Project Exclusives

Super Eagles’ Build-up to AFCON 21′ – The German Ex, the Home-based Interim, and the Portuguese Observer

With the team’s first appearance at the AFCON coming in 1963, the year the Black Stars of Ghana first won theirs, the Super Eagles have gone on to record 19 appearances at Africa’s elite tournament. Winning it thrice (in 1980, 1994 & 2013), coming second quadruple times, and clinching 3rd place a record eight (8) times, the Nigerian national team are noted to be one of the most successful teams in AFCON’s history, alongside the Pharaoh’s of Egypt, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, and the Black Stars of Ghana, who have won the competition 7, 5, & 4 times respectively.

Bullet Points

From the 40-man provisional list drawn up by Rohr, to the 30-man invitees, to Eguavoen’s edited 28-man sqaud, was a hit back to back
The Franco-German managed the Super Eagles for five (5) years including the team’s last AFCON outing in Egypt 2019, winning bronze, before getting axed early in December 2021
Austin Eguavoen who’s an indegenous coach has once led the Super Eagles to an AFCON Bronze medal in 2006, now he’s the interim manager
The NFF have also appointed the services of Portuguese native, José Peseiro, only but to observe, then take charge after the AFCON tournament
About 13 debutants feature in the final squad list heading to Garoua, Cameroon, after five players pulled out due to injury crisis or Covid19 complications

What we know

One of the questions that will linger in the hearts and minds of patriotic football fans supporting the Giants of Africa going into the AFCON in January 2022, would be what the game plan is to better our showing at this time of asking. With three (3) different Coaches gifting the team their three different titles, (Otto Glória, Brazilian, in 1980; Clemence Westerhof, Dutch, in1994; Steven Keshi, Nigerian, in 2013), it is only natural to hope for a fourth triumph on our (Nigeria’s) 19th outing at the competition.

This time, the team have seen the presence and absence of an array of coaches in diverse capacities within a month – The Franco-German Ex, Genort Rohr, who got axed in early December, the home-based Interim, Austin Eguavoen, who’s been tasked to lead the team to AFCON 21′, and the Portuguese Observer, José Peseiro, who got appointed to observe in the meantime. It definitely needs no soothsaying, that the team seems unproven, yet to click, and may struggle for rhythm as they kick-off their campaign against fellow group D’s Egypt on the 11th.

The Nigerian national footbal team first made their AFCON debut in 1963, before going on to win the title in 1980, 1994, and 2013, making up to 19 appearances in their history.
Super Eagles AFCON stats

First, it was a 40-man provisional list provided by the then estranged Franco-German, Genort Rohr to the NFF, from which a number of 30 players would be invited to camp, after which a final 28-man squad was unwrapped by Eguavoen on Christmas day, before five players pulled out, and got replaced for a final scroll.

Withdrawals & Debutants

Among the players who were once on the list are, Napoli’s talisman, Victor Osimhen, who suffered a facial injury in November, before testing positive for Covid19, and then had to be withdrawn back to his Italian base. Then Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis, whose relegation bound team insisted the NFF’s call-up came in a tad too late to allow their current most in-form player to heed the clarion call. Glasgow Ranger’s Leon Balogun and AC Omonia’s Abdullahi Shehu both pulled out due to injury concerns and active play, while Arabian’s Al Shabab forward, Odion Jude Ighalo remains highly doubtful.

About thirteen (13) players would be making their debut for the Super Eagles at this time of asking, and one shocking name on the radar would be Leicester City’s Kelechi Ịheanachọ, who would have been a part of the team in 2019, but was a victim of unpleasant circumstances, despite winning the U-17 World Cup, and making his senior debut back in 2015. Other first-timers would be Glasgow Ranger’s Joseph Aribo, 2015 U-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner and Huesca’s Kelechi Nwakali, CSKA Moscow’s Chidera Ejuke who’s currently ranked 3rd best dribbler in the world behind Spaniard Adama Traore of Wolves and Argentine’s Nahuel Luján of Universidad de Chile, to mention but a few.

Team Play

Taiwo Awoniyi of Union Berlin would be looking to bolster the attack alongside the likes of Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and FC Nanes’ Moses Simon, not forgetting the team’s skipper, (Sir) Ahmed Musa of Fatih Karagümrük, with Leicester City’s duo Kelechi Ịheanachọ and Wilfred Ndidi attacking and defending in the middle of the pack apace Joe Aribo and Kelechi Nwakali, factoring the absence of Stoke City’s loanee, Oghenekaro Etebo.

No oyinbo pairing this time with Balogun pulling out, leaving William Troost-Ekong looking to pair either Chidozie Awaziem of Alanyaspor or Kenneth Omuero of Leganes, if we are also to throw in a debutant, Olisah Ndah of Orlando Pirates, into the mix.

Maduka Okoye of Sparta Rotterdam seems like the first-choice goalie, with Daniel Akpeyi, Franci Uzoho, and John Noble as viable options.

Sacking Rohr meant the NFF wanted a better outing than the previous showing, which would translate to better results than Bronze, as patriotic football fans would be anxious to witness either progression or regression under the current federation’s governing body.

The German Ex has left, the indigenous caretaker takes up the role in interim, and the appointed Portuguese observer would rather take a back seat as the 33rd installment of Africa’s elite competition of Nations takes center stage come the 9th of January in Cameroon.

The Word of God – A Two-edged Sword

In the letter written to the church in Ephesus, Paul was apt in the sixth chapter where he admonished us to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand when the evil days seek to draw blood. “Having done all to stand, stand, therefore!” he stated firmly to the Ephesians.

He never minced words in his delivery, having to gird our loins with the leather belt of truth, plastered with the breastplate of righteousness, and feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel of peace as notable materials; he advised further to take up the shield of faith, capable of quenching fiery darts of evil, then get adorned with the helmet of salvation for headcover. He then garnished the brass of iron in armor clothing with the Sword of the Spirit, which he specifically portrayed as the ever potent Word of God

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
-Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

People can be so sure of their opinions about life either in bits or in general, and who are we to begrudge them? Having an opinion in the first instance means one has the willpower to think for themselves and make decisions, then follow through with the consequences thereof. However, to make an informed decision, one has to take cognizance of the content of their thoughts. Albeit God’s word has proven times in and out its ability to provide inspirational reasoning.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
-Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

It is important to note the potency behind having and following through with a will either from self or from a more advanced and supernatural source (The Almighty). Most people remain as victims of their own circumstances because they are drawn more to their self-will, despite being ill-informed. For instance, a renowned motivational speaker could be praised for all of his eloquence and inspiration but may fall short when given leadership or administrative roles. The difference would be in the job description, information, and qualification on display.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
-Romans 12:2 (NIV)

God is all-knowing, hence the accolade “Omni-Scient” of Latin origin, and the world we live in was made manifest through His word. It is, therefore, crucial to cling to an author or a source that proves to possess the needed intel to survive gallantly in the same world.

