It has been a disappointing footballing week especially if you are a Nigerian and you have an affiliation with North London.
First the Premier League began it’s 2016/17 season but the 7 goal thriller at the Emirates was not to Arsenal’s favour. There were defensive concerns with young Rob Stark Holding partnered with Chambers. It was not the opening game Wenger wanted but it is now traditional that the Gunners is most likely not to win an opening league game.
Leicester City is next but it seems Arsenal are not just ready. They have mustafi-ed around for weeks and still nothinh to show for the available funds. Are we going to see Rob-Kos or Rob-Calum?
The Champions League is over for Enyimba after a 1-0 loss to Zamalek in Egypt. The visitors needed a victory but played like they were protecting a 2-0 first leg lead. That was not the Enyimba we used to know but they have taken a step further than last season. Will they be there next season.
The debate is on over Paul Aigbogun’s head and ThatEnyimbaFan has laid it out to the fans. It has been torturous season for Enyimba – no home, new coach, players movement et al – but they remain a force in Nigerian football. One more dead rubber game against Sundowns in Port Harcourt by Tuesday and their night watch for the GoT season is ended.
The Olympics is rounding up with Phelps and Bolt lapping every glory and honour in Rio but Nigerians are left with few opportunities to win at least a medal before it ends. Most of our wrestlers have been knocked, our sprinters couldn’t even make the final, our boxer out-pointed, our canoe rower honourably 20th. We are left with few chances, one of which is football.
The Dream Team could not reach the final of men football in the Olympics after a 2-0 defeat to Germany in the semifinals. It was their 1st semifinal defeat in the Olympics after an emphatic 4-3 comeback against Brazil in 1996 and a 4-1 thrashing of Belgium in 2008.
Maybe Etebo shouldn’t have be played in the dead rubber game against Colombia. Maybe Okey shouldn’t have gotten that silly yellow card against Denmark. Maybe Iwobi, Iheanacho and others could have shun club duties and be among the team. Maybe…
Nigeria League football took a sharp turn on Wednesday with the announcement that Giwa FC have been reinstated to the NPFL. Some of us thought the League Management Company twitter account had been hacked but lo and behold, the news was true. Their actions were as a result of a Jos court order.
Recall that Giwa FC were thrown out of the league for failing to honour three home games this season after they were banished away from Jos. How the LMC will manage this is yet to unfold but if Giwa FC is not eventually kicked out for good then we have taken several steps backward with chaos awaiting at the corner.
On the other side, the LMC finally gave a verdict on the abandoned game between Ikorodu United and Shooting Stars. Game has been dimmed complete at 1-1 and Ikorodu United have been fined and banned to Abeokuta.
So much trouble for one week. The weekend is here. Football continues across the world. Nigeria will play Honduras in the third place match in the Olympics, the NPFL continues with MD32, the Premier League enters the 2nd lap, and the season begins again in Spain and Italy with La Liga and Serie A actions respectively.
Have a fun filled weekend.
SoccerGunz 