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One-Year Ago!
By Toyin | June 11, 2009
It seems just like yesterday when I decided to put my passion for and knowledge about our game football on the web and thereby birthed this site. Within this period, 49 posts were written, hundreds of thousands of visits were recorded and thousands of comments came in.
I couldn’t believe that I wrote some of the things I crystallized in my posts. In my spare time, I try to navigate through the archives to see the words already launched into the cyberspace and I must confess that some were almost prophetic while others were at best; wild goose chase!
Like the saying goes, one thing led to the other; I read a post on Dipo Tepede’s blog where he talked about putting ones passion and talent into use and not hiding behind the excuse of being too busy and stuffs like that. He specifically went ahead to mention the fact that he looked forward to the day when he would be able to read a great blog on sports. As I read his lines, something stirred up in my heart and I felt as if he was actually addressing me.
Two days later, I held a meeting with him and asked him to educate me on how to go about it. From that meeting and just two weeks after, 9jafans.com was launched with the help of a bosom friend, Jonah Ulebor who took up the gauntlet of designing and hosting the site. He subsequently asked for my inaugural post and the rest as they say is history! To these two wonderful guys, I say a big thank you.
To my friend and wife, Yemisi; for your understanding, unshakeable commitment and encouragement, thank you. My little boy, Temiloluwa, who at two years has developed a deep interest in computers, thank you for the joy you represent in our family.
Thank you my friends on goal.com forum: Morpheus, Feverpitch, Realgunner, najgunner, Zefroth vcffan, karakai and others two numerous to mention. I promise to always represent Africa well.
My colleagues in the office: Gbenga Omotade, Patience Otor, Toyin Aiyelemi, Tim Anikpe, John Oladejo and Niyi Olawore; thank you for your words of encouragement and visits.
I thank Deolu Akinyemi for his prompt cooperation in advancing the course of others and enhancing humanity around him. To Anu Oluwadare, Ogho Emore and Gbenga Sesan: more grease to your elbows.
What would a blog be without readers, fans and contributors? NOTHING! To my regular readers and contributors, thank you. Your words of encouragement and comments have helped in no small measure in keeping me going. When I remember that within a month or two the site moved from 1,902,632 position on Alexa rating to 488,000; I can’t but appreciate your importance in keeping this dream on track.
I sincerely thank everyone for the sacrifice and time spent on reading me and contributing. I would have loved to mention you guys by name but thank you all the same.
All in all, one thing refused to go away from my interactions with fans and lovers of the game; the genuine love of the average Nigerian for football and the determination of many to see our various national teams succeed all the time. As hard as this may seem, it’s been the benchmark of fans’ attitude to our teams!
The world indeed is there for us to conquer. What’s stopping you? Unlike the world of sports where poor and inept leadership, corruption, tribalism and other vices that are well documented have greatly ‘helped’ us in being where we are; you can break free of your holds and move into destiny!
If good things are done in other climes, they could definitely be done here! Requirements? Determination, commitment, focus and that Winston Churchill’s payoff “never, ever, ever quit”.
To some football is trouble. To many, it’s just a game but to us, it is life and we owe no one any apologies! When the chronicles are read; the records of events put into perspective: Football will take a major chunk of the highlight!
Topics: Crazy Fans, Nigerian Football, Success Pills |
June 12th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Congratulations to you Toyin and the crew at 9jafans.com. Your writing skills are simply exceptional and I am proud to be part of this blog. I strongly believe that you will go places.
Please keep the good work up and we really hope that come South Africa 2010, you will be live in Johannesburg to give us your insightful and thorough analysis.
Good luck.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Congrats bro. It’s time to change the gear; it’s time to move up to another level.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Congrats darling, the sky is the not ur limit!
June 12th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Just like that it is one year, congrat. Bros, you are doing a nice job keep the good job. God will give you more wisdom to get to highest level.
June 12th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Just like yesterday, no one would have thought its been that long. Keep up the good work. More grease to your elbow.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Congrats! He that started a good thing in you would see it to the end…………….
June 13th, 2009 at 11:35 am
The great are great because we decide to carry them on our shoulders. Who says 9jafans.com cannot be live in South Africa to give live coverage of the 2010 world cup? The journey has just started. Congratulations!
June 13th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
this is just the begining, the world is yet 2 see the best of u. looking forward to see u live on supersports along side our own peterside Ida, analizing matches during the mundial. nothing is impossible. congrats.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I appreciate all your comments guys; may God bless you all!
June 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Congrats as you clock one……we look forward to reading more from you and always know that this site is reaching out and touching lives in more ways that you can imagine.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I am not a football fan. I can never be.
But football is always in the air all around and one cannot but be caught in its breeze ocassionally such as this.
Congrats and wishing you higher grounds…