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ETERNAL CHAMPIONS (PART 3) - A GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST...


“Are you writing on football again?” my wife asked me. No, I replied but just this one because it is closely related to the article (ETERNAL CHAMPIONS – PART 2: https://goo.gl/DoKmTj) that went live on this blog same day.

ETERNAL CHAMPIONS – PART 1: https://goo.gl/s2Bdpr

The land keep ‘boiling’ football wise following the shock 0-2 defeat of the Super Eagles in the hands of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo last Saturday. I had to immediately do a rejoinder on the social media that the article (ETERNAL CHAMPIONS – PART 2: https://goo.gl/DoKmTj) that went live on this blog same day was just a coincidence but the lessons therein remains very relevant to the unfortunate incident. While I urged the Super Eagles to quickly learn from the defeat, I backed them to bounce back from the loss and qualify for 2019 Afcon.

 Today, I delved into my archives to bring up some mails I wrote back in 2009 when a similar event took place in Abuja as the Super Eagles ‘supposedly’ threw away the ticket to qualify for the 2010 world cup after a 2-2 draw with Tunisia in Abuja. It remains relevant to the current scenario and I am humble to share with readers of this blog my conversations with Sonny Young of Voice of America (VOA) - which I also copied several media houses/journalists in Nigeria. Enjoy it below.


MY FIRST MAIL TO SONNY YOUNG 2 DAYS AFTER THE EAGLES DREW 2-2 WITH TUNISIA IN ABUJA
From: Oloyede Ayodele <ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 8, 2008 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: " Let's encourage the Eagles at this critical time pls."
To: Sonny Young <syoung@voanews.com>

Hi Sony, Top of the day to you out there in Washington DC.
It is amazing that each time things go wrong with the national team in this country, the next thing majority of people – especially the fans do (out of anger and emotion) is  to throw caution to the wind and start suggesting fire-fighting measures - sack the coach, disband the team, sack the NFF and so on.  
I am not trying to be an alibi for the coaching crew and the Eagles aftermath of their shameless (Yes! I was also highly disappointed!) display against Tunisia last weekend but life, they say is full of ups and downs. However, all the team needs from all and sundry now is constructive criticisms so useful lessons can be learnt quickly against future occurrence. 
Let's encourage the Eagles at this critical time please! They can still qualify!
Oloyede Ayodele, VI, Lagos

SONNY YOUNG’S REPLY TO ME (WRITING OFF COMPLETELY THE CHANCES OF THE SUPER EAGLES MAKING IT TO SA 2010 WORLD CUP)
From: Sonny Young <syoung@voanews.com>
Date: Sep 9, 2009 6:18 AM
Subject: Re: " Let's encourage the Eagles at this critical time pls."
To: Oloyede Ayodele <ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com>
Thanks for your mail, Oloyede.

Unfortunately, Oloyede, as your Nigerian brother Chinedu Offor says, such
encouragement is probably "too little, too late."  After that 2-2 result in
Abuja, I think the wings of the Super Eagles have officially been clipped,
in terms of making it to South Africa next year.

Sporty regards,

Sonny
"... and that's the Sonny Side of Sports, Oloyede!"

READ THE AMAZING STORY BEHIND IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL HERE: https://goo.gl/rY98LN



MY REPLY TO SONNY YOUNG
From: Oloyede Ayodele <ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 9, 2009 6:18 AM
Subject: Re: " Let's encourage the Eagles at this critical time pls."
To: Sonny Young <syoung@voanews.com>

Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion but quote me Sonny, in football you can never, say never and as the saying goes IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL IT IS OVER!
I still believe…
Oloyede Ayodele, VI, Lagos


SONNY YOUNG’S REPLY TO ME
 From: Sonny Young <syoung@voanews.com>
Date: Sep 9, 2009 3:18 PM
Subject: Re: " Let's encourage the Eagles at this critical time pls."
To: Oloyede Ayodele <ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com>
 I like your SPIRIT and PATRIOTISM, Oloyede!

