Am in Russia covering the Ongoing FIFA WOrld cup,. Yes, it's no longer news, that the Super Eagles of Nigeria crashed out from the ongoing FIFA WORLD CUP (Russia 2018).
NIgerians have blamed their loss on so many reasons, but sincerly speaking, i feel the eagles did not play badly.
Yes, arrows have been thrown here and there on the players, the coaches etc.
But my reason for this post is to intimate some of you reading this on the happenings in and around the Camp of our so called Nigerian football federation officials (The NFF).
Truth be told, the treatment and accommodation The NFF gave to Its contingents from Nigeria (officials, journalist, Match delegates, NPFL club Chairmen) etc was very cool for the first 3-4 days.
But trust me, we Nigerians I don't think we are ready for development.
I've spent the past 3 weeks in Russia, moving from city to city (Moscow, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Saint Petersburg) etc, covering football matches in various stadia.
Russia is a lovely place that I wish everyone needs to visit, irrespective of the cold weather conditions even in summer period.
Now, this is the REAL GIST.
On the 26th of June, at the PARKIN HOTEL by Raddison, in St. Petersburg, Nigerian journalist, officials of the NFF and other well meaning Nigerians who came to the World Cup on the bills of the Nigerian football federation (NFF) had their bags and belongings thrown out of the hotel room, reasons being that the NFF hierarchy were oweing debts for their accommodation.
How does that sound?
Must we disgrace ourselves everywhere we go?
A country were so may Nigerians are crazy about football?
Trust me am narrating to you what happened right in front of my very eyes.
Nigerians who came for the World Cup via the NFF cheque book are devastated, dejected and some even had to sleep outside.
It took several hours before the issue was sorted out, reasons being that they were waiting for a so called Accountant to come settle the bills.
I might sound hard here, but forgive my statements, because when this was happening, I felt like rejecting being a Nigerian.
Senior and veteran Nigerian sports journalists of repute (I don't want to calls names), we're made to sit at the lobby of the hotel for hours with thier bags looking like refugees, in a country were everything looks like heaven made on earth.
The worst happened when Nigerian crash out of the tournament as the officials had to take its contingents to share rooms in another hotel ( HAPTON HILTON HOTEL) in Saint Petersburg.
Some rooms had 5-6 persons sharing one room etc.
How did I forget to tell you guys what happened at the Saint Petersburg stadium
(Venue of our match against Argentina).
Match tickets that were delegates to some persons from the NFF became an issue as there was the Nigerian slang of Man know Man.
I felt pity for those who had their hopes kept on the NFF match tickets.
I stood close-by as I watched some respected sports journalist denied match tickets, only for those tickets be given to persons who had no business even Coming to Russia.
Some supporters club members beat their drums in excitement, from the hotel to the stadium, only to reach the Saint Petersburg stadium (A stadium that is heaven on earth) and we're locked out because of no issueance of Match tickets.
The funny thing is that right in front of me, some of those tickets ended up in the hands of some of the officials girlfriends and concubines, thereby denying well spriited Nigerians the chance of seeing the game live.
In fact. Let me stop here for now, because the sights and sounds of Russia is something that still amazes me.
No wonder I don't blame some Nigerians who have tried escaping from here to other countries, all in search for greener pastures.
I have got so much gists for you guys from here.
Meanwhile, Am still in Russia till the FIFA WORLD CUP ends........
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