Take note of the fact that the effective use of any device, be it electronic, mechanical, or digital, relies on the available instructions embedded in their manual. One may still manage to make use of the device based on personal intuition barring the guidelines, albeit achieving its full functionality may remain unlikely.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”
-II Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

But heart-tugging questions in the minds of most people would be one or more of these – Why an invisible force? Why submit my self-will to that of the seemingly unknown? Of what difference does it make to live by the flesh, or be quickened by the spirit? Aren’t there more edifying writings asides from the Bible? Like the infamous Español Professor of La casa dé Papel would say, “that is where Faith comes in…”

“And without faith (confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see), it is impossible to please God (Omniscient), because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
-Hebrews 11:6

A native from the north has no moral standing to pay obeisance to the Ifá oracle of the west, based on sheer knowledge of its prestige, tradition, or origin. The moment the northerner is well briefed, and embodies the culture of the westerners, referencing the oracle becomes a lifestyle. The same analogy applies to the born-again belief system, as broad knowledge of the Scriptures tends to open one’s mind to the Will of Him that knows all things.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ”
-Hebrews 6:17

The word of God is potent in its content, and is capable of usurping rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So, to he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the brethren.

Selah.

The 2021 AFCON – 24 of Africa’s Finest lock horns for Cup of Nation’s Glory

Following a couple of postponements here and there due to Covid19 and weather complications in the past year, and after a tussle of hosting rites tainted by political reasons in Cameroon, the 33rd installment of Africa’s elite competition is set to go on. This edition will go on to commence on the 9th of January and would run through till the 6th day in February 2022, accommodating twenty-four (24) teams grouped in six (6) for a bite at the cherry.

What do we know

The 2021 AFCON is set to commence on the 9th of January through to the 6th of Februrary
It’s the 33rd instalment of Africa’s elite competition
Cameroon will allocate Five cities and Six venues to host 151 games
24 National teams have qualified and are grouped into 6
The English top flight is set to forfeit about two-scores of players to represent thier respective national teams.

Brief History

Africa’s international elite competition first saw lime of light in 1957, with four teams – Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa, standing as founding nations. The Bafana-bafana national team of South Africa was later dismissed from the competition due to political reasons (aparthied policies of the government then in power), which led to a walkover for Ethiopia and a subsequent appearance in the final against Egypt.

ACCRA, GHANA – FEBRUARY 10: The winners’ trophy is carried on to the pitch after the AFCON Final match between Cameroon and Egypt at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo)

Egypt went on to win the tournament with four goals to nil, after defeating the host nation, Sudan in the semis and will go on to win the competition seven (7) times, making them the most crowned team in AFCON.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon with (5), the Black Stars of Ghana with (4), and the Super Eagles of Nigeria with (3) titles form a crop of the most successful teams in Africa Cup of Nations history.

Host Cities & Stadia

Five cities in Cameroon will host this edition’s games, cutting across six stadia. Current President of the Cameroonian Football Fedération, Samuel Eto’O Fils, remains confident of smooth running, and optimal game management for the period.

The capital city, Yaoundé, located in the southern part of the Country will allocate two stadia – The Olembe stadium with a 60,000 capacity will host the inaugural match, the finals, as well as Cameroon’s group games, and the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium with a 42,500 capacity will host most of the Group C games.

The Japoma stadium with a 50,000 capacity is located in Douala, a coastal city in the Southwest of Cameroon, and would go on to host the Group E games. Nigerians will particularly be paying attention to the 30,000 capacity Roumde Adjia Stadium located in Garoua, the port city and capital of the North region of Cameroon where their Group D games will go down.

Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam, and Limbe Stadium in Limbe, both have a 20,000 capacity, with the former poised to host Group B games, and the latter housing Group F’s. Bafoussam is a traditional crafts city located in the highlands of western Cameroon, while Limbe is a beach town known for its Altlantic surf in the same region.

Groupings

A number of twenty-four teams have qualified for the 2021 AFCON edition, and have been grouped into six with four teams apiece.

The host nation, Cameroon, holds the forte in Group A and will battle to qualify for the knockout stages with the likes of founding nations Ethiopia, alongside Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.

The Current best team on the continent, Senegal will seek to make it to another consecutive final as they lineup in Group B, locking horns with the likes of Zimbabwe, Guinea, and Malawi.

Four-time winners, the Black Stars of Ghana, take their stand alongside Morocco, Gabon, and debutant Comoros in Group C.

Group Standings for the 2021 AFCON in 2022

Group D looks particularly stellar, with three of the four teams, former winners of the competition – Egypt (7), Nigeria (3), and Sudan (1), with Guinea-Bissau completing the count.

Group E has two winners of their own – Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire (or rather Ivory Coast) with two (2) titles apiece, alongside Serria Leone and Equatorial Guinea.

Tunisia with one (1), Mali who were once runner-ups in 1972, Gambia and Mauritania, stake their marks in Group F.

Effects on the EPL

The English Top-flight league will see a total of 40 players effectively heed the clarion call by their national teams vis-a-vis injuries, Covid19 complications, and Manager’s selections.

Sixteen of the twenty teams currently in the 21/22′ English Premier League season have been reported to be at the receiving end, with Arsenal (4), Crystal Palace (4), Leicester City (4), Watford (5), and Liverpool (3) amongst a host of others bemoaning their player’s momentary travels.

The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire and the Super Eagles of Nigeria with seven (7) players each, the Black Stars of Ghana with six (6), Senegal with five (5), and Algeria with (2) are believed to be at an advantage from the call-ups.

After all said and done

Of the provisional six groups, the top 2 teams will qualify to the round of 16 knockout stages, alongside the best four third-place teams. This means in context that following a run of group stage games, the teams to finish in first and second positions will qualify, then the top four third-place teams will join the fray after being arranged based on points garnered.

Rules for classification in cases of a tie in order of priority:

Points
Goal difference
Goals scored
Disciplinary points (Yellow & Red cards)
Drawing of lots

The Prize money for the current edition will see winners go home US$4.5 M richer, and second place gaining US$2.5. Semi-finalists will get US$2 M, and US$1 M will go to the teams that make the Quarters.

Which of these national sides get to nick it in the bud at the end of proceedings come February the 6th? Do well to share your thoughts in the comments section.

It’s High-time We Shone The Light for the World to See

At the start of time, in the very beginning, just before the creation of all things, the world was reported to be in perpetual darkness, without form, void, null. And then, there was a Supreme Force present, like a needle in a haystack, invisible yet extant.

