Hi everyone, I am Kayode Tijani, a Sports
Journalist of over twenty four years experience. I promised my Friend and
colleague NEECEE Boss-lady that I will be meeting you here regularly to
share lots of exclusive stories and insights in the world of sports as well as
my humble experience travelling round the world in the business of sports and
here I am. We shall do these regularly as you get to see the inside of Sports
as opposed to just what goes on in the sports arena. You shall get to really
meet the sports stars in their most natural moments through my experience with
them.
Here you will get to read the real stories
behind the breaking news, the true facts behind all the intrigues and
misinformation and propaganda. Also here we shall serve you lots of statistics
and facts normally missing in sports reporting nowadays. Sports reporting has
really changed from when I actually
started practicing around 1988, incidentally when confederation of African
football president, Cameroonian Issa Hayatou became CAF president, who
interestingly still now wants another four years and is fast becoming a huge
sit tight despot of sorts for sports. There are so much intrigue in sports and I am sure we will
share so many stories you won’t read elsewhere, and you start seeing the
reality of how things work as opposed to just the normal stories you get to
read.
But the major stories should centre around the
real actors of sports, the athletes and sports stars of whom without them we
would not be in the business of sports, because we in Africa always get it
wrong. We neglect the goose that lays the golden eggs and the sports
administrators who should be privileged for being there are the ones going home
with the loot. Trust me there are stories you will read here that will shock
you and probably make most of you want to cry. You will get to know what’s happening
to the former heroes of sports in Nigeria who have been totally neglected. You
will get to read of sports icons who are late but are still being owed.
Here you will get to know where
your past heroes are, what they are doing and how they are living their lives
in retirement.
Let me give you some examples here, for instance
for those old enough to know him, or you might have read of the name Alfred
onyeawuna, he was the real Nigerian scorer in the fifties, but today he’s in
his humble abode at festac town, blind but his pride still intact. Nobody in
Nigeria cares. He was the hero of the red devils, national team of Nigeria and
scorer of the goals that won multiple challenge cup gold. He told me point
blank that he doesn’t want anyone’s pity and will never beg for help. His story
is pathetic and I will be telling it to you.
I have been very fortunate I must tell you, I
got to interview and relate with the sports stars of the era from Haruna Ilerika
till date, that’s those who played around 1973 and have done over 120 one
hundred and twenty interviews over that period. I know the stories of the stars
and they always open up easily to me. There are lots of revelations coming your
way.
For instance on September 28, late soccer icon Best
Ogedegbe’s wife folashade will celebrate the third year anniversary; yes celebrate,
his death Best died three years ago during an eye operation. Fact is till date
best is still being owed millions by some Nigerian club sides and they are not
ready to pay, so
much stories to tell trust me.
Or is it the story of Samuel okwaraji you have
not heard? I spoke to his family and they are yet to understand why after over
twenty three years after he died on the pitch playing for Nigeria, the country
he lost his life for is yet to actually honour him. In fact you will get to
know how and why he lost millions in dollars for playing for Nigeria, his
family is still in court trying to get insurance money but he might have lost
that for coming to play for Nigeria. The amazing stories are not restricted to
the dead. Why did Nigeria continue not to respect or care about Chioma Ajunwa
who won for Nigeria its first ever Olympic gold medal? She told stories of real
intrigue and deceit.
Then there are these new generation of sports
stars. I will bring you amazing stories of new riches from the homes of the likes
of John Mikel Obi, who earns over twenty million naira weekly. the cars, the
mansions etc. these new stars, what are they doing with their money? All you
need to know.
Then we shall make sense together of big tournaments.
Why did we perform woefully at the Olympics, the behind the scene stories,
everything, money etc. and before I forget, our adventure will transcend Nigeria.
You will meet lots of African sports heroes both past and present. You will
follow me for instance to Abedi Pele’s home in Accra, to see his trophy cabinet
and meet his family and all.
I was head of sports for tv stations on sky tv
in Europe for four years, so I got so much to share with you from dealing with
the biggest sports personalities in the world. So enough of all these
introductions. The next time you read from me we shall go straight to details.
Of course you can reach me by email and social
network through the details below, so catch you then.
Facebook – Kayode Tijani
Follow on twitter@kayodetijani200
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