The internet is a magical tool. Since last week I have seen dead bones rise again.

I opened my facebook page and found unbelievable pictures that found their way there from God-knows-where. But there they were,  unearthed from grave, dug from the archives of Nigerian football, pictures some of which I was seeing for the first time in my life. The pictures resurrected events and people from thirty years back and more.

I noticed that the pictures were pasted on my wall from a website that belongs to one of the most elusive players in the history of Nigerian football. Since he left the country  over 30 years ago Thompson Usiyen has completely shed his links with Nigerian football. He has neither commented nor related with it. He hardly ever visits the country not to talk of identifying with its football. When he went to the US in 1977 he played his football at the Collegiate level before going on to play professionally in the American League and the Indoor league in Canada. I am told that Thompson’s playing records as a college student player have remained unequalled in American history. Little wonder he was offered full scholarships throughout his studies and American citizenship afterwards. As I write this it seems incredulous that before last week I had only spoken to Thompson once in 33 years! His pictures that were pasted on my wall by a mutual facebook friend paved the way for our reconnection and before long we were happily chatting away, breathlessly catching up with old times.  Thats how Thompson and I resumed a great conversation.

Thompson asked after most of the players of our time several of who have passed on. He wondered if the football administrators had done anything to keep the players  name, stories and their contributions alive. On my facebook page the effect of Thompson’s pictures and my comments on some of them have created an internet frenzy that is yet to abate.  Incredible stories, interesting debates and discussions on former Nigerian international players are still ongoing even till now no thanks to the wonderful pictures that brought many of them back to life in people’s consciousness. Many of these players are those that we have been celebrating on this page in the past two weeks.

Suddenly my friends and colleagues that have passed on have been ‘resurrected’ through the internet – Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal, Best Ogedegbe, Tunde Bamidele, Alloysius Atuegbu, Folorunsho Gambari, Ogidi Ibiabuchi, Garba Okoye, Patrick Okala, Emeka Onyedika, Mathias Obianika, Kunle Awesu, and many others!

On the celebration of 50 greatest players in 50 years of Nigerian football even many of our colleagues are dancing or shaking in their graves, their spirits invoked either by the fond memories of their exploits or by the unfolding negative spectacle ongoing in Nigerian football! They remind us all that we pledged in our national anthem that ‘the labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain’. They ask what happened to that promise? Until their spirits are appeased through justice, acknowledgement and appreciation that must permeate Nigerian football in the days ahead, the game may not know peace again in our land, for dead bones have risen!