“…And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”
Genesis 1:2b

What is Attainable?

You are the Light of the World, set on a hill, and cannot be hidden
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father
Arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen
You are a chosen generatoion, called out of darkness into His marvellous Light
The world earnestly waits for the manifestation of the Sons of God
The Word of God is the Light that suatains Life

Even at the very heart of the shadow of death, down below the valley, beyond the reach of any form of succor, there’s always that very presence in the nick of things, hovering, staying watch, supervising. He neither sleeps nor slumber; An absolute presence, with a form? Maybe a ‘He’, or a ‘She’, to please all parties reading this, yeah? Well, both the male and female gender were carefully, fearfully, and wonderfully crafted by the Supreme board when that very first meeting was summoned…

”Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,…
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”
Genesis 1:26a;27

So yeah, both the ‘He’ and the ‘She’ are firmly in the conversation of forms to be taken, yet, we stick with one of those moving forward for the sake of conversation. So this He decided to make things come to fruition, as He felt darkness had to give for something much more illuminating. This led to the next step of speaking.

”And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light”
Genesis 1:3

Then He went on to breathe the Breath of Life to make mankind come alive in a now illuminated world filled with Light. If one is well observant, it is evident that all things that were created following the shine were to emphasize the essence, potency, and sovereignty of the existence of Light to the world.

“God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night
“God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth,
“to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness”
Genesis 1:16a;17;18a

Life itself is sustained by Light, literally and metaphorically, and we all carry that same light, owing to the breath of life inherent in us – it is high time we started shining and doing so brightly. We have got to figure out how to remain connected to the ultimate source of said Light, so we don’t run out of charge.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”
John 1:4 & 5

It may seem as though dark events are the order of the day, with devastating news and reports making the rounds, and every corner turned to, is another depressing sight or event looming around. But we have a job to do. By ‘we’, I mean those of us who have been called from the dark side into His marvelous light, who have received power to become Sons, and possess what it takes to be set up on a hill for the world to cast their sight upon. As they say on the streets of bustle, ”no time to check time”.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”
Matthew 5:14;16

For you to show it, you need to have it, and to have it, you need to identify the source from which it flows. Mankind can be likened to a digital device running on a rechargeable battery and needs constant charges to remain buoyant. The charges in this context are the content of His Word, the one which was spoken at the start of time, in the very beginning, the one that brought fought Light.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
John 1:1John 1:1

The Word of God is poised to be the very charge we need to possess the Light that sustains Life, which has been given to us, helping us become thoroughly informed, transformed, and renewed via meditation and study. Then, we can say we have what we can show when we have become thoroughly equipped for good works.

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed”
Romans 8:19

Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to heed the clarion call, gird your loins, knot your sandals, and set up to begin this great commission towards the liberation of self, and mankind at large.

The 20/21′ EPL Season – A Three-Horse Race Saga or another Fairytale?

The Citizens of Manchester adorned in sky blue and whites, currently lead the rest of the pack, with the Reds of Liverpool and the Blues of Chelsea breathing down their neck at the top of proceedings, after about halfway through the 2021/2022 English Premier League season. A feisty fiesta, with stiff competitive edges and a sound tactical approach from teams – reasons why we love the beautiful game, this time, English Football.

What do we know?

The Citizens are on a scintillating run of form racking up eight (8) wins on the bounce
The Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool side also have an amazing unbeaten run of matches in their ranks
A rather depleted Chelsea side hold on precariously to third-place in this fiesta but with undeniable prospects
A reprisal of what ensued in the 13/14’ season, when the Citizens, the Reds, and the Blues finished in 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd respectively, with just two (2) points separating each.
In 18/19’, it was a two-horse race between Man City and Liverpool, with the latter finishing just one point short of City’s 98 point stake at the helm of affairs.
All three clubs have won the Premier League in the last decade with City coming tops with 5 titles, Chelsea twice, and Liverpool once, with one apiece between Man United and Leicester in the same period.

Manchester City

If statistical numbers in the EPL are anything to go by, history will have it that the Citizens of Manchester have failed to finish out of the top 4 on the log in the last decade. In that time, that is, since the 10/11’ season, they have won the title five (5) times (11/12’, 13/14’, 17/18’, 18/19’, 20/21’). These titles were undoubtedly accompanied by top-notch performances and expected turn of results, as they have finished 2^nd place thrice, 3^rd place twice, and 4^th place once within the same period.

The 2018/2019 season was particularly stellar for the men in sky blue, as they made history for winning all four (4) available titles in the English array (Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield), thanks to a timely intervention by Liverpool in the 2019/2020 season, which saw City lift the title thrice in four attempts; They finished in second place in that year by the way.

Team	Match Played	Wins	Draw	Lose	Goals For	Goals Against	Goals Difference	Points
Mancity (1st)	18	14	2	2	44	9	35	44

Mancity’s standings on the English Premier League Log

Another record was topped last season, following a 21-game winning streak run, in a space of 82 days spanning from December 2020 to March 2021, which saw them whisk through the log from mid-table to pole position, becoming the first top-flight team with the highest number of wins in an EPL season, and from the start of a calendar year (13). They also won the league for all their troubles with 86 points.

With these few points of mine and with just Riyad Mahrez of Algeria off to the AFCON, it is safe to project that considering their current position on the log, precedence, run of form, squad depth, an array of world-class players, and an elite manager, the Citizens from Manchester can only be their own undoing in the title race.

Liverpool

Although the Reds can boast of 19 English titles in the top-flight, they have just been able to nick it in the bud once in the last three decades, that is, since the 89/90’ season, when they last won before the rebrand of the English Premier League. However, that is not to say they haven’t staked their claim in history as a European powerhouse, with Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup triumphs as notable achievements in recent years.

Unlike their rivals in sky blue, Liverpool has only stuck to the top 4 in a little more than half a decade, as they have finished in 4^th place twice, 3^rd 2^nd and 1^st place once, in the last five (5) outings. Currently, the Reds sit in second place, having lost just once, and it was to a rejuvenated David Moyes’ led Westham side (3-2).

Team	Match Played	Wins	Draw	Lose	Goals For	Goals Against	Goals Difference	Points
Liverpool (2nd)	18	12	5	1	50	15	35	41

Liverpool’s standings on the English Premier League Log

With the AFCON competition organized by Africa’s governing body, CAF, poised to take place in January 2022, the Reds have more African players in their ranks going off to represent their national teams, with Sadio Mané of Senegal, Mohammed Salah of Egypt, and Naby Keíta of Guinea, as notable mentions. Albeit, they would not be without a depth of options with Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, Brazil’s Roberto Firmino, and Belgium’s Divock Origi taking up their respective mantles when called upon.

