Nigerian football: Obituary, in memoriam, birth

OBITUARY

FALCONS, SUPER

It is with great sorrow the family of Super Falcons of Nigeria announces the passing on of the team at the BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, Canada.

The team was long plagued with poor coaching and diagnosed of Okonkodiasis during the 2015 World Cup.

She was predeceased by sisters of the same name who died four years apart, and a brother, the Flying Eagles, in June 2015.

The family would like to send out our extreme appreciation to Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation, for the money he promised to give the team should they have reached the World Cup final scheduled for Vancouver. The money should still be remitted – maybe half of it – since the team fulfilled part of the bargain by getting to Vancouver.

Super Falcons were known for their football skills and there were many around to receive their bashing – especially on the continent. And before being knocked out of the World Cup, they enjoyed scoring and beating Angola, Benin, and Cameroon – the ABC of African football.

A celebration of life will take place on June 20 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport at 1pm with Edwin Okon officiating. A reception, which is open to all, will take place at the same venue.

Thank you for all the messages – praises and insults – on Facebook, Twitter, print and online papers. We cannot name you all but you know who you are.

Donations in memory of the team may be made to NFF Glass House, Abuja, in care of Ademola Olajire, the federation’s head of communication.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at the comment section below or at www.thenff.com.

Our cherished memories of the team will live in our hearts forever as they are now at peace and reunited with their six sisters and the Flying Eagles.

I AM NOT THERE

Do not stand at my grave

And weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry

I am not there

I did not die

You will see me in France

In 2019!

(Poem by Robert Hepburn, minus last two lines!)

IN MEMORIAM

EAGLES

In loving memory of

The Flying Eagles

Who passed away June 11, 2015 in New Zealand.

We thought you will conquer the world

And win Nigeria’s first World Cup at U-20 level

Our hope and expectation rose beyond Mount Everest

When you won the Africa Youth Championship in Senegal

Before then, you had embarrassed Enyimba

Caned Kano Pillars and others in

The Super Four which you gatecrashed with the Olympic Team

But after the 1-0 loss to Germany in Christchurch

We now use our church minds and ponder “what if”

Nigeria soccer fans’ favourite pastime

What if the NFF had not elevated

You and the coaching crew

From U-17 Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles?

Transformation is better than change

We all agreed

So we let it be

But what if you had not won the AYC and the Super Four?

Would our expectations have been less?

And ease the pressure off your young heads

What if you were not camped in Germany?

Prior to the competition

Where you eventually lost to Germany

Who eventually lost to Mali

Who you had lost to you at the AYC

Had the NFF not studied the fixtures

And know that second in the group

Comprising almighty Brazil

Will face first in the group

Comprising once mighty Germany?

But then

What if the game against the Samba Boys

Had been 2-4 not 4-2

You would have come top of the group

And avoided your nemesis Germany

What if Kelechi Iheanacho had not been

Part of the party to New Zealand?

Where he offered nothing new

Save for the petulance when substituted

Against Brazil

What if coach Manu Garba had spoken less

Like most radio stations of

More music less talk

And leave you to do all the talking

On the pitch and not in press conferences

Now the talks have ended

We only think of you in silence

All we have are memories

And your picture in a frame

Our hearts still ache in sadness

Our silent tears still flow

Like it did when we went through

This same pain in 1987

No one will ever know

What it means to lose you.

Lovingly remembered by Nduka Ugbade for the ’87 and 2015 sets.

BIRTH

EAGLES, SUPER

Born: June 13, 2015

Weight: 2.0 lbs

Happy parents are Stephen Keshi and Nigerians

Message from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Article to be updated four years’ time!