‘Extra tyre’ John Obi Mikel v ‘auto’ Matic

With the league title in the bag, one would have expected Jose Mourinho to give playing time to players outside his starting XI – players like John Obi Mikel.

And yes the Portuguese duly obliged and picked the Nigerian ahead of the Serbian Nemanja Matic against Liverpool – in one of the three dead rubber games the Blues have to honour to complete the number of Barclays Premier League games for the season.

Matic is primarily used as a “false midfielder” whose number one duty is to serve as cover for the ageing John Terry and Garry Cahill in Chelsea’s central defense. The same job functions of Mikel.

But unlike Mikel, Matic, who signed for Chelsea from Benfica in January 2014, having previously represented the Blues after joining from MSK Kosice in 2009, is not only capable of protecting the defense but also launching attacks with his brand of quick, incisive passing.

Before nationalistic instincts take the better of you, here are the stats for the two players this season. It’s valid before Sunday’s game with Liverpool.

Yeah, the dead rubber game!

KEY INDICES	MATIC	MIKEL
Games played	42	21
Goals scored	3	1
Shooting accuracy	45%	29%
Assists	3	1
Passing accuracy	87%	91%
Fouls conceded	66	23
Tackle success	78%	73%

This should explain why the “manual” Mikel could only be considered ahead of autoMatic against the Reds.

Yeah, in the dead rubber game!

Paul ‘Otto von Bismarck’ Bassey, where’s that resignation letter?

Such threats are really made but once uttered should be carried out.

Except, of course, Paul Bassey is the modern day Otto von Bismarck.

Bismarck was a statesman – what Nigerians call an elder statesman – who dominated German and European affairs from the 1860s until 1890. An aristocratic Junker, he had an extremely aggressive and domineering personality. At the height of his powers, the first chancellor of Germany from March 21, 1871 to March 20, 1890 displayed a violent temper and kept his power by threatening to resign time and again.

He never did.

After 20 days of Stephen Keshi’s reappointment as Super Eagles coach, Paul Bassey is yet to walk his talk either.

“I feel pained that we are still talking about whether to hire or not to hire Keshi. As for me, I’ve decided that the day they announce Keshi as coach, I’ll relinquish my job as a member of the technical committee,” the veteran sports journalist and member of CAF and FIFA media committee said on March 4, 2015.

It’s understandable to have forgotten what the Akwa Ibomite uttered during the will-they-will-they-not come to an agreement as the dilly-dally between Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation’s top brass continued on the national team’s job.

It’s understandable to have forgotten because the statement was made during the long and tortuous electioneering in the country.

The elections are over now and the winners have been separated from the losers – even though the losers have changing of camp options up their sleeves.

Bassey, though, does not have that option. He has a better one: silence. And hope.

Silence as if nothing was ever said as he hopes you all have forgotten what he said.

I have not forgotten.

It’s 68 days after speaking his mind against Keshi retaining his job.

It’s 20 days after Keshi got the job.

It’s day one in my call for the resignation of Paul ‘Otto von Bismarck’ Bassey as a member of NFF’s technical committee.

It’s a matter of honour.

CONGRATS ANICHEBE

Former (?) Super Eagles striker, Victor Anichebe, made history in his 11th start of this season for West Brom.

The 6ft3in powerhouse scored WBA’s only goal in the 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at St James Park on Saturday.

What’s so special in a 32nd-minute goal that couldn’t fetch all three points at stake, you may ask? Well, according to OPTA, the first half strike was the 900th goal scored in the BPL this season.

Anichebe won’t and can’t score 22 goals in the remaining two games left in the season to overtake Sergio Aguero on the top scorers list, but the 900th goal landmark is an award on its own.

Like my brothers in Warri will say “half bread is better than chinchin”!

WHAT’S NOT IN A NAME

I’ll end this week’s article looking at the funny side of life.

Well, the funny side of names you might call it.

Even if you are not a football fan like most women not involved with the Super Falcons or married to “my-team-or-the-highway” men, names of some clubs in Nigeria nation-wide division one league should arouse your attention and interest.

It might not lead to desire and action like the AIDA acronym in advertising, but it will still well, erm, arouse your attention and interest all the same.

Check out these fixtures:

Learning FC v CBN Cashless FC

Dreams International v Cynosure FC

Those names put creativity in overdrive!

What will happen to Learning FC if they eventually get to the elite division and beat Kano Pillars and Enyimba to the NPFL title?

Oh, you are right; life is a continuous learning process. You win this on unanimous decision by the three judges!

But will Cynosure FC still attract people’s attention and interest after losing five consecutive games 5-0? Got ya!

Dreams International have a learning and cynosure problem!

Will the dream now be a nightmare if they go on a long losing streak? Obviously, that won’t make them the cynosure. Nobody loves bad dreams!

CBN Cashless!

CBN Cashless?

Would a player in CBN Cashless complain of being owed outstanding salary and bonus?

“We run a cashless club,” the club owner, “said” when queried by the NFF for not paying his players.

Most women whether or not they love the game or are conscripted to do so wouldn’t like a cashless marriage.

Even the ones with “my-team-or-the-highway” men!

LET’S CELEBRATE THE BRILLIANCE OF RASHIDI YEKINI

That was the title of the piece written on Nigeria’s best ever striker by Nurudeen Obalola in Complete Sports Friday, May 8, 2015 edition.

There can’t be a better piece on the 1993 Africa player of the year. I won’t even bother to try and better it. I can only say, let us continue to celebrate the brilliance of the totem of Nigeria’s golden generation.

That was how Nuru ended his tribute on the goals father.

Told you I can’t do a better job!

Reading is believing.