SPORTS
Sports: What Nigeria stands to gain from Euro 2020- Bright Sodje
Bright Sodje, the most senior member of the famous Sodje sports family that has produced notable international footballers like Efe Sodje and Sam Sodje speaks on his impression of the just concluded European Nations Football Championship[Euro 2020]. In this interview from London with Danusa Ocholi, he explains what Nigeria and indeed Africa stand to gain from the Championship.
What is your general impression of Euro 2020,especially in terms of organisation and quality of play?
My impression is positive, really good.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Euro 2020 was a relief welcoming, to thousands of fans, as well as opening football doors to the public after a long time. The Championship gave people the opportunity to meet up with friends and families in the pubs, parks to watch the games. Above all the mental state of people was really good. In terms of organisation, it was top class, for it was the first time a major tournament was holding across all major cities in Europe almost at the same time. In football terms, it gave a greater access to fans to support their respective countries. It was cost effective by this one had the opportunity to stay in one’s country without spending extra money to travel to other cities or nations. Not everybody can afford this. And also it gave opportunity for the local bars, hotels to make extra money for their country’s economy. What is more, Euro2020 gave us some quality play from all the participating nations, with , different formations which were very exciting. For example England employed two to three different formations. In some games England used four players at the back and in other games they used three at the rear. All depended on what country England was playing. When the tournament started, majority of bookmakers tipped the big nations to get to the final like: France, Belgium, Germany, England, Spain. A lot of noise was made about them, but we had other nations like Denmark, Italy, that just went about their own business and made tremendous impact . Above all the quality was very good.Expectations were high of England success. What do you think went wrong with the ‘Three Lions” ,where did Manager Southgate get it wrong?
In any major tournament the expectation of the British public is always high. The British always believe it’s their rights that England should win. To certain degree yes they should win, because the country invented most sports including football. The British press do not help either due to the pressure from their writings on how good the country is in sports, not only in football, same applies to cricket, and rugby. If you speak with any British person about football, they will tell you they have the best league in the world. I am lucky to be in a position to speak with people in the football industry. In my view the EPL is the best product in the world in terms of promotion, but not the best league overall in the world. You have to go to Spain to prove yourself as world class player. Those that win the best players in the world, majority ply their trade in Spain. Don’t get me wrong EPL is special in different ways. It is not right to ask the question where did it go wrong. In my view, both teams England and Italy did their homework on each other in terms of strengths and weaknesses, it was more of mental toughness that decided at the end of the day, I believe more pressure was on England playing at home ground with die hard supporters. Italy had less pressure, even when England scored in first two minurts,you can see the body language of Southgate, he did not celebrate that much from the touch line, because he knew Italy will comeback into the game. Those that follow Italian League will tell you when the time is right the team will come out and stick to the game plan. Harry Kane did not enter the Italian box to have a shot for 120 minutes, he was dropping a lot deeper hoping that one of the defenders will follow him,so Stering can use his pace to run into the hole. Italian team knew this right from the start. It is therefore not fair to say that Southgate got it wrong. England did the homework on Italy but it did pay off.
What do you think this youthful England squad learnt from the competition for the future?
The youthful England team are very very talented group, it was a big experience for them to play in major tournament on home soil, it can only get better for the country. I had the opportunity to watch most of these boys playing Academy football, they are on different planet, Mason Mount, Jaydon Sancho, Saka and the rest. For the 2022 World Cup watch out for England.
What do you think Africa and Nigeria in particular could learn from the event, especially in organization ?
To be fair not much we can learn from this, we had World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the biggest football event in the World . What can we learn as Nigerian? We should try to move away from government funding and look forward to get the private sector to do more in sponsoring major events in Nigeria. We need to plan ahead instead of last minute dot com; this does not help any team to prepare. As a nation if we get it right the whole world will sit up and respect Nigeria. Who ever thought that Nigeria Basketball team will beat the Mighty USA team? If we get it right we can beat any team in the world. In my view, we should focus on developing the Country league, if South Africa and other Africa countries can do it, no reason we can not.
