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.