Jota currently has 10 league goals, five behind teammate Salah who tops the goal-scoring chart with 9 assists, just one ahead of teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in second place. This means both the goals and assists charts are painted Red at 1^st and 2^nd positions with Liverpool players, making them serious title contenders too.

Chelsea

Starting as a house on fire, the Blues from Fulham Road in West London will have their initial run of form to thank, putting them in the mix as title contenders for the 21/22’ season. Winning their first two games in fine style with 5 goals and conceding none, only to hit a pause against Liverpool in a one-all draw with a man down, then picking up in the following two games from where they paused with wins, scoring 6 times without reply, only to be hit abruptly with a slim one-nil loss to City.

Then came another 8-match unbeaten run littered with a few draws, but with more clean sheets. Then came the dip in form with a loss to Westham and a narrow win to Leeds with the same score-line (3-2) then a stalemate with Everton (1-1), bemoaning injuries, Covid19 positives, and a disjointed squad as reasons for churning out less than expected performances.

Chelsea will see their first choice goalie, Edouard Mendy go off to represent his home country Senegal in the AFCON in January 2022, and would have to cede his position to the second choice, Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was bought for a whooping €80 million, plus add-ons by the now axed Frank Lampard.

Team	Match Played	Wins	Draw	Lose	Goals For	Goals Against	Goals Difference	Points
Chelsea (3rd)	18	11	5	2	39	12	27	38

Chelsea’s standings on the English Premier League Log

The Blues would need their €115 million Belgian striker in the mode of Romelu Lukaku alongside their German sprinter Timo Werner and compatriot Kai Havertz, to start firing on all cylinders, without having to rely solely on their full-backs, DMs, and defenders for glory as witnessed in most games so far this season.

They can cling to hopes of having midfield maestros N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovaçic back in the mix, to help hold the forte alongside a certain decent Loftus-Cheek and struggling Saúl Niguez, this, if they wish to remain title contenders as much as their counterparts.

With Mancity’s Riyad Mahrez of Algeria, Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Naby Kaeíta of Egypt, Senegal, and Guinea respectively, and Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy of Senegal, all travelling down for the African Cup of Nations, the league is set to see another barage of exciting turn of events in the coming half of the season.
The 2021/2022 EPL Season

Who wins the race at the end of the proceedings? Do share your thoughts in the comment section below, as I’d love to incline my sight to your perspectives.

Awe-Inspiring 2021: Summer Highlights, Deals And Honours

Highlights of some of the terrific summer signings in Europe’s top-flight
Elite teams have beefed up their squad to stiffen competitiveness
UEFA awards, honoring the very best of the rest
This is why we love the delightful game

The pandemic came, saw, but failed to conquer the world of sporting activities, ranging from grassroot events to global tournaments. Although, fans were left aghast initially with the reality of having to make do with digital show of moral support, albeit from a considerable distance, as precautions prevented live support in stadiums and hubs.

The king of sports, football, came out unscathed, and still geared on as we saw a couple of competitions, championships, contracts, deals, and ultimately award ceremonies go down, to crown the 2020/2021 campaign with resounding breakthrough.

Summer signings highlights

Joan Laporta, who currently presides over the affairs of Football Club Barcelona, caught all fans, punts, and plugs, out-of-it on the Thursday, 5^th of August, when the board announced a baffling end to their contract with one of, if not, arguably, the best player to kick the round leather, Lionel Andres Messi.

A sudden turnaround from an initial agreement that would have seen Messi extend his stay at the club for a five-year deal. Verifiable sources would report that the breakdown in contract talks may have been a sorry consequence of the newly established La Liga policies surrounding financial fair-play rules. Insiders also reported at the time that, the club’s financial turmoil, player registration challenges, to mention but a few, as some of other critical factors that ensued.

However, fast forward to the following Tuesday, the 10^th, Lionel and crew landed in Paris, to complete an astonishingly free two-year deal – with option for a third, with Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, that will see the 34-year-old earn a whooping £25million per year after tax. He will champion the French side’s attack alongside the likes of Neymar, Icardi, Mbappe, while feeding off creativity behind them from Di Maria, Hakimi, Verratti, Rafinha, and more.

In the English league, the defending champions Manchester City also struck deals of their own, following the exit of their long-serving prolific striker, Sergio Aguero, in order to keep the squad depth afloat.

The Guardiola led Citizens showed interests in a couple of decent legs, notably Tottenham’s Harry Kane, ex Barcelona’s Messi, ex Juventus’ Ronaldo, and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, only to clinch just the latter, on a record breaking £100million six-year deal to adorn the number 10 jersey. Kane remained at Spurs, Messi flew to Paris, and Ronaldo celebrates his home-coming to the Red Devils. Everyone lives hapily ever after.

The Red side of Manchester were also United in their pursuit and reception of Jadon Sancho from the German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, and were able to agree a deal for £73million for his creative services.

In London, the West side sees European Champions Chelsea football club seal their own homecoming deal with last season’s Serie Á best player and second-best goal scorer, Romelu Lukaku (24 goals & 11 assists), from Italian Champions Inter Milan, on a long-term five-year deal worth £97.5million (€115m). A deal that may seem like the final piece of the puzzle in Thomas Tuchel’s formidable Chelsea side.

Breakdown in deals, Contracts gone sour

Speaking of breakdown in deals and contracts gone sour, Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus, Kylian Mbappe of PSG, and Tottenham’s Harry Kane are notable headliners.

Following Man City’s show of interest in Harry Kane’s services, a done deal seemed imminent. Only to the surprise of fans when Grealish made the record-breaking move. Hopes were kept alive as Kane missed first team trainings for Tottenham before the start of this season’s campaign, and also missed their first game against Man City, which also surprisingly ended in a win at home via the brilliance from Son Heung-min. However, the 28-year-old English striker had more surprises up his sleaves when he reassured fans of his stay at Spurs this summer after Man City’s bid failed.

Who would have thunk it, that Kylian Mbappé would want to force a move away from a club that just successfully got the signature of legendary Lionel in the same summer? Although, the bromance between the Spanish giants Real Madrid and the French superstar Mbappé has been a year in year out quagmire, but current talks prove a move away from PSG to Madrid is imminent.

According to Spanish Journals Marca, Real Madrid have offered €170million plus add-ons worth €10million in potential bonuses for Kylian, which will be agreed by PSG, finally sealing the French youngster’s long-awaited dream of representing Los Blancos in the coming days.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus aren’t left out of the hanger, with a strain in relationships as the Portuguese Icon openly stated his desire to exit the Old Ladies this summer. Despite his 81 goals and 16 assists in 98 Serie Á appearances as well as 22 goals in 39 cup games, an ex-president’s unpleasant remark, and continued struggle in European progression makes the road seem oblique for the 36-year-old in Italy.