Pinnick, the NFF president was at Wembley , do you have any advice for him .
Mr. Amaju is a well travelled person, he understands how the sport industries works around the world. I am sure he still looking for ways to improve the standard of football in Nigeria.
Thanks for granting me the interview.
You are welcomed.
The Portuguese Football Federation has reaffirmed its support for Cristiano Ronaldo’s continued involvement with the national team, with president Pedro Proença describing the veteran forward as an icon of Portuguese football.
Proença on PFF’sX handle on Monday, said Ronaldo remains an important part of the national team whenever he is fit and available.
He also defended Ronaldo’s place in the squad, insisting that his selection is justified by his performances.
Proença also addressed the reported disagreement between Ronaldo and Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, describing the situation as a misunderstanding that should be handled internally.
The federation president stressed that Ronaldo remains firmly connected to the national team, pointing to his role as captain in the first of Portugal’s four matches.
According to Proença, Ronaldo’s decision to continue representing Portugal reflects his strong attachment to the national team.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese icon and an exceptional player. He could have ended his career at the World Cup, but he didn’t because of his love for his national team,” he said.
Proença added that he has personally witnessed the relationship between Ronaldo, the Portuguese public and the national team.
With the four matches now completed, Proença believes there is an opportunity for Ronaldo and Jesus to resolve their differences.
Proença concluded by reiterating that Ronaldo remains part of Portugal’s football legacy and that his future with the national team remains open.
“Cristiano is part of our legacy, and he will always be here whenever the coach wants him,” he said.
As Lionel Messi prepares to get a hero’s farewell for his successful international career, Cristiano Ronaldo’s could have ended with him running down the tunnel at the final whistle of a game he did not play.
After the World Cup, Argentina’s Messi, 39, decided to retire from international football, while Ronaldo, 41, opted to play on for Portugal.
Yet there is the possibility that Messi’s Argentina career will end up lasting a few days longer – with a home friendly with Benin on Tuesday marked as his final game.
Ronaldo, furious at being made to warm up and not be brought on against Norway in the Nations League, walked out on the Portugal squad after finding out he would not start against Denmark either.
The Al-Nassr forward has scored 146 goals and won 234 caps for Portugal – both world records.
After such a high-profile falling-out with new boss Jorge Jesus, also a larger than life character who does not back down, Ronaldo is facing a big decision.
Jesus has insisted he would be welcome back if he wants to return and talks between Ronaldo, his representatives and the Portuguese FA are ongoing as they look for a solution.
While Ronaldo could not carry on playing forever, this is not how he would have expected his international career to end.
His fans are remaining loyal to him, with social media full of posts supporting Ronaldo and criticising Jesus, while on the other side some fans and a lot of Portugal’s media have been critical of what they see as selfish behaviour.
Ahead of Portugal’s next match against Denmark in November lies a big decision for one of the world’s greatest ever players.
It has all happened very quickly.
After the World Cup, Portugal replaced Roberto Martinez with Jesus, who had been Ronaldo’s boss with Al-Nassr last season.
Less than two weeks ago, Ronaldo said: “I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want.”
Things were still looking OK when he started in the 1-0 win over Wales.
Jesus told Ronaldo he would be on the bench for the next game against Norway. After being told to warm up for a period of the game, he remained an unused substitute in a Portugal game for the first time in 18 years.
Guillem Balague, who wrote a book about Ronaldo in 2015, said: “He gets asked to warm up for the whole of the second half, practically.
And as the final whistle went he went down the tunnel instead of going to the fans with his team-mates.
Jesus said there was no falling out but confirmed Ronaldo would not start the next game with Denmark either.
Portugal’s FA president Pedro Proenca flew to Copenhagen, landing at 02:30 in the morning, to try to smooth things over with Ronaldo but failed.
