WORLD CUP 2010, SOUTH AFRICA'S TRIUMPH AND NIGERIA'S SHAME?

As the world gathered in South Africa celebrates the coming of age of the African continent regarding its capacity to host a major world sporting event, Icheoku says the honor is South Africa's; and only South Africa! Today, Friday June 11th 2010 is the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup 2010 soccer tournament in South Africa; what a thing of great joy that at last something good is happening in a stunted continent which have become the cry-baby of the world?

Icheoku celebrates with South Africa; albeit with mixed feelings in that whilst the self-proclaimed giant of Africa, Nigeria, is still slumbering, South Africa has since moved on as the preferred destination for a gathering of the world, celebrating the round leather sports event.

Like the popular aphorism goes, what is ours is ours and what is mine is mine; so it is that Icheoku longs that it is in Nigeria and not South Africa that the festival of soccer 2010, which officially starts today, is being celebrated. Icheoku hopes South Africans will understand the good-faith brotherly jealousy being expressed here in that Nigeria which helped liberate apartheid South Africa, has so damaged itself by several years of self-inflicted injury, caused by series of inept leaderships, that South Africa have now over-taken it in practically in every departments; including being the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup tournament. This is despite the fact that South Africa does not produce or export any oil, unlike Nigeria which was once awashed with oil revenue, so much so that the genocidal Yakubu Gowon once declared that he was at a loss with what to do with money?

Instead of these deficient leaderships applying the billions of dollars received over the years towards developing the infrastructure and public image of the country, they siphoned it into their private safe deposit accounts in Switzerland, Cayman Island and other colluding countries of the world; and shamelessly parade and pride themselves after being forced out of office as multi-billionaires? Evil genius Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida's infamous $12 billion dollars embezzlement readily comes to mind and he wants to again be president? These people are so daft to think that the world regards them any seriously, having stolen from the coffers which they were mandated to guard. Now the world is celebrating South Africa by staging its soccer fiesta on their soil and the sick stunted child of Africa, Nigeria, sidelined, is angling for attention and loathing for a switching of sides? But the bible warns us 'thou shall not covet!" Icheoku says, only in their wildest dreams; except there is a serious introspective thinking and change of hearts, with a more desirable goal-directed objective and a clear destination in sight. Only such a B-line is capable of taking Nigeria to the promised land.

Anyway, since Nigeria is not the res-discussion here but a celebrating South Africa, Icheoku begs to pivot back to the biggest sports festival of the world - the FIFA World Cup 2010, being hosted in the land of Liberator Nelson Mandela. With a line-up featuring Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon, England, Netherlands, Denmark, Slovakia, South Korea, Australia, North Korea, Japan, Spain, Serbia, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, United States of America, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, etc - the best there is in the art of soccer artistry 2010, Icheoku cannot but expect to be thrilled and entertained as the month-long festival unfolds. Who wins depends on who mother-luck favors most as most of the participating countries gave it their all in order to qualify in the first place, so they understand the high stakes poker game facing them; also the days of Brazil's absolute dominance of the event has long been gone.

However, Icheoku pitches its hat with Argentina as the country that will win the trophy and at worst, play in the finals. Their superlative players Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Inter-Milan's Diego Milito are two exceptional players to watch out for to display spectacular, mesmerising dexterity with the round leather object. In short, their soccer wizardly is such a thing of joy any day, any time, for any soccer fan; and they can score goals from any and near impossible angles and distances too. Further their coach Diego 'Hand of God' Maradona promised to run around naked in the event Argentina wins the trophy; and Icheoku cannot wait to splash the picture of his tiny-biddy whinny on our website; how about that for some comic relief? As for the host country, South Africa, it is good enough they qualified and should do their best not to get eliminated at the early stages; and the other two somewhat expectant African countries - Nigeria and Ivory Coast; Icheoku will not bet a dime on their longevity in the tournament.

Be that as it may, it is good enough that for the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup, that motherland is playing host to all the world soccer loving people. That by itself is a milestone and every black/colored man and woman should be very proud of that singular honor; South Africans in particular should walk heads-high, with some air of haughtiness for having the privilege to fly that first African flag as a host of the world cup. Thank you International Football Federation Association (FIFA) for granting South Africa and by extension Africa the hosting rights for this year's mundial. Congratulation South Africa for what you have managed to put together in preparation; let the game begin! Goodluck to you all participants.

Slovakia