A lot has been said and more is being said in the reactions that are greeting the viral video of one of Nigeria’s illustrious sons who has done Africa, Nigeria, his family and himself proud in his chosen field of endeavour, football.
The comments pouring in represent the love millions of Nigerians have for Victor Osimhen and the fame and fortune he has had since his breakthrough in Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Of course, some other footballers or celebrities won’t have attracted this huge traffic in reactions to their videos.
Suffice this to mean that millions of Nigerians love Osimhen. He is the face of Super Eagles and has continued to shine brightest each time he dons the national colours or shirt. He is like a son to all Nigerian parents.
His story, struggles and success from the slums of Olusosun, a suburb in the Ojota Area of Lagos….how he sold pure water, bread and sundries on the streets of Lagos to make ends meet. How he fetched water for the landlady of the compound his family lived to earn a living endeared him to the hearts of millions across the world.
But the events of the last 24 hours has somersaulted or tumbled this hard-earned love Nigerians had for Osimhen.
Recall how Nigerians prayed for him when he had the aerial clash that fractured his bone prompting him to wear face mask.
Many wonder what could have ignited the fire in Osimhen to go on that ego trip. Just like he said, he lost respect for Finidi, he equally has lost the huge love Nigerians had for him.
However, Your Sincerely has been taken aback by the comments of the very few persons throwing their weights behind Osimhen’s video where he visibly lost control, threw caution to the dogs and used very uncouth words freely.
He forgot that we’re Nigerians and those hailing his act also forgot that the young man has just started his football journey. There’s more to achieve. There’s more to crave for.
I dare ask, if Victor Osimhen were your son, will you be (or are you) proud of his recent outburst or action? Will you as a parent or guardian or sibling or friend of Victor advise your ward to do exactly the same act Osimhen put up in that video?
That video and the action of Osimhen are indications of how much we have lost in the area of morals and societal decorum.
It reveals where we are as a nation and people. It explains the level of respect today’s generation of youths have for elders. It tells where we have kept our cultural heritage, norms, values and tradition.
No one says Victor has no right to react if or when he feels offended or his rights were trampled upon. But there are better ways to drive home or deliver your message or express your anger without sounding like a tout or gangster.
This chap is the same player millions of Nigerians were rooting for to be tshe next captain of the Super Eagles when the kite of the issue of captaincy was flown by mischief makers claiming it emanated from George Finidi. Many tipped him to wear the skipper’s armband given his commitment and passion for his job on the pitch.
But we shouldn’t be carried away by the commitment or performance of Osimhen in Nigeria’s colours. That must not be a yardstick to condone his very unfortunate choice of words on Finidi. It could have been anybody. It must not be a license for him to disrespect Finidi.
As the reigning Africa Player of The Year, Osimhen carries huge responsibilities on his shoulders. He is a leader and a leading light not only for Super Eagles but teeming Nigerian youths. He is a role model who many wish to emulate.
I wonder if after that video anyone can point at him as a true exemplary character?
While many are calling for his apology, I dare say, people should not hurt others thus creating an indelible scar yet hide under the guise of apology to assume that such scars could be wiped away like emotional injury and it’s accompanying pains.
We have seen great players. We have seen Nigerians emerge Africa Player of The Year. We have seen millionaire footballers from Nigeria. We have seen dedicated patriots serve Nigeria with humility. Yet none of them had been or talked like this.
Some players have sacrificed their lives for Nigeria. They died in active service.
Late Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji is a clear example. We have seen footballers take pain killers on career threatening injuries just to play in crucial games to make Nigeria proud. Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was a clinical example.
Benjamin Okorogwu was one of the best central defenders of his time. He died after taking ill in the camp of Green Eagles then preparing for AFCON qualifiers.
The world all saw Taribo West with a bandaged head in a World Cup fixture in Korea/Japan 2002 tournament. Footballers have fractured legs (or broken bones) for Super Eagles.
Many have spilled blood through injuries and many have been hospitalized after games for Nigeria.
No one player should act as if Nigerians have not seen his better before. Record has proven that Rashidi Yekini nicknamed “Yeking”, “Goalsfather” and or “Gangling” remains Nigeria’s greatest and most prolific forward.
He scored Nigeria’s historic first ever goal in the World Cup. He still holds the record of scoring the highest number of goals for Nigeria, 37.
Methinks, Osimhen should be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.
No one player is indispensable. No single player can play the entire 11 positions on the pitch. No single player should take the glory for a team’s success. It’s a collective effort and success hence some excesses like this must be checkmated.
Finally, if he deems it fit to tender an unreserved apology to Finidi and the football fraternity, he should be forgiven and embraced back into the team like a son. When the prodigal son returned to his father, he wasn’t cast out. So we should also see Osimhen so. But first thing first – he should be sanctioned accordingly, then, it is up to him to say sorry.
Enough of this unacceptable behaviour.