After beating Norway on Sunday in their final Nations League match – again without Ronaldo – Jesus said: “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide.
On several billboards in Lisbon posters went up praising Ronaldo and criticising Jesus.
They read, in Portuguese: “Thank you Cristiano Ronaldo for everything you did for Portugal. You will always be our captain.
“Jorge Jesus was not up to the task. Lack of sensitivity. Treating a captain wrongly. Inflated ego.”
One was placed next to the Estadio da Luz, home of Benfica – who Jesus managed to three league titles.
At the Denmark game, some fans wore T-shirts spelling out ‘Love you Jesus’ while others were head-to-toe in Ronaldo merch.
Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, incidentally, celebrated his goal with his idol Ronaldo’s trademark ‘siuuu’ something he has done previously when netting against Portugal.
Portugal’s newspapers had differing perspectives.
Meanwhile, videos were posted online of angry fans ripping up their Portugal jerseys.
Jesus and Proenca were booed leaving a building in Copenhagen.
But many foreign fans purely supported Portugal because of Ronaldo – so they do not necessarily represent the views of actual Portuguese supporters.
Portugal fan Maria Ribeiro, from Lisbon, said: “It is so hard for all us fans. We all love him but it is getting too much now. It is hard to imagine Portugal without Ronaldo but maybe this is the time. There is too much arguing between ourselves.”
Ronaldo’s search for a record 1,000 career goals remains on but will he have to finish that at club level in Saudi Arabia?
He has scored 979 times for Portugal, Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
While his old rival Messi scored eight goals, and assisted four more, to take Argentina to the summer World Cup final – Portugal fell at the last-16 stage.
Ronaldo’s former United team-mate Wayne Rooney added: “He is a genius, a superstar. What he has given to football and millions of people is something very rare.
In the last nine years of Ronaldo’s international career, Portugal’s win percentage without him is slightly better 64% to 63% and they have scored 2.7 goals a game without him compared to 2.1 with him.
The two biggest wins in their history – 9-0 over Luxembourg and 9-1 against Armenia – came in the last two qualifying matches that he missed, both through suspension.
Journalist Marcus Alves, who covers Portugal, said: “How much gratitude is enough? That’s a question that Portuguese fans have been asking for a few years now.
“Of Portugal’s last five coaches, Ronaldo had issues with four of them Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento, Fernando Santos and now Jesus. That’s too much of a distraction when Portugal has arguably their best generation ever.”
Former players of Bayelsa United on Wednesday donated a set of jerseys to the club to support their preparations for the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
Presenting the jerseys to the club, leader of the players and former Chairman of Bayelsa United, Ebiki Timitimi, said the gesture was their little way of contributing to the club’s campaign in the NNL.
Timitimi said the former players remain committed to the growth and development of the club and appealed to critics to be constructive in their assessments.
“As ex-players of the club, we deemed it fit to support the team in our own little way.
We decided to give a set of jerseys to the club as they start their pre-season friendlies.“Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but we should criticise constructively by engaging the management to hear their side of the story before jumping to conclusions.
“Criticising them publicly without proper knowledge of the subject matter,” he added.
Receiving the jerseys on behalf of the Chairman, Peter Singabele and the Management Board, Godson Ekadi described the gesture as a significant show of solidarity from a key constituency of the club.
Ekadi said that the donation, the first major support from stakeholders ahead of the new season, will serve as a huge morale booster for the board, technical crew, and players.
“It is a wonderful statement that has been made today by the ex-players, because when you get support from your immediate constituency, it means that it’s going to be a wonderful season for us.
“Because this is the first gift we’re getting from stakeholders, and we’re calling on others to toe the line of the ex-players.
“It’s like our season has already started because of this gesture they have shown not only verbally, but also by giving a set of jerseys to the club,” he said.
He called on corporate organisations, stakeholders, and International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state to emulate the ex-player
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