SPAIN 3 NIGERIA 0… SERIOUSLY THOUGH, WHAT DID WE EXPECT?

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I think we should count ourselves fortunate for the humanitarian gesture displayed by the Spanish team in keeping their goal scoring tally to a minimum.

Spain forward Roberto Soldado sees the funny side after getting tangled up with Nigeria’s Azubuike Egwuekwe. Picture: Getty

We deserved a thorough bashing, but the goal margin was fair enough given the circumstance.

It may continue to ring out that Keshi’s team is in its developmental stage and playing the World’s best the way they did, the boys probably deserve some credit.

Yeah, right. *dripping with sarcasm*.

I was speaking to a friend earlier who did not have nice words for the Big Boss, insisting that he had a plethora of top notch players he refused to invite over personal issues. Worse, the best team he could field on the day could not even hold a Spanish team IV!

He is entitled to his opinion as I am entitled to mine.

Interestingly, PHCN behaved on the night but I was already at “Monday’s” with the wife to watch the match in the company of fellow enthusiastic patriots.

Brown Ideye… ‘sigh’ chai!!! 

Need I waste ink on his ability to fluff chances with impunity?

And Omeruo let me down with his half tackle on Jordi Alba which resulted in the first goal. A match he’d soon forget. Thank you for flashes of promising talent and success to you in the Premiership, if Jose Mourinho gives you the chance.

Enyeama, accept my sympathies for the result and thank you for the other saves.

May thanks to John Obi Mikel who continues to astound me with his top class performances, holding his own in midfield as well as any of the highly rated Spaniards, namely, Xavi and Iniesta! Given a better crop of decisive finishers, Mikel’s worth would have been better appreciated.

Even I have some praises for Ahmed Musa on this one, given his runs; strikers in the mould of the Late Rashidi Yekini would have had a field day. But what did we have?

Muhammed Gambo?

He’ll be grateful for the experience won’t he?

Anyway, it was a good tournament for the Eagles even though it ended their unbeaten run with two successive defeats.

But kudos still, they lost to better and more experienced teams and went down fighting.

Players clearly missed would include, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Osaze Odemwingie *no stone me oh!*

Hopefully we will see them in full glory ensuring we get the ticket to next year’s World Cup and beyond.

The Confederation’s cup continues with many pundits hoping for a Spain versus Brazil final.

Time will tell. Who knows, Uruguay fit get Brazil mumu button.

Enjoy your week.

Introducing: The Underground Spiritual Lounge

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The Underground Spiritual Lounge Premiers on Hussle Radio and features some of the finest Afrobeat Imports from all over the globe.

While Fela may be long gone physically, his music influences live on through the interpretations of various bands from different parts of the world.

We hope you enjoy this journey into sound.

PLAYLIST:

AFROBEAT BLUES - HUGH MASEKELA

DAT NIGER DELTA AFROBEAT POEM - MR SOMETHING SOMETHING FEAT. IKWUNGA

TOMORROW - BLACK MAGIC

HIGHLIFE - TALIB KWELI FEAT. RUBIX

WATER NO GET ENEMY - TALL BLACK GUY

ANTIBALAS - GO JE JE

COOLU TEMPER - LAGBAJA

EKO ILE - FELA


Follow us on twitter: @AfrobeatFusionX

Send us an email: afrobeatfusionx@gmail.com

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So Nigeria beat Tahiti 6-1... Hian!

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Before we get carried away by the seemingly awesome scoreline, we must 1st of all acknowledge the fact that for a ragtag team of part timers, Tahiti no suppose stand chance against the Champions of Africa.

The Super Eagles' performance on the whole was average and deplorable when it came to one-on-one encounters with a buttery handed goalkeeper.
There was some notable discipline in defence and I'm sure Enyeama is still piqued at having to a concede a goal. But that was a well executed corner kick and the header has never been a Goalkeeper's friend.

Mikel may not have shone like a million stars but those threaded passes still got my attention. Nnamdi Oduamadi showed precision up front and maintained the predator stance of a knowledgeable striker. Ahmed Musa, clearly has issues with his final ball decisions but can't knock him for a few good crosses in. He has pace but needs to run with the ball at his feet, not behind him! I expected more from Brown Ideye, wasted opportunities did him no justice. Yes, Echiejile may have scored a brace but he often forgot his defensive duties... e be like say im wan quick shine incase im no fit against Uruguay and Spain!

Hopefully against the Uruguayans, we shall appreciate what it means to have sitting chances. I'm confident the defence can handle Suarez and his cohorts, God help him if he tries to bite anybody, the headbutt wey im go chop eh!

Listening to the post match analysis on SuperSport last night, I have to say I share Dr Khumalo's views on the poor performance of the Tahitians against the Eagles. His emphasis being on the fact that the Eagles could have done better and agreeing that the Tahitians put up a worthy fight, diminishes the obvious need for Keshi's men to improve.

