Once again,I'm grateful to God Almighty for making the Golden Eaglets come out victorious during the Chile U-17 World Cup.They have successfully defended their crown thereby becoming the second to have done that after Brazil.Though it's our fifth success at the Championship,it's my prayer that we are able to defend the title for the third consecutive time during the next edition.If it happens that way,it would be the first time it would have been done.That would be a record to beat for a long time to come.
Having said that,I think this victory has a couple lessons for all and sundry.The very first is ...
Patriotism
There's nothing like being patriotic and passionate about one's country.If you ain't passionate about your country,NOTHING would seem right about ANYTHING.
Guys! If those boys were not passionate about Nigeria,they would be like the Super Eagles who are stock to twenty - something or there about in FIFA ranking.You see,let me explain.
Those boys are young,obedient and disciplined.They listened to instructions and play according to the directives given by their coach.This is only possible if the boys were selected based on merits and not by tribal and religious sentiments.
It's true,however,that the current crop of players were selected only from the Southern part of the country.But,the fact still remains that should it be that those boys were not patriotic and passionate about the Nigerian cause,they wouldn't make the National team. They had to play top quality football to make the team. Just as Amunike had declared, that their victory was a reward by God for their hardwork ALL IN THE NAME OF NIGERIA!
This goes to tell all those clamouring for Biafra that the hardworking and ambitious Igbos that are scattered all over Nigeria does NOT feel the alleged marginalization and anihilation they claim is meted on Igbos.They believe in hardwork and dilgence at work,hence,they have won several luarels for the country and have occupied their rigtful positions in nation building.
Pride and Confidence
Gaskia!Considering the oppositions the Eaglets faced during the tournament,one would tend to believe that the boys would not go far in the tournament.But,lo and behold! The boys,stood their ground against great footballing countries such as Brazil,Mexico and the USA and whooped their asses BIGGERLY!
If you ask me,that's a result of the combo of Confidence and Pride in one's ability.This is what is lacking in the greater number of our teeming youths - Confidence and Pride.
I have encountered a couple of artisans who fabricate quality products that stands the test of time...in fact,they tend to exceed the international standard.But, ask them, why they aren't producing for sale,they'll respond by asking you that who would buy?
I met one today and asked the same question.He made a little analysis that suggested that the cost of producing something worthwhile is high and that the existence of cheaper alternatives (from China,USA etc) discourages customers from buying such locally made product.He believes that the solution lies in the Government's encouragement through local product friendly policies.
Though to a high extent,I do understand and agree with him,I still think there's still room for improvement which can only be seen by whomever is confident and proud of his/her ability. I mean come to think of it.If it takes N2500 to fabricate an electric cooker and an imported one costs just N1500,if the local manufacturer of the local cooker is full of confidence and pride of his work,he would proudly challenge the durability of the imported product thereby winning the market for himself and his product in the end.
If the Eaglets had considered the better welfare packages of their opponents,they would have played half-heartedly and would have lost woefully as a result.But,due to their confidence and pride in the Nation,they played out their hearts and won the tournament ahead of better equipped and well cared for players from other countries!
Ignore the problems and challenges,focus on the prize and you shall always succeed.Like I said earlier,there are a couple of lessons to be derived from the Golden boys' victory,there's however, a limited time to discuss just a few of them.The last that I'll love to discuss is....
The Nigerian Dream
We have heard,one time or the other,the mention of the Ameican Dream.Now I ask you, what is the Nigerian Dream?!
If you ask me,The United State of America is what it is today because,her citizens dared to dream and in their dream,there's NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER! No country is expected to supercede America.The whole world must bow and worship them.Patriotism is key to their freedom which is the CORE of the American values.American citizens,be you black or white,be you rich or poor,you must put country first before personal interests.
Now,that's the American dream,What is the Nigerian dream?Our lack of patriotism,love and passion for the Nigerian project is the reason we have been stuck in under-development for so long.We don't see ourselves as one,that's why the FEDERAL CHARACTER was created,we see ourselves in tribal colours that's why a Yoruba man can never imagine in his wildest dreams to be a Local Government Chairman in the East,we see ourselves as Hausas,Yorubas and Igbos,that's the reason we need CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATES and SHARING FORMULA politically and economically.This wasn't a criteria in the selection of the boys (The Eaglets),selection was based on merits and National interest.
Yes! There were no Northerner in the team but the bottomline is that,it was Nigeria's U-17 National team that won the tournament not the Old Eastern Region team!Now,that's the spirit IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE YOU COME FROM,WHAT MATTERS IS NIGERIA!
We must sit down to fashion out a Nigerian Dream which would be our watch word when it comes to performance in any facet of life.Unless we dream,we would continue to wander around without Aims and Objectives!
