If Not For June 12 …That Not Messy Eagles’ Ordeal

To many who believed and still do that the June 12,1993 presidential elections, generally known to have been won by business mogul and popular philanthropist late Chief Moshood Abiola was the best thing to happen to a politically depraved Nigerian state, and its eventual annulment by Military President Ibrahim Babangida, a curse, the outcome of last Saturday’s 2010 World Cup soccer encounter between a highly rated Argentine National side and the Super Eagles of Nigeria would mean one of two things.

Surely, that Nigeria lost by such a slim margin of 0-1, to a Lionel Messi inspired Mecurial Argentine National team might well be because the curse which June 12 epitomised is gradually losing its potency, or that the date still remains one for a national guilt which can only be assuaged by a national disappointment just like last Saturday’s which came in the form of soccer defeat.

Interestingly for once in a very long while, the Nigerian Senior National team, the Super Eagles, not withstanding the sixth minute goal by one of the world’s best teams of the tournament  gave the African continent and indeed Nigerians in particular a reason to believe that the Argentines were not invincible.

Strangely, perhaps on account of superior technical expertise by the new Super Eagles’ handler, Swede tactician Lagerback over his predecessors, Nigeria, for once had a strong bench with the likes of Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odewminge, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka and Uche Ikechukwu, among others. Although the Argentines were blessed with experience and tactical wit and also seemed to be better co-ordinated, more organised, obviously more skillful and business like, the Super Eagles succeeded in averting what many had predicted would have been, at least,  four goals to zero (4-0) humiliation.

But the Argentines’ superior ball possession, averaging  55-45, with an equally more business like shots on target, in the first 45 minutes, 12 against Nigeria’s zero and in the second 10 against 6, the Super Eagles held their heads high even in defeat as they proved very clearly that in spite of the misfortune of an early goal, the Argentines were no super humans.

Infact, to several who watched the match, the Eagles were victorious even in defeat and would have outclassed their opponents if not for the choice of that cursed date – June 12. Perhaps, a day earlier or even later would have made a huge difference even though margin of loss should give Nigerians hope for the better. With the only June 12 date, in this year’s calendar gone and two more encounters at the group stages with South Korea and Greece in Group B, the Nigerian National side should brace-up for the challenge of fighting an enemy in their own home, knowing that the outcome might either make or mar their soccer rating and international respect as an independent and respectable national side.

Need we add that, this year’s FIFA soccer World Cup being hosted by South Africa is indeed the first in 80 year history of the tournament that that African continent will play host to the world and the first time the hitherto derided dark continent will be showcasing her soccer prowess in this manner, using as many as six national teams which include host South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroun, and should leave nothing to chance.

Thus far, the co-operation among fans of the African teams in cheering their own to victory has been most awesome even unbelievable. Nigeria, for instance enjoys not only the blessing of a committed Presidential Support, the National Assembly, other top political office holders and indeed all Nigerians are all united in Support of the Super Eagles.

Infact, sans the large contingent of Eagles supporters, there is the unofficial official Nigerian political delegation headed by Senate President, David Mark a huge national investment which strangulating economic cost to the nation may be huge but so what? There is also the Presidential task force for the qualification of the Super Eagles to the World Cup, add impressive performance, headed by Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and then a technical crew which also includes officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), its state and national officers who, from all indices appear more concerned with their post World Cup elections into executive offices of their organisation than the World Cup.

In all these, it must be said that the crop of Nigerians in South Africa officially groomed to do battle is barely 23, the technical crew and NFF welfare officers amazingly more. Far far more.

All these, annoying as they may appear in these times of lean national earnings, are not the main source of worry. Apart from the misfortune of June 12, the date many, I inclusive, have chosen to blame for the wonderful showing but painful defeat of the Super Eagles even without a deserving draw, the other is the blunder of Hi TV, one of Nigeria’s indigenous cable networks.

Not too long ago, the Network prided itself as the best in Nigeria with a monopoly of showing the English Premiership League (EPL) franchise and beamed live to all its subscribers virtually everyEnglish league match to viewers.

But in an event as important as the FIFA 2010 soccer World Cup now going on for the first time on the African continent with the Nigerian National side in battle, Hi TV subscribers were last Saturday disappointed and  made to wonder about in search of other cable networks or sit at home to watch last year’s Athletics grand prix or watch a repeat of an EPL encounter between two English premiership sides Portsmouth versus Manchester United on their sports channels, Hi Sports 2 and Hi Soccer respectively while the Setata Sports Station shows viewers echoes of the last French open tennis competition. It took them up until yesterday to run half-hearted and belated  previews and analyses.

This column would hardly have bothered because our own Rivers State Television (RSTV), DSTV, Silver Bird TV Port Harcourt and CTL among many others are up to the challenge, but when about 250 angry subscribers staged a public protest after the Nigeria/Argentina encounter along some streets in the old Port Harcourt City, crying blue, it became instructive to show a little concern.

In days leading to the World Cup, the Hi TV Network embarked on a rigorous campaign aimed at encouraging subscribers to pay for subscriptions covering between one and three months, with a silent assurance that they would enjoy a better deal, which subscribers now find, does not include the World Cup.

If the thousands of Hi TV subscribers had not been denied live viewership of the World Cup, and obliged the privilege of cheering the Super Eagles against the almighty Argentine side, may be , just may be, the outcome might have been different, June 12 or not.

May be, the date June 12, being a day of protest, in spite of even the distraction which the World Cup offers, Hi TV wanted its subscribers to fill the void of anger in celebration of that date through the denial which successfully ignited the street protest. And shamefully so.

My Agony is not so much that Nigeria lost to a highly rated Argentine side and with such slim margin, it is instead that try as we have to forget June 12, its ghost still hovers around our every national endeavour. The intension of IBB to contest the 2011 Presidential election is one such reminder.

The way out may well be to declare that date, a public holiday for fasting and praying so that the ghost of June 12, may rest in peace. Please don’t just laugh it off.