Welcome

My name is Toyin Akiode, a Chartered Marketer and also a sports enthusiast. I am very passionate about football ( just as I know that you are). This is a blog for you and I to express our thoughts, emotions, desires, disappointments and of course joy and happiness concerning our sport. Welcome to 9jafans.com- it is all about football.

Dear friend, welcome to 2009, a year of UNUSUAL EXPOLITS! Whatever your shortcomings were last year, you are free from them in this new one. I think ‘am beginning to preach!

The year that just went by had its ups and downs just like any other. It was a year of great pain economically for most while a few discerning became very rich. As the year reached its climax on December 31, I heard someone who sat close to me in church said ‘thank God, it’s almost over’! Such was the emotion and sentiment of the past year.  I watched Manchester United (under the indefatigable Sir Ferguson) won the two biggest prizes available to them; the Premiership and the Champions League. They ended the year with the World Club Cup trophy.

Here in Nigeria, we witnessed both unprecedented growth and unbelievable bust in the capital market. For us in the football family, it was a year of heartaches, heartbreaks, joy, happiness and euphoria combined.

A decent but unlucky coach, Avram Grant turned Chelsea into an exciting side when they were suddenly rid off of the ‘Special One’! He did all he could but 2008 was just not his year as he reached three finals only to lose all. Are you asking me three finals? Yes of course! He almost won the league and this could be classified as a final.

Poor refereeing cost Arsenal dear in the quarterfinals of the Champions league and they bowed out to a spirited Liverpool side at the last hurdle.

The departure of Frank Rijkaard brought about the emergence of a new power block at the Nou Camp: Pep Guardiaola and his devotees have since been serving us some unbelievable football. Real Madrid won the league but came crashing and the rest as they say is history.

Ronaldinho left Barca and resuscitated his carrier with Milan and ‘tinker man’ Claudio Ranieri made Jueventus a force to be reckoned with again. You don’t think so? They beat Real Madrid both home and away in the Champions league and that is no mean feat!

In England, Martin O’ Neil and his Villains are threatening the status quo; they want Arsenal out of the Champions league! Hull City announced their arrival on the big stage by defeating the Gunners right on their sacred ground and Stoke followed suit by refusing to be cowed at their own ground.

French football remains the platform for the usual suspect: Lyon, Marseille and others! Funny enough, fans still goes to watch, as we already know who the winner will be before the end of the league!

And a new David emerged in Germany, the name is Hoffenheim and they are joint leaders with the Goliath, Bayern Munich. Have you heard of the name Vedad Ibisevic? He is the sling thrower at Hoffenheim and he has brought down many giants.

Ha, my beloved Super Falcons lost their crown in Guinea Bissau. Unbelievable! And Nigerian football was not too successful during the year.

However, this is a new year! Everything that was not up to scratch last year is gone and dumped into the history archives. It is time to move ahead.

We can, whether individually or collectively make progress this year. And this is the time to start planning.

This message is so apt for the Nigerian FA. This is a new year and it represents a new opportunity for self-redemption. South Africa is just a year and half away, we must begin preparation now. We can’t fail this Nation and expects to be pardoned just like that.

If we can’t win it, we should at least get to the Semis; this is achievable and it is a must. Otherwise, people should be responsible enough to accept failure and quit when expected results are not achieved.

For all fans, colleagues, well-wishers and my protagonists at Goal.com forum, I am ready for you and I assure you of my utmost regards. Happy New Year!