Insha Allah,we would look more into the Nigerian Dream later,for now,I think we have done well and can as well call it a day! Congratulations once more on the victory of the Golden Eaglets!
Naija for life!
Long live Naija!!!
Having said that,I think this victory has a couple lessons for all and sundry.The very first is ...
Patriotism
There's nothing like being patriotic and passionate about one's country.If you ain't passionate about your country,NOTHING would seem right about ANYTHING.
Guys! If those boys were not passionate about Nigeria,they would be like the Super Eagles who are stock to twenty - something or there about in FIFA ranking.You see,let me explain.
Those boys are young,obedient and disciplined.They listened to instructions and play according to the directives given by their coach.This is only possible if the boys were selected based on merits and not by tribal and religious sentiments.
It's true,however,that the current crop of players were selected only from the Southern part of the country.But,the fact still remains that should it be that those boys were not patriotic and passionate about the Nigerian cause,they wouldn't make the National team. They had to play top quality football to make the team. Just as Amunike had declared, that their victory was a reward by God for their hardwork ALL IN THE NAME OF NIGERIA!
This goes to tell all those clamouring for Biafra that the hardworking and ambitious Igbos that are scattered all over Nigeria does NOT feel the alleged marginalization and anihilation they claim is meted on Igbos.They believe in hardwork and dilgence at work,hence,they have won several luarels for the country and have occupied their rigtful positions in nation building.
Pride and Confidence
Gaskia!Considering the oppositions the Eaglets faced during the tournament,one would tend to believe that the boys would not go far in the tournament.But,lo and behold! The boys,stood their ground against great footballing countries such as Brazil,Mexico and the USA and whooped their asses BIGGERLY!
If you ask me,that's a result of the combo of Confidence and Pride in one's ability.This is what is lacking in the greater number of our teeming youths - Confidence and Pride.
I have encountered a couple of artisans who fabricate quality products that stands the test of time...in fact,they tend to exceed the international standard.But, ask them, why they aren't producing for sale,they'll respond by asking you that who would buy?
I met one today and asked the same question.He made a little analysis that suggested that the cost of producing something worthwhile is high and that the existence of cheaper alternatives (from China,USA etc) discourages customers from buying such locally made product.He believes that the solution lies in the Government's encouragement through local product friendly policies.
Though to a high extent,I do understand and agree with him,I still think there's still room for improvement which can only be seen by whomever is confident and proud of his/her ability. I mean come to think of it.If it takes N2500 to fabricate an electric cooker and an imported one costs just N1500,if the local manufacturer of the local cooker is full of confidence and pride of his work,he would proudly challenge the durability of the imported product thereby winning the market for himself and his product in the end.
If the Eaglets had considered the better welfare packages of their opponents,they would have played half-heartedly and would have lost woefully as a result.But,due to their confidence and pride in the Nation,they played out their hearts and won the tournament ahead of better equipped and well cared for players from other countries!
Ignore the problems and challenges,focus on the prize and you shall always succeed.Like I said earlier,there are a couple of lessons to be derived from the Golden boys' victory,there's however, a limited time to discuss just a few of them.The last that I'll love to discuss is....
The Nigerian Dream
We have heard,one time or the other,the mention of the Ameican Dream.Now I ask you, what is the Nigerian Dream?!
If you ask me,The United State of America is what it is today because,her citizens dared to dream and in their dream,there's NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER! No country is expected to supercede America.The whole world must bow and worship them.Patriotism is key to their freedom which is the CORE of the American values.American citizens,be you black or white,be you rich or poor,you must put country first before personal interests.
Now,that's the American dream,What is the Nigerian dream?Our lack of patriotism,love and passion for the Nigerian project is the reason we have been stuck in under-development for so long.We don't see ourselves as one,that's why the FEDERAL CHARACTER was created,we see ourselves in tribal colours that's why a Yoruba man can never imagine in his wildest dreams to be a Local Government Chairman in the East,we see ourselves as Hausas,Yorubas and Igbos,that's the reason we need CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATES and SHARING FORMULA politically and economically.This wasn't a criteria in the selection of the boys (The Eaglets),selection was based on merits and National interest.
Yes! There were no Northerner in the team but the bottomline is that,it was Nigeria's U-17 National team that won the tournament not the Old Eastern Region team!Now,that's the spirit IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE YOU COME FROM,WHAT MATTERS IS NIGERIA!
We must sit down to fashion out a Nigerian Dream which would be our watch word when it comes to performance in any facet of life.Unless we dream,we would continue to wander around without Aims and Objectives!
Insha Allah,we would look more into the Nigerian Dream later,for now,I think we have done well and can as well call it a day! Congratulations once more on the victory of the Golden Eaglets!
Naija for life!
Long live Naija!!!
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