http://mathematical7.com To instigate, contribute to and promote the development of youths in Nigeria using the power of Sports Fri, 18 May 2012 15:36:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-rashidi-yekini-the-goal-scoring-machine/ http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-rashidi-yekini-the-goal-scoring-machine/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:14:53 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1488 You better believe it - Rashidi Yekini is back! I doubt if there is any African with any interest in African football that will not be familiar with that name. He is that footballer that scored Nigeria's first ever World Cup goal and tore at the net behind the Bulgarian goalkeeper in a scream that reverberated around the world. Only Lauren Pokou before him (with 14 goals) and Samuel Eto (with 15 goals) after him, have scored more goals than him (with 12 goals) at the African Cup of Nations. So good was Rashidi Yekini that he became the first Nigerian to be awarded CAF's African Player of the Year in 1994.]]> http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-rashidi-yekini-the-goal-scoring-machine/feed/ 9 http://mathematical7.com/nigerian-sports-frustration-and-hope/ http://mathematical7.com/nigerian-sports-frustration-and-hope/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:00:11 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1481 It is Friday morning. I have been trying without much success since last night to put something down. Although there are a thousand things racing through my mind none is crystalizing into articulate and joyful thought. I came out of a conference yesterday in Abuja that was organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in conjunction with the British Council and UNICEF. It had participants drawn from the education and sports sectors discussing the way forward - how to deal with the twin issues of education and sports. The conference left me in a state of confusion about what to take away from it.]]> http://mathematical7.com/nigerian-sports-frustration-and-hope/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/the-locust-years-of-african-football-development/ http://mathematical7.com/the-locust-years-of-african-football-development/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:03:35 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1428 I watched some truly terrific football matches this past week in the various European club championships. That I have chosen to write on another subject matter entirely surprises me also. But the finals of Nigeria's biggest grassroots football championship, the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship for the NNPC/Shell Cup takes place this weekend in Lagos, Nigeria, so all eyes shall be riveted there in search of the next generation of players for Nigeria's junior national teams.]]> http://mathematical7.com/the-locust-years-of-african-football-development/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/2012-a-year-of-sports-revival/ http://mathematical7.com/2012-a-year-of-sports-revival/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:43:15 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1371 Everything points in the direction of failure. As we open a new chapter in the football in Nigeria this week ominous clouds hide the treasure that lies beneath it. The outgoing year has been the worst in Nigeria's football history. I do not think that any Nigerian would think that things could get any worse. That being so,]]> http://mathematical7.com/2012-a-year-of-sports-revival/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/congratulations-nff-but/ http://mathematical7.com/congratulations-nff-but/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:08:28 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1341 I read a report in one of the daily newspapers that a high court in Abuja has delivered judgement in favour of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a suit brought before the court. I do not know the intricacies of the matter so I am unable to make any informed comment. But if the report of the newspaper is correct, as a law abiding citizen of this country,]]> http://mathematical7.com/congratulations-nff-but/feed/ 1 http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-el-kanemi-warriors-football-club-of-borno/ http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-el-kanemi-warriors-football-club-of-borno/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:41:12 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1331 "Let me welcome you and thank you very much for visiting our State. I must say that you are very daring'. Those were the words of Kashim Shettima, ex-banker, ex-commissioner, and now Governor of Borno State to a 4-man delegation of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) that visited him last week in the State's capital city that has been under siege in recent times.]]> http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-el-kanemi-warriors-football-club-of-borno/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/peering-into-the-future-of-nigerian-football/ http://mathematical7.com/peering-into-the-future-of-nigerian-football/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:46:02 +0000 bigseg http://mathematical7.com/?p=1311 In the ancient coastal city of Calabar I had a sneak preview of the future of Nigerian football. That future may still be several years ahead but when circumstances present the opportunity for one to be in the right place at the right time, one can actually seize the moment and peer into the crystal ball of life. Last Tuesday such a circumstance presented itself. I was invited to Calabar by the Nigeria School Sports Federation President and the Commissioner of Sports of the Cross Rivers State government as special guest at the finals of the Under-12 football competition of the National School Sports Festival. I went]]> http://mathematical7.com/peering-into-the-future-of-nigerian-football/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/how-long-will-stephen-keshi-last/ http://mathematical7.com/how-long-will-stephen-keshi-last/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:38:12 +0000 bigseg http://mathematical7.com/?p=1293 In the history of Nigerian football only two coaches have ever survived the axe of the NFA. Even then, both of them left in circumstances that are not far from being sacked. ]]> http://mathematical7.com/how-long-will-stephen-keshi-last/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/lets-build-mega-clubs-in-nigeria-rauf-aregbesola/ http://mathematical7.com/lets-build-mega-clubs-in-nigeria-rauf-aregbesola/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:36:21 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1282 I did not know him or anything about him until he became commissioner of works in the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Even then I did not have a personal encounter with the man even if his reputation preceded him everywhere. It was almost mystical. He was described by those that knew him as a fanatical workaholic! Since he became governor of Osun State,..]]> http://mathematical7.com/lets-build-mega-clubs-in-nigeria-rauf-aregbesola/feed/ 1 http://mathematical7.com/samuel-ojebode-is-critically-ill/ http://mathematical7.com/samuel-ojebode-is-critically-ill/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:30:53 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1280 I am writing this on Thursday morning. I am about to put my original write-up to bed when I receive a call from a former colleague in Shooting Stars Football Club, Ibadan. His words pierce my heart like an arrow. No, God, please do not let it be true. I am blaming myself already. Did I wait too long before making contact with the government of Oyo State?]]> http://mathematical7.com/samuel-ojebode-is-critically-ill/feed/ 3