The fake and the genuine

To everything that is genuine or original in this world, there is a fake or a counterfeit version.

The only thing without a fake or counterfeit version is that which does not exist. For instance it is not likely that we can find fake or counterfeit N5, 000.00k (five thousand) or N10, 000.00k (ten thousand) naira notes in Nigeria. But mention any known product or profession in this country and you can be sure of at least one or two fake versions.

The list is endless - fake oil products, fake sports equipment, fake pharmaceutical products, fake beverages, fake naira notes and foreign currencies of various denominations, fake international travelling passports and visas, fake lawyers, fake military/paramilitary personnel, fake clergymen and because of time and space, we may add just one more, which are fake sportsmen /women. Specifically, fake and counterfeit footballers.

Nigerian players

Or how else does one describe those currently representing Nigeria at all the levels of football competition presently? From the so-called Super Eagles to the "Super" Eaglets.

I believe it will just be fair and modest, if they are tagged as FAKIES. Fakies? Yes, because a fakie is a trick performed backwards in sports, such as skateboarding and snowboarding and a fakie is performed by trickish fakie. When you have a collection of such, you have a team of fakies. Quod erat demonstradum. Let me quickly give "unto Caesar what is Caesar's". For copy right purposes, I cannot lay claim to the rightful ownership of this nomenclature. The nomenclature belongs to a group of young boys with whom I watched the Nigeria / Germany U - 20 quarter final match during the just concluded Egypt 2009 FIFA competition.

My experience with these young ones was very interesting, instructive and very frightening. Majority of them are still in secondary school. Only a few of them are above 20 years, while a couple of adults were also around - all of them parents.

Disapproval of Flying Eagles

First thing I noticed was the way they expressed their disapproval and dissatisfaction with every member of the Flying Eagles and were excited and happy with the performance of the German boys. Words like "agbaya" - worthless or good - for - nothing old person, "old - cargo", "extra - tyre", and some other unprintable ones filled the air, each time the commentators mentioned the names and ages of the Flying Eagles, or each time a mis-kick occurred or the ball ballooned far above the goal post. These youngsters could even predetermine some manoeuvres. The frightening aspect was the way they were all praying for the defeat of the Flying Eagles. I tried to intervene, but to no avail. "Sir, how can this one - (the goalkeeper - Uche Okafor) claim to be 18 years old? I am 18 Sir and just finished SS 3, look at him." When a substitution was made and Shagari, got unto the pitch, the entire place was transformed into a state of hullabaloo and I dare not publish what was said about the player, Shagari and Samson Siasia.

Cheating ourselves

The truth is that these youngsters feel cheated. These are some of the millions of Nigerian teenagers, with potential in the art of football, who should be exposed to age-grade football developmental activities now, and, thereby prepared for the future of Nigerian football. There must be at least about three million of such in this great country of about 120 million people. And believe me sincerely, I suspect that the genuinely qualified age - grade players, who should be representing Nigeria during the U - 17 FIFA World Cup finals kicking off this weekend, will not be happy to see bald - headed professional players in the green and white colours of Nigeria. Take a look at Obuh's final selection and tell us how many of them are from Secondary Schools in Nigeria, or how many of them left school a year or two ago, in a nation where the academic structure is the 6 - 3 - 3 - 4.

Our football future

Where lies the future of Nigerian football? Why are genuinely concerned parents, who have sent their wards to football schools not talking? What are the coaches, "coachitos" and "coachilas" of age - grade football academies doing about this?

What is the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation - headed by Leke Olaiya saying about this?

What are games masters, teachers in secondary schools, principals and members of the Parents/Teachers Associations at the States and National levels doing about this? Where are our religious leaders? Must sin - age falsification, continue in this beloved nation and we expect grace to abound? May God have mercy on this country.