Word on the street? CR7 is back Home at Old Trafford, where he won the treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League) and the Balon D’Or in 2009, the start to a golden projectile in world football dominance.

UEFA Awards & Honors

The largest metropolitan city of Istanbul, Turkey, hosted the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) awards for Men and Women in 2020/2021 European campaign. The same city was poised to host this year’s Champions League final match that transpired between Chelsea and Man City, but lost hosting edge to Porto in Portugal, due to coronavirus constraints and precautions.

Albeit, the pandemic didn’t deter the recognition of decent performances around Europe, but for players and non-playing staff alike, an awe-inspiring highlight being the UEFA President’s Award going to the medical team, and Danish Captain Simon Kjaer, who saved Christian Erikson’s life following a slumped scare during the Euro 2020 campaign.

Chelsea dominated the Men’s Award slate producing four (4) outstanding recipients, in the best goalie, midfield, player and coach of the year categories, while Barcelona dominated the Women’s category with five (5) slots.

If there’s a sermon on the mount this summer, it’s the gospel of spicy deals creating a feistier campaign in the on-going 2021/2022 European top flight season. The thrills, intrigues, passion, and action – why we love the delightful game of Football.

EURO 2020 in 2021: The Azzurris win in a Home away from Rome

In the grand scheme of things, most notably in club football, the concept of playing games ‘home’ and ‘away’ seems to be the order of the day. A concept that involves a football team playing in their resident stadium (at home) while hosting a visiting team from other centers (going away). However, when it comes to international (continental or world) tournaments, it’s all about the host Nation(s) taking center stage.

Teams tend to enjoy home advantage when they play in their resident stadiums
It becomes a tall hill to climb for teams who go to play away
International tournaments tend to employ the use of host Nation(s) for games to be played unlike club football
Euro 2020 saw multiple Nations host the European championship accross Europe
The Azzurris representing the Italian nation turned up champions as they clinched their 2nd European championship trophy in a Home away from Rome

Teams

Six (6) groups made up of four (4) teams make up twenty-four (24) nations, who converege for an European championship show down. The tournament would see three (3) games in group stages, followed by a Round of 16 qualification stage for the first two teams in each group, and the top four third (3rd) place teams.

The Portuguese team, came in as defending champions having emerged winners of the 2016 edition, while the French side could boast of their Fifa World Cup victory in 2018 coming into the tournament.

As draws would have it, both power houses would find themselves battling for qualification from the same group (F), which also had the likes of Germany and Hungary – Group of Death (in footballing terms).

The Italian side had momentum in their favor, with a 27 game unbeaten run before the Euros began on the 11th of June 2021, and have now topped that stat with 7 more games, to make it 34 (from 2018 to 2021), just one short of the 35 unbeaten record held jointly by Brazil (from 1993 to 1996) and Spain (from 2007 to 2009).

Other talking points highlight a resilient Danish team (Denmark) reaching the semis, despite an early scare, following Christian Eriksen’s unfortunate slump and revival, thanks to his team mates and the medics on standby, only to be undone by a rather compact English side.

Then came the Azzurris from Rome (Italy) to face the Three Lions at Home (England) in the final encounter at Wembley in London. It’s no longer news, that football has now headed to Rome to the detriment of those at home.

Host Cities

Eleven (11) cities were tasked with the right to host about 51 matches across Europe.

The Wembley stadium in London, England, records approximately 90,000 sitting capacity, and would go on to host major games, notably the semis and the finals, having hosted three (3) group stage games.

The Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, with a sitting capacity of approximately 75,000, and the Stadio Olympico in Rome, Italy, with a 72,698 capacity, complete the top three (3) large capacity stadia to host the Euro 2020 Championship.

Resident in Baku, a city in Azerbaijan, is the Olympic Stadium, with the capacity to sit 68,700 football fans, and would go on to host three (3) group stage games and a quarter final match. As the same can be said for the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, having a 68,134 sitting capacity.

The Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary, one of the notable stadia to enjoyed a pre-tour of the championship trophy, also hosted a round of 16 match with three other group games, with its capacity counting up to 67,889. While a ride off to Spain, meets the La Cartuja in Seville, with a 60,000 sitting capacity, and would go on to host three group games for the Spaniards.

In the heart of the Netherlands, is the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, who also had their fair share of hosting games (3 group games and 1 in the round of 16), with a sitting capacity of approximately 56,000.

The Arena Nationala in Bucharest, Romania, with a 55,600 capacity, the Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, with 52,063, as well as the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a 38,065 sitting capacity, all complete a well detailed summary of the Hosting XI of the European Football Championship 2020, held in 2021.

What We Learnt…

One of the early trends highlighted as events unfolded in the Euros, was the sleeky gesture ignited by the Portuguese skipper, Cristiano Ronaldo, when he shifed sponsored drinks (Coca-Cola bottles) away from camera angles during press conferences.

An act that led to a 1.6% plunge in comapany stock value for Coca-Cola, lossing aproximately $4billion (€3.35bn) in market shares. The trend also saw the likes of France’s Paul Pogba, and Italy’s Manuel Locatelli follow suit in their respective pressers.

However, Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko would rather have all the sponsored drinks infront of him facing the camera, stating in Ukranian language… “I’ve seen Ronaldo put away bottles… I’ll put them right here. Contact me!!” 😄

Your guess is as good as mine, as the trend din’t sit well with the sponsors and organizers of the tournament, leading the Euro 2020 committee director Martin Kallen to warning teams via a statement to refrain from such acts.

I’ve seen Ronaldo put away bottles… I’ll put them right here. Contact me!!
Andriy yarmolenko, euro 2020

In other news, the WhatsApp group of death saw France left, Portugal left, Germany left and Hungary left hungry for yet another opportunity in the future, as all four teams in Group F exited the tournament shockingly, in the first round of the knockout stages.

A disapointing outcome for top players like Kylian Mbappé of France, Thomas Muller of Germany, and Ronaldo of Portugal, who in his defence, picked up the golden boot award with five (5) goals and an assist despite an early exit in the round of 16.

The Azzurris from Italy who emerged champions were recorded as the highest goal scoring team with thirteen (13) goals and creating more chances than Spain and Denmark with 13 and 12 goals respectively.

The Three Lions from England who were runner ups, finished the tournament with five (5) clean sheets (not conceeding a goal in a game), with Italy and Belgium having three (3) apiece.

The Spaniards lead proceedings in possession play (68.8%) and passing accuracy (89.3%) stats, with Germany coming second best with a 59.3% possession play and 89.3% passing accuracy. The Netherlands with 54.8% posession play, and France with 89% passing accuracy, both occupy third place on the respective stats log.

