Sports

Keshi was our Second Gardner and Rohr should follow his Vestiges

Published

5 years ago

May 28, 2020

By Ola Aro

The Scriptures tell us that the Son of God (1st Adam) began His Sufferings in a Garden and brought them to a close in a Garden. That is an absolutely amazing display of God’s wisdom.
After all, Jesus is the second “Adam” undoing what Adam did and doing what Adam failed to do (Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:47-49).

For clarity, Keshi was our Jesus Christ, who fought for the Emancipation of home grown players. This was not done by those who tutored the Super Eagles team (in the past) as most of them were scared of taking risks. Thus, the issue of inferiority complex became a malaise our home based players had to live with, before Keshi’s installation as coach.

To me, Late Keshi, was the second Heavenly Gardener, who gave himself to the cultivation of the souls of his people through his Atoning Sacrifice and Continual intercession. Yet, he was crucified and embarrassed, despite the unprecedented achievements during his reigns against all evil snares, specifically from the people that appointed him, sorry I digress a little bit.

Why Rohr should follow Keshi’s footprints?
For NFF to renew the contract of Rohr despite his failings, it means he is the Heavenly Bridegroom, entering into His sufferings in a Garden (Nigeria) for the redemption of his brides (home based players) and the Church (Our league).

Rohr should stop the discrimination because some of the players he’s relying on were product(s) of Late Keshi’s pedagogy & other indigenous coaches – in terms of coaching.
Oghenekaro Etebo Ahmed Musa, Shehu Abdullahi, Simon MosesWilfred NdidiKelechi Iheanacho, Osimhen & Samuel Balogun, and Troost et AlWe are being unfair to Nigerian coaches, NFF and football stakeholders at large.
Was our league the best in Africa when Keshi made huge sacrifices for discovering home-based players and even took the biggest risk(s) by parading virgins at the Nations Cup?

If we continue to ridicule our home based players, it shows we are not sure of Rohr’s Technical Savvy.

How many home based players has he given level playing field with those Half baked foreign players? Life is a matter choice and chance. I wanted NFF to sack him (Rohr) after his very irresponsible and reckless approach against Argentina at World Cup in Russia. But then, it was NFF’s choice to gift him another chance. Should we now crucify NFF for that?

The only achievement Rohr has is finishing 3rd at the Nations cup, with all his Sophisticated foreign players not forgetting his insipid pattern of play.

This was the record, Keshi had as an auxiliary coach to late Amodu at Mali 2002. But our previous outing at the Nations Cup, South Africa 2013, Keshi won it with 13 to 14 debutants and some are saying Rohr should not gift home based opportunity to excel? If I were Rohr, I would have studied the method of success in Super Eagles during Keshi’s reign…

Rohr, a coach that keeps failing everytime in his failures to make decisive and accurate substitutions, specifically at both World Cup and Nations Cup; is opening his mouth to say, our local players are not good enough. That’s bunkum!

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Sports

Team Nigeria Records Best-Ever Performance at Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2025

The Gleamer

…Finishes 8th on overall standings, secures Africa’s second best placement

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria finished eighth on the medals table with a total of 30 medals, marking its best-ever performance at the Islamic Solidarity Games, while Turkey emerged at the top of the standings.

This year has been a remarkable success for the National Sports Commission, which has supported more than 40 sports federations in attending international competitions, many of whom have delivered outstanding performances and secured medals – the count includes taekwondo, swimming, cricket, para-powerlifting, para-badminton, among others.

Nigeria’s haul, comprised 11 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze, a result that reinforces the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) strategic direction of sending only athletes with strong podium prospects to major international events.

Competing in seven sports, Taekwondo, Boxing, Athletics, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Para-Powerlifting, and Para-Athletics, the team delivered an unprecedented outcome, winning medals in every sports they competed in .

Weightlifting led Nigeria’s medal haul with 6 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, followed by Athletics, which secured 2 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze. Wrestling added 2 gold and 2 silver, Para-Powerlifting contributed 1 gold, while Boxing and Para-Athletics each earned 1 silver. Taekwondo completed the tally with 1 bronze medal.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, praised the team’s exceptional outing, stating:

“It is not a coincidence that Nigeria won medals in every sport we participated in at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games. This achievement reflects the new direction we have taken in sports development. After meeting with our team at the Commission and the Elite and Podium Board led by Yusuf Ali, we made a deliberate decision to bring only podium prospects to Riyadh and today, that decision has paid off.”

He added that the performance in Riyadh sets the standard for future international engagements:

“From Boxing to Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Track and Field and Powerlifting, Nigeria secured medals in every sport we entered. This is the new benchmark at the National Sports Commission, guiding our preparations for upcoming competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and ultimately, the Olympics.”

Officials stated that Team Nigeria’s record-breaking finish in Riyadh marks a defining moment in the country’s sporting evolution and strengthens its position as a rising force in global multi-sport competitions.

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