES SHOULD ALWAYS GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THEIR TALENT AND ACHIEVEMENT

I believe it is the duty of every sportsmen and women to give thanks to the Almighty God for the talents that they have and their achievement on the field of play. Getting to be an athlete is not an easy task, apart from the hard work and training, they also have that special gift that other people do not have which makes them stand out and compete at the world stage. The Williams sisters (venus and serena) did not just trained hard to get to where they are now, they had the talent and the sisters appreciate what God has done for them that is why they always give thanks after winning any tennis tournament. The bible says 'Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever'. (Psalm 136:1) Athletes like Evander Holyfield, George Foreman has shown the world the role God can play in sport perfomance by winning fights when least expected.

ATHLETES NEED STOP GLORIFYING SELF

Athletes like Usain Bolts, Cristiano Ronaldo needs to stop praising themselves and give thanks to the most high. These two came out of poor families, God gave them a special talent to help left their families out of poverty. The problem with most sportsmen and women is they tend to get carried away by thier success. A footballer like KAKA as shown the world that God is his provider by always giving praise and letting the world know that he loves JESUS.

God's grace on brother Linvoy

Linvoy Primus is a good example of a role model. The brother is a born again christian and one of the founders of FAITH & FOOTBALL , a christian organisation using football to preach the gospel. You will surely not hear of Linvoy coming out of an expensive night club like most footballers do or been charge with drunk driving. The acceptance of JESUS in our lives can make a lot of difference. GOD takes care of his own as it applies to Linvoy who was recently offered the position of Club ambassador of Portsmouth fc. Now the brother don't have to worry about how he is going to survive when he retires. Linvoy will be involve in mentoring youth players and looking after the problems of everyone in the club.

HALLELUJAH FC- Using football to preach the gospel

Hello blog world,

I will like to start off my blogging by telling the story of a football club set up in South Korea for christian missionary work. Hallelujah Fc, set up in 1980 was the first professional club set up in South korea. The club won the first k-league title consisting mainly of christian evangelical players. This development as shown that Football and sports in general is a good tool in preaching the gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. This is a club that is financially dependent on churches, individuals and the local council to get by due to lack of sponsorships from companies. God as been the main sponsor of the club. Hallelujah fc is not the only club to be set up by a group of christians. Big clubs like Rangers fc of scotland set up by a group of protestants and Celtic fc set up by a group of catholics, but these clubs are not religion minded, infact there is nothing to show people of there christian link apart from there history. Portsmouth fc has taken the bold step by being the first professional club to promote christianity by working with a charity founded by one of their players LINVOY PRIMUS called FAITH & FOOTBALL . This organisation was set up with the aim of using football to preach the gospel .