The best XI (eleven) team selection for the Euros is seen to be dominated by five (5) Italians in the ranks, featuring three (3) English men, alongside a Spaniard, a Belgian, and a Danish.

In Conclusion,

Taking all these into consideration, having covered every blade of grass on the pitch of play, it is safe to say that the Roberto Mancini led Italian side came, saw and conquered Europe, following a fine display of tactical prowess, experience minds, and top notch football, not leaving out the touch of luck enjoyed during penalty shootouts in the semis against Spain, up on till the final kick on Sunday against England.

Instead of coming home, the European Football Championship Cup of 2020 held in 2021, eventually headed to Rome.

Let’s Talk Creative Content – CC 101

Creativity can be described as an inbuilt mechanism that takes a gradual process to mature into a lifestyle. Anyone with an active sense of reasoning can compose creative content. However, there’s a thin line between mere imaginations and deep thinking as the former formulates fancy images, while the latter develops active reasoning.

Anyone with an active sense of reasoning can be creative
Creativity requires open-mindedness and paying attention to detail
A creative content begins with a topical idea in mind
Composing creative write-up has its standard elements
Uniquely presenting a basic idea in a classic format

In layman’s terms, one would suggest thinking outside the box, but realistically the box in context is the mind. Therefore, thinking outside the mind needs a conscious mind shift from logical reasoning, to paying keen attention to the slightest detail of things.

In this article, we would highlight varying arms of creative content and their applications, then outline each category in detail in the coming weeks. To ensure staying up to speed and not losing track, do kindly follow us on social media and turn on notifications. 🛎

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Creative Content Syllabus – CC 101

Creativity begins with knowing how to build on a topical idea. To some, writing is a hobby, while to others, it’s a means of livelihood. However, composing a creative write-up has its standard elements. And thanks to the web, there are a number of sites, articles, and materials alike available for comprehension, to help broaden the mind and create an avenue for deep thinking.

How To Build on a topical Idea

Have an exclusive idea, but be open-minded to knowledge
Gbenga Gboyega 2021

Let us take for instance the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer system, which is said to receive, process, and produce data. This system tends to rely on two major boards – the Read-Access Memory (RAM), and the Read-Only Memory (ROM), both of which essentially signifies that memory is in place in form of storage devices. These storages however large or minute have a process to read and access information which in this case can be referred to as data.

A topical idea is basically having a conception in the mind regarding a talking point making the rounds either in the media or the society in general. Though the topic may be trending, the idea in mind should be exclusive and clinical. It is about converting raw data into relative information, using available materials structurally.

Decoding Relative Intel (Intelligence)

An informed mind conceives intelligent thoughts
– Gbenga Gboyega 2021

To compose a creative write-up, the writer needs to be equipped with ample information on the said topical idea. I call it – Decoding Relative Intel. This simply implies the ability to relate seemingly unrelated elements, and research hidden patterns, to imply original ideas into creative outlines.

If you are a fan of law enforcement agencies or anti-crime units, one familiar term would be ‘intel’, otherwise termed ‘intelligence’ in full. Building intel requires the effective use of known elements, blueprints, case studies, and what-a-view to forge theories and perspectives. These point of views are then analyzed to gain better understanding, which aids objectivity during composition.

The Writing Theorem

Uniquely presenting a basic idea in a classic format
– CC 101

Writing is an art, and to do so creatively, one requires mastering the rudiments of creation, comprehension and composition – The writing theorem.

A raw idea can be likened to raw material (gold for instance), that needs the nuclear fusion of elements (hydrogen and helium in case of gold mining), to create unique content (The BIg-Bang Theory).

The right mixture of applicable elements in a chemical lab following appropriate theories would most likely produce the desired outcome. With regards to content, a creative write-up can be outlined following the right composition of relative materials or articles in an objective and structural manner.

In subsequent editions, a creative content syllabus would be outlined to best explain – How to build on an Idea, Decoding Relative Intel, and The Writing Theorem. In the meantime, do kindly get a copy of The X-Pro – An Exclusive Professional, an entrepreneurial e-manual for professionals and creatives alike that aids business development. Feel free to follow the link below.

Get a Copy of The X-Pro

The X-Pro – An Exclusive Professional, is a concise yet detailed e-Book for both existing and prospective entrepreneurs seeking the required drive to launch into an adventurous and lucrative career path. Grab a copy today.

Till next time, keep brewing a creative mindset.

Five (5) Sensational TV Characters of all time: Featuring your favorites!

Movie and Series lovers, get in here… There’s a new gist in town that may tickle your fancy and re-ignite nostalgic memoirs of some of your favorite TV show characters of all time in retrospect.

Some factual, others, fictional
All have significant traits that make them stand out
The creators behind the charaters are notably metioned
Elite Actors/Actresses bring these exceptional roles to live
In summary, they represent the sensation behind our favorite TV shows

Most if not all movies and shows on TV have lead and supporting roles. Some of these lead roles outlive even the very essense of the drama that bring them to the fore. Heroes and Villians alike, movie lovers have their favorites, and some more than others have unique traits that make them dear to fans.

Five (5) of these sensational movie characters are highlighted in this blog and pardon me beforehand if yours aren’t highlighted, fingers crossed for subsequent editions in the future. In the meantime, get your snack, relax, and enjoy this jolly ride into nostalgia.

Sherlock Holmes (Fictional)

Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock Holmes Actor (Sherlock)

Evil tends to prevail, so do the perpetrators, leaving a pile of case studies for law enforcement to unravel. However, thanks to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who would go on to create a fictional private detective character, one whose proficiency in deduction, logical reasoning, and keen observation leaves criminals and assailants on their toes.

A Study in Scarlet, a detective novel written by the Scottish author, Sir Doyle in 1887, would mark Sherlock Holmes’ first appearance in the public glare, alongside his sidekick, Dr. John Watson. As the story would become a fairytale to the most famous detective duo in popular fiction. The novel would also become the first publication to sight the magnifying glass 🔎 as an investigative tool in the modern era.

[L] Johnn Lee Miller; [R] Robert Downy Jnr – Sherlock Holmes Actors.

Other TV series and movies alike have featured this meticulous persona over the years; the likes of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011); Sherlock: Series (2010 – 2017); Elementary: Series (2012 – 2019); and so many more.

Need a witty, detailed, introverted perfectionist, who happens to be a consulting detective in your investigative ranks? Sherlock Holmes, tho fictional, could be your go-to guy.

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman (Factual)

Drug rules where it trades and lords are bound to exist to manage its traffic. Recorded in the history of drug trafficking and running international crime syndicates, is one of the world’s most notoriously influential drug lords of all time, Joaquin Guzman a.k.a El Chapo.