BY DESMOND EKWUEME
You too have just sounded like finidi,that brought about all this problem.so, you can’t make your contribution without insulting Osimeh the more, saying that he is behaving like no other is better than him,shows truly, you are one of his enemies he is talking about, please, recap, Osimeh said,he called his coach and told him he wants to be part of the campaign, just to motivate his colleagues,we have also seen it before, where a white coach allowed Stephen keshi to be in camp, not just for two matches, but, for the duration our world cup qualifies lasted, even though keshi was heavy at the time,he didn’t begin to think like this typical Nigeria man,(ehhh,if I allow him now, he will look too important), westerhof went on to qualify Nigeria for the world cup, and picked up the nations cup the same year, with keshi as an unused captain, I was taking aback when Osimeh left the subject Matt and started insulting everyone, including myself, but I ask, who will be assaulted the Way Osimeh was, without running crazy, Nigerians should ask finidi, between him and the media house that reported this matter,who mentioned Osimeh s name,if it is finidi,then,he should be asked why he thought Osimeh is not good enough for motivational role, because, Osimeh begged him to allow him come,but,if it’s the media house that reported it,then, finidi should do well in taking them to court,because, they have brought him untold insult and disrespect from the public, please,in judging this matter, let’s remove pain and jealousy, and ask ourselves,if it were not my son,but,me directly in Osimeh s shoes
Victor Oshimhn is right. He is fighting against bullies and people without etiquette who go about destroying characters. Don’t you know that the accusation is a serious act of unprofessionalism? Which moral have Nigerians that you are talking about. When a group of people were saying Buhari was dead and that it was Jibril that was fraudulently being paraded as Buhari. Did you call those animals to order. When they said our President poos in his pants what did you say? Oshimhn is not Iwobi. He is fearless. My advice to him is to quit playing for Nigeria. He should go to where he is appreciated. Victor Moses and Enyeama left the squad and didn’t die. We know what this is all about. They want their people to be the only once playing even when they are no more useful. Why was Ekong who shouted it loud that he was available not even invited? A look through the comments expose these idiots without morality now trying to preach what the don’t have. People who respect nobody. Oshimhn is not like them and rightly fought for his integrity.
Bros, Finidi was very wrong IF he actually said that against Osimhen or whoever. It is a fact that Finidi is not the right coach for the Super Eagles and only God knows how he got the job. Finisdi broke the hearts of many Nigeria but that does not mean that Osimhen should behave this way. Osimhen was as while, very wrong as Finidi. Playing for the nation is not compulsory, let him take your advice and leave the team. Who cares? There was Super Eagle before Osimhen and Finidi and there would be Super Eagle after them. I celebrated the resignation of Finidi and if Osimhen can insult Nigerians football fans recklessly then I put him in the class as Finidi.. It is wrong to support any og them. I have never seen any player in the world acted in this manner, not even Paul Gascoine or Ballotelli. He should direct his anger against Finidi but no player dare attack fans.
No coach has right to go on Air to say things or wrong information without proof about any players, this guy’s also have contracts with branded labels which has rules that can terminate it with words like this, when a player excuse himself owning to injury does the team management find out from the club doctors, we all know the country we are in when you get injury we forget you, so why say such and expect the player to stay quiet 🤐 it’s not possible.
Your types are the once who instead of trying to heal and injury will decide to open it up for flies. A lot of sentiment in your writes up, this is what I called paid wrote up. Ahmed Musa has gone to nation cup without playing but for one purpose to motivate so what’s wrong with Victor doing same. We easily point fingers and forget that the other four are pointing on us all the coach should know how to address issues as a father .
Thank you for this write up. It conveyed the minds of many football loving Nigerians. People like us who played the game felt scandalized by the not decorous vituperations of a small boy like Osimhen to a legend like Finidi George who is old enough to be his father.
With regards to the issue of him rendering an unreserved apology to Finidi and Nigerians for him to be taken back into the team, methinks that Osimhen should be left out of the Nigerian team to serve as a deterrent to others. Otherwise we shall be setting a bad precedence. Although the prodigal son was admitted into the family by his father, but it was unto the elder son the father said, “Son you are ever with me and all that I have are yours”. What that means is that although the some was received back into the family, it was not without consequences: he lost the inheritance.
You’re saying your mind sir. Don’t generalize. You’re biased in your opinion. Calling Oshimen a small boy and Finidi “old enough to be his father” bespeaks a localized African mindset of slavery! Oshimen is a man and not a boy. Even if he is a boy, must Finidi play God? Is he the first coach to handle Oshimen, why is his own Nigerian “Akuko gogoro” different? Please spit off this African mindset and tell your Man to go learn human management
An African man with a mentality have spoken. Weldon because a father never goes wrong too right And why do you also think Finidi isn’t wrong in his actions ?
I am very surprised you mentioned Finidi could have been his father, unfortunately he has no figure in him. He was supposed to be a coach and manager at the same time so that when issues like this crop, he speaks to the player directly instead of going to to the press. I read some body’s comment mentioning heroes and legends who played for Nigeria, what benefits did they receive from the nation, what did the family of late Samu Okwaraji get from the government or the people of Nigeria dying on national duty. We do not even appreciate these guy’s. Please you guys should leave Osimhen in peace.
Your write was absolutely in order, we love OSIMHEN ‘s commitment to the SE, but he must apologized appropriately then taken back.
The effect of the street life is what he displayed, where are his mentors, they have a lot of work to do on him. it’s obvious
OSIMHEN needs help and love.
You can fight for your integrity without sounding like a gutter boy. Process your words before voicing @TAI.
That is if the gutter boy in you is not stirred by another gutter man. Like beget likes
This mindset of so call “legends” turning themselves to God’s is what’s killing Nigeria. This same arrogant, uncultured, behavior was what killed finidi’s 94 set of eagles. How many of his set were not uncontrollable then? Did they not had gang ups and arrogant put-ups? Respect is reciprocal! If because of a selfish interest one debase himself through hatred in pretense for a rising star you get the results! Many of you supporting Finidi should go through the Oshimen