Sporty regards,

Sonny


MY MAIL TO SONNY YOUNG AFTER THE SUPER EAGLES EVENTUALLY QUALIFIED FOR SA 2010 WORLD CUP AGAINST ALL ODDS

From: Oloyede Ayodele <ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com>
Date: Nov 16, 2009 7:43 AM
Subject: Re : Congratulations to all Nigerians!
To: Sonny Young <syoung@voanews.com>

Top of the day to you Sonny,

As you can see, all things are possible to them that believe. Congratulations to those who queue on the side of optimism and for the doubting Thomasses, you are encouraged to always queue on the side of optimism no matter how difficult
and impossible a situation may be. “…the just shall live by his faith”.

Congratulations to all Nigerians!

Oloyede Ayodele, V.I., Lagos


SONNY YOUNG’S HUMBLING REPLY TO ME

From: Sonny Young <syoung@voanews.com>
Date: Nov 16, 2009 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: Congratulations to all Nigerians!
To: Oloyede Ayodele <ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com>

TOUCHE, OLOYEDE!  Chinedu & I will humbly EAT SOME CROW in Washington during Monday's SSOS, and I hereby offer CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NIGERIANS over the World Cup qualification of the THE SUPER EAGLES!

Cheers and sporty regards,

Sonny

 ANOTHER ARTICLE OF MINE TO SONNY YOUNG PREDICTING THAT THE SUPER EAGLES WILL WIN 2013 AFCON!
From: Oloyede Ayodele [mailto:ayodele.oloyede@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 10:17 AM
To: syoung@voanews.com
Subject: SUPER EAGLES - WRITTEN IN THE SKY?
Provided the Super Eagles keep their focus by not underrating their opponents, starting with the semi-final game against Mali tomorrow, I have a strong feeling that Nigeria's name on the trophy has been written in the sky (heaven).

South Africa has been a good hunting ground for Nigerian national teams. The Flying Eagles won the last African Youth Championship in South Africa in 2011, The Super Falcons won the African Women Championship in 2004 & 2010 in same country.

Secondly, Nigeria won her 2 previous Afcon titles when the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun failed to qualify (1980 & 1994) & we played Ivory Coast on both occasions. With Cameroun absent in 2013 Afcon, may history repeat itself. AMEN!!!

GO EAGLES!!! THIS (TROPHY) IS WRITTEN IN THE SKY FOR YOU!!!

Wishing the Super Eagles the best of luck in tomorrow's game & hopefully the final!

Oloyede Ayodele
VI, Lagos

NB: Super Eagles emerged African champions against all odds. Loss to South Africa is no big deal. Qualification for Afcon 2019 is no big deal.


THE TAKE-AWAYS FROM MY NARRATION ABOVE IS:
1.    NEVER WRITE-OFF ANYONE’S CHANCES OF MAKING IT TO ETERNITY. EVEN THE VILEST OFFENDER CAN STILL MAKE IT AS FAR IS THERE IS LIFE.
2.    I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE NOW, YOUR IDENTITY REMAINS THE SAME. YOU ARE AN ETERNAL CHAMPION! YOU WILL MAKE IT TO ETERNITY AND YOU WILL SAY I TOLD YOU SO WHEN WE SEE OVER THERE!



YOU CAN WRITE YOUR OWN EPITAPH! SEE MINE HERE:https://goo.gl/Y8PUA0
SIMILAR POST: BEYOND THE MATTERS OF ETERNITY - 3 Lessons from the Story of the Wright Brothers https://goo.gl/LI4OVp

ALSO READ: BEYOND THE MATTERS OF ETERNITY - A LOOK OF TOP TEN AFRICAN BILLIONAIRES... https://goo.gl/oKcCPf
TOP 5 NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS I WANT TO SEE WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN https://goo.gl/z2XPgS
TOP 5 OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS I WANT TO SEE WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN https://goo.gl/z2XPgS

Comments

  1. Eternity Reminders25 April 2020 at 13:04

    THE TAKE-AWAYS FROM MY NARRATION ABOVE IS:
    1. NEVER WRITE-OFF ANYONE’S CHANCES OF MAKING IT TO ETERNITY. EVEN THE VILEST OFFENDER CAN STILL MAKE IT AS FAR IS THERE IS LIFE.
    2. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE NOW, YOUR IDENTITY REMAINS THE SAME. YOU ARE AN ETERNAL CHAMPION! YOU WILL MAKE IT TO ETERNITY AND YOU WILL SAY I TOLD YOU SO WHEN WE SEE OVER THERE!

    ReplyDelete

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