His 5ft 6in stature which earned him the “El Chapo” title, didn’t deter him from pulling outrageous strings, especially when in detention; like escaping from max security prison a couple of times. Notably so, is the 2015 prison break thriller, where he escaped through a tunnel dug by his associates into his jail cell, and the 2001 escape plan, where he hid in a laundry basket, after bribing a few prison wardens.

Speaking of TV shows, appearances are seen in the Narcos: Mexico (2018 – 2020) series, which portrayed another Drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar; The Rise and Fall of El Chapo (2016) movie, where he was major; El Chapo (2017 – 2018) series, at center stage; to mention but a few.

Joaquin Guzman, a.k.a ‘El Chapo’ is a factual existence, and could be the literal embodiment of the phrase small but mighty.

Olivia Pope (Fictional)

Shonda Rhimes’ exceptional taste for movie production is quite a force to reckon with in modern television, blessing our screens with thrilling, intense, and suspenseful drama. However, one of her many fictional creations would be the crisis management maestro Olivia Pope, a young independent woman based in Washington DC, and runs her own firm, Olivia Pope & Associates (OPA).

Tho a fictional role, Pope’s characterization is loosely inspired by the American crisis manager, lawyer, author, and TV producer, Judy Smith. Judy was renowned for her prowess in fixing political situations and scandals.

Olivia is fully portrayed by the delectable American actress Kerry Washington in the ABC TV series Scandal (2012 – 2018), and also had cameo appearances in a sister show; How To Get Away With Murder (2014 – 2020), where she appeared in season 4 episode 13 as moral support to Annalise Keating.

A lady with oomph, sauce, lots of desperation, and the will to fix elite political scandal will surely be a useful asset to any interested top-level associate.

Jack Bauer (Fictional)

For what it’s worth, Kiefer Sutherland did an outstanding job in bringing this dogged counter terrorism agent to life on our TV screens.

His appearance on on the Fox Television series – 24, is one that’ll leave a lasting impression on the minds of viewers, as the thrilling events recorded within 24 hours in 24 episodes per season were consistently intriguing.

Jack Bauer is a formidable force to reckon with in the battle against terrorism, as his reputation precedes him even in the camp of crime syndicates, and his fellow agents in the CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) based in Los Angeles, and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) based in Washington DC.

24 ran in a real-time format, with each hour-long episode depicting an hour’s worth of events, for 24 hours in 24 episodes. This means each season represents a day and would go on for almost two decades, having 8 straight seasons and two bridges – 24: Redemption (between seasons 6 & 7); and 24: Live another Day (after season 8) between 2001 up on till 2019.

If you needed a lone ranger to help battle insurgency without excuses, I know just the perfect plug.

Raymond Reddington (Fictional)

Speak of a man with poise, of a shrewd persona, a criminal mastermind with a wide range of lethal connections and intelligence, then speak of James Spader’s aptly epitomized Raymond Reddington of the NBC’s TV show – The Blacklist.

How else could you possibly describe a scenery where the most wanted fugitive in the land, walks up to the doorstep of the FBI headquarters, with a suitcase and his famously adorned hat, to surrender, yet giving conditions that turn unavoidably valuable to the Bureau. Interestingly, instead of getting incarcerated, he gets immunity and a seat at the helm of affairs in law enforcement.

Eight (8) seasons have gone by in The Blacklist (2013 – present) series, and fans are elated with the news of a renewed Ninth installment to keep on. However, the question of the true identity of Raymond Reddington still lingers.

Fancy spying on a spy without getting spotted? Ask Raymond.

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Chuma Nnoli: Rhyming is an addition and not a foundation to my career in broadcasting.

Chuma Nnoli, an On-Air Personality, engages with Gbenga Gboyega over the phone on his awe-inspiring career leading back in the days to where it all began, in the riverine port city of Calabar, Southern Nigeria. He explains his emergence into the broadcasting scene, challenges surpassed, and strides gained in this explosive and insightful interview.

Rhyming is an addition and not a foundation to my career in broadcasting.

The inspiring Story behind A Book of A Hundred Rhymes
Chuma of all trades, mastering all things broadcasting
How rhyming started, a Lizzy-Love tale
Calabar to Lagos in 14+ years
An attempt in Music composition, TV stint,
Extra rhyme relief

He’s a young talent, he’ll never relent, in showing his brilliance. Phil Foden, is feeling the excitement now…
Excerps from Game On, on 99.3 Nigeria Info

If you are an ardent listener of the sports show ‘Game On’ on radio, organized by the sensational broadcast team ‘Femi & the GanG’ on Nigeria’s prestigious sports, news, and talk station, 99.3 Nigeria Info, the above quotation should spark some exhilarating feelings down the spine. That’s the famous line of radio’s finest rhyme master, Chuma Nnoli, an OAP, sports analyst/pundit, compere, and author.

Over the years, Chuma has gone on to carve a niche for himself in the broadcasting world given his purely inspired rhymes, apt analysis, and thrilling vibes on the MIC. So far so good, his illustrious fourteen-year stride on air has a lot to write home about ab-initio. So let’s take a dive into the nick of things, shall we?

Chuma Nnoli: OAP, Sports analyst, Author & Anchor

A Book of A Hundred Rhymes

“Well, it’s something that was fueled from my passion to play around with words”, replied Chuma, when asked about the progress of his first & sold-out book project. “It’s something I’ve done for years, and in the past, I have a particular colleague who’s been saying it’s high time I wrote a book. And I think I told myself I had to do that sometime in 2017. And by 2018, I was finally able to unveil the book. It’s just a collection of different kinds of rhymes. The kind of rhymes I could use on the radio during presentations, or the kind of rhymes I could use while MC-ing events, or the rhymes I just get inspired to write to motivate people from a religious point of view”, he narrated.

Jack of all trades?

When asked how he could justle through different streams of career path seamlessly, he chuckles and says, “Well, I really wish I was a Jack of all trades because I think there’s more I need to learn. The thing with the media is, it’s all-encompassing. So it’s a dream for myself and the people I’m familiar with, in the media, to be vast as possible with their knowledge, so it’s beyond just staying on the microphone to talk. I feel that you should be able to know how to edit, operate the computer, be a good writer, because all of these things play a part in making you the star you are, when in front of the camera or microphone.”