Well, we shall celebrate the 3 points and hope it inches us closer to glory but we'd have to hope that Spain makes more booboos in front of goal against Tahiti than we did.

As for Tahiti, looking forward to your beaches and sun... later in the year!

And wetin be that jazz necklace wey una give us sef?

My Radio Story (Part 3)

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 Guys… This will be the final part and I’ll do my best to focus on the benefits and lessons of my foray on radio so far. I am nowhere near the icons but I am grateful to those who still found me worthy enough to honor me and predict bigger and better things ahead. 

It took three months to receive my letter of employment which was read to me first over the phone. I had lost faith and interest when I received news that a particular “Oga” was not impressed with my No Godfather status. However, it took some strong convictions prompted by divine intervention to overturn his verdict. 

My first paid employment as a broadcaster was as a sport presenter. I didn’t last long on that desk as I had my eyes on full on presentation and wiggled, weaved, coerced and proved beyond a reasonable doubt that that was where I belonged. It meant extra hours on the graveyard shifts, news reading and audio library supervision.

 I had to on many occasions, edit songs for radio broadcast. Fun and fulfilling, that was, though ultimately tiring. I still recall the day I had to take over an afternoon shift while a senior presenter got served his suspension papers. It was a wake up call to the realization that one man’s misfortune reeks of opportunity for the young upstart! The lessons I have learnt so far include…

 1. Grabbing the opportunity when it presents itself: You may like someone a lot and consider taking up his space as a snitch move, but the truth of the matter is, you’ve got to step up to the plate when called upon. My advantage was constant preparation. I had the entire station’s schedule in my head and knew what to play and what to say, when to play and when to say… and I did that and still do. Despite the playback limitations I was able to introduce a seamless audio automation format, which improved the quality of the station’s output. 

 2. Expanding skill sets: I was hired primarily to present sport. I broke out and showed off my flair for entertainment and news. Not just as a presenter but as a producer and editor, my music production background enabled I determine how and what songs were appropriate for airtime. I also developed a knack for producing station promos and jingles, and also lent my voice to TV news narrations. 

 3. Productive Internet Activity: Not a big fan of formal education, probably because I don’t think the grade system represents applicable knowledge garnered, I delved into “how-to” YouTube videos and Google searches for broadcasting tips and updates from well informed climes and put such garnered knowledge to good use. 

So far, across three radio station platforms and in just over six years, I’ve functioned as Presenter, Producer, News Reader, TV host, Station Production Manager and now I’m venturing into entrepreneurship with Audio Imaging & Production and Media Consultancy. In everything, I insist that my passion comes first and income later. My passion is the reason I look forward to redoing things rather than getting stuck in a rot. Between jobs, I have found new ways to rebrand and re-present myself to the broadcast community of employers, colleagues and fan base. 

Every day, I do it all over again.

I wouldn’t change anything if asked to. 

(The Beginning)

(January 2010 STAFF OF THE MONTH):

MY RADIO STORY: PART 2

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Sorry I left you hanging. I wanted the Nigerian movie effect to generate some sort of anticipation. I guess that did not work as they seldom do with those movies either.

Anyway, I got my first 15 minutes of showmanship on a drive-time belt, co anchoring with a good friend of mine who these days, prefers the pen to the microphone. We basically gossiped about celebrities and I had the extra fortune of providing the segment’s music bed which I had produced myself.

107.8 Ahjman, UAE's Sid & I, 2007

Days later, I was assigned voice-over duty for a social political show, radio drama and jingle for a Sunday afternoon show. Then I was asked to pair with an experienced presenter on Friday nights as well. Using my small book of artiste contacts, I was able to get a few important interviews in.

I must say that at the time, there were difficulties. I was not making any income and I had been forced to ask myself if it was all worth it. I went home many Saturday mornings, barely sane from exhaustion and long treks in the wee hours.

But a few years down the line, my consistency was rewarded with a job opportunity. This was particularly groundbreaking for me as I had no insider or uncle or Godfather to refer me. I had a good friend though, who had encouraged me since my first day and she assured me things would fall in place.

I had my doubts. I worried about my insufficient experience and my academic clause.

Three years after my internship, I received a call for an interview. Prior to that time, I did not know how to knot a tie; I was uncomfortable with tucking in and wearing a jacket. But I had an interview to attend. So I got my next door neighbor and friend to teach me the basics of formal appearances. It took me less than 2 minutes to get a hang of it.

Off I went, CV in hand and heart in my throat. My interview turned out to be a pleasant conversation with my employer, who pleaded with me to allow him have his breakfast while we chatted as he could not bear to keep me waiting. I was stunned when after about fifteen minutes I was offered a job which began the next day.

Nothing in the world prepared for that. I had expected to scale two or more interviews or at least make the finals… but not this.

I stuttered my thank you, sir and stumbled out of the office barely breathing.

However, it was going to take a little longer to receive my letter of appointment…

(… to be continued…)

Again, kwa?