I was so surprised that I put a call to our Tony Ubani to confirm the report he sent in the last week of 2013 from Rivers.

Mary Onyali and I have always had long chats. Sometimes, when it’s on phone, they are longer than an hour .

Last minute changes in space allocation killed this column last week. I serve it today. But let me briefly touch on two things that happened after that.

DIDIER Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue face fines from the Turkish FA after displaying vests bearing tributes to Nelson Mandela.

According to the Madiba, Nelson Mandela: “There is one regret that I have had all my life – that I never become the heavy weight boxing champion of the world.”

Last week I pleaded with Stephen Keshi to have a rethink about the conditions he announced before any member of the Golden Eaglets can be invited to the Super Eagles.

We have had players who were sensational in the junior teams especially the Under 17 team but who never progressed to the senior team.

I did not know that I would be called upon to pray. Before this time I said the Lord’s prayer, Holy Mary, Glory Be God and went on in my meditation to pray for the family that has shown me great love and which was leading us in prayer.

In the said article that my friend Sadiq is condemning in his attempted defence for Sani Ndanusa I summarily wrote that tennis in Nigeria has suffered tremendously since Ndanusa assumed office as the President of Tennis Federation in Nigeria and regretted that even as sports minister and President of Nigeria Olympic Committee Ndanusa has not been able to help tennis. Many tournaments have died under his tenure and he has not been able to convince any sponsors to return to the game. It is so bad that teenagers, as I experienced myself at the National Stadium, who should be playing tournaments and mapping a future for themselves now beg to coach elderly people for tokens that could help them live.

How times change. Rolake Olagbegi, the once elegant tennis queen of Nigeria from the famous Olagbegi family is now married to Moyo Kassim and boasts of all the features that make her a mother of three.

Jose Mourinho believes Frank Lampard’s changing role at Chelsea can boost the experienced midfielder’s chances of making an impact at next year’s World Cup finals.

I received many messages especially in the first half of the game.
Nigerians could not understand what was happening. Three of the messages were similar as if the senders rehearsed them. They were apt questions. “What’s happening?”, one read. Next was “What’s going on?” Another said “it will be miraculous if we survive this.”

Keshi keeps list close to chest
All 23 members of the national team were in full flight at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar  yesterday evening despite a down pour, with no one sure of which of them will be on the start list on Saturday in the World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan celebrated his record 100th appearance by scoring the winner as the South Americans beat Nigeria 2-1 to keep their Confederations Cup hopes alive here Thursday.

Starting line-ups in the Confederations Cup Group B match between Tahiti and Nigeria at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.

Nigeria

Vincent Enyeama (capt); Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Uwa Echiejile; John Mikel Obi, Fegor Ogude, Sunday Mba; Agmed Musa, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Anthony Ujah