The first time rhyming – A Lizzy-Love tale

I remember writing some rhymes then of Lizzy, effizy, easy, peasy, crazy, and all that…
Chuma, on rhyming for the first time

“It was a long time ago, I may not have the exact one, but I know it was sometime around ’03/04 (the early 2000s), and the earliest rhyme I remember was at a time when having a phone was a luxury, so people would go to the cyber cafe to buy time and browse and send emails, as that was the excitement then as young people. So I had a particular friend then who was a lady, she’s married now. I remember writing some rhymes then of Lizzy, effizy, easy, peasy, crazy, and all of that. That’s my earliest memory of putting down a rhyme.”

Chuma Nnoli: Between 2003/2004 was when I realized I could play around with words

“Then I went on to write a few others from a Christian point of view. So it dawned on me fully that I can play around with words, which was in 2004. I may not remember the exact date, but between ’03/04 was when I realized I could play around with words. Inspiration just comes when I’m talking with you, and when you mention a word, my mind is already playing around it; okay, if you say ‘write’, okay, there’s tight, there’s height, so that’s it, right?” and the people say… “Yeah, right!”.

Love for board games with word play like scrabble, puzzle?

“Ironically, no. Amongst the board games I know I’ve played more, ofcos, there’s ludo which was the most basic, snakes & ladder, and then monoploly. So I’m not even that much of a scrabble guy, which is an irony. I don’t feel that much with chess, and for the fact that I don’t know how to play it, is embarrasing to say the least, so that’s it.”

CRBC, BusyBuddiesNG, Nigeria Info in 14+ years

“Yeah, CRBC (Calabar Radio Broadcasting Corporation) was basically the foundation for my media career, and it’s a place I’ll refer to that built me up. There was a friend of mine that took me there. I never thought I was ever going to do radio or TV or be in the media. But as God would have it, I met Philip in my second year (200 level in Tertiary), in fact, the first semester of the second year, and things led to things.

And He was already on radio and TV, and he took me there, which was as far back as ’96 (the late 90s), so I was a teenager then, while he was already a young man, but we are best of friends till date. So that’s basically when we started doing radio, before he handed over to me to take full charge, in 2008. And then, I started a daily TV show with my other colleague and good friend, Okon, in 2009. We stayed in CRBC till 2012, before moving on to join the Nigeria Info and Cool FM family in Port Harcourt.”

Chuma Nnoli, broadcasting on various Media platforms

“But BusyBuddies is a great website for sports stories and information. So I write for them too, which helped improved my writing even more. The thing about the media which is something I’ll love to be proud of, is somebody who can adapt to any part, either you’re anchoring events, or on radio, or a voice-over artist, and all of that. So that part helped me ensure that I was active with the writing side of my life.”

Rhyming & Broadcasting

It would be easy to ascribe Chuma’s stride in the media so far to his rhyming prowess, but He was quick to refute that claim, as he buttressed on what stood out as a foundation to his broadcasting career.

“In the media, first, it’s presentation skills, the command of English, confidence, before rhyming. Rhyming is just a way to carve a niche for me. So there are thousands of people who are in media, but there are certain people who talk, and you know they are known for what they say. Even the music stars, and producers alike, have liners. When you hear “ridimakhoolayo”, you know who’s who, and that’s what rhyming has done for me. Rhyming is an addition, and not a foundation itself. Because of the way I was brought up, there was always that emphasis on being good with your confidence level, presentation ability as to speaking to people, and all of those things helped me.

Also, I tried as much as possible when I was younger to read as much as I could too, so that helped. And I was also a huge fan of watching and listening to other people do their thing on radio and TV, even when I never thought I was going to do the same.” Well, that answers that.

A stint at TV?

“I wouldn’t mind, I have not done TV for a long while now. As stated earlier, I did TV for three years consistently, every day, Monday to Saturday, while I was in Calabar, between 2009 and 2012. Did a bit of TV too with the Akwa Ibom broadcasting corporation for about six months on an independent program. But since I moved to PH, apart from appearing on somebody’s show, I loved being on TV as a TV guy, for eight years now, or so. The media is a place where it would be nice to be good everywhere, so if TV opportunities come, I sure will embrace those, as far as they are comfortable enough for me.”

I did TV for three years consistently, Monday to Saturday, while I was in Calabar, between ’09 and ’12…
Chuma Nnoli on his stint on TV

He continued, “Because the thing about TV is one has to be up and doing at all times. On the radio, your voice does the magic for you. But on TV, it’s your voice, looks, carriage, and outfit; the reason why people shy away from the TV. I joke with my friends and say, ‘on radio, if not for these days where you have visual radio, back in the day, you could appear into a radio station with your shorts, as far as you’re delivering with a good voice, nobody knows what’s happening behind.’ But on TV, everything comes to the fore.”

A chance in Muisc?

“I was in the Anglican Cathedral choir for years, so if you want me to sing choir-like songs, I’ll sing that for you. But if it’s contemporary music, I’m not too sure that would be a strong point for me. But I’m convinced, in the few times I’ve talked to music stars, and I play around with words, they are like, ‘You should be writing music’. So that’s the part I’ll love to explore – writing music; not necessarily singing.”

At this point, it was glaring that the likes of Peruzzi, Wurld, others, should get ready to be given a run for their money in the music writing industry.

The Book, in soft copies, for fans globally

“Well, they’ll have to give me a bit of time, erm, I’m genuinely working on that. It’s in the works to ensure that more people can have access. Because consistently, I’m getting a barrage of messages, from Ogun State, Uyo, and so many other cities, asking how they can get the book. And initially, when I put the book through, it was majorly for people who knew me then in Calabar and knew I used to write, also in PH and my apartment area. But I’ve come to realize that there are more people around different parts of Nigeria who would like to have a copy, and for that reason, there has to be a soft copy sooner rather than later. I believe it will happen this year, by the grace of God surely, but I cannot put an exact date to it yet, so fingers crossed.”

Chuma Nnoli, hosting a host of Stars on Radio

Extra rhyme relief – A Rhyme for Gbenga

I thought about Gbenga, the first thing that came to my mind was an Igbo word. So Gbenga is Yoruba, Ikenga is Igbo, which signifies power, or strength, or something like that. But it won’t be out of place if I say…

Speaking to you Gbenga was so good, felt like a banger. I hope I gave you joy and not anger. I tried to be as fluent as I could to avoid any clanger. It’s just a playful rhyme, and at the moment, it’s hanging in the balance like a hanger.
Chuma to Gbenga, 2021

In conclusion;

“The dream is for everybody to know that time moves very quickly. So I try to remind myself that for everything we want to do, let’s start today, because in ten years’ time if you don’t do what you want today, you’ll still be as you are, trust me. So for everything we want to achieve in our respective lives, the earlier we started putting things in motion, the better for ourselves, so we don’t have cause to regret in the near future.”

Albeit, nuff justice was done to the story behind Chuma’s rhymes and vibes, it’s left to be seen what future would hold.

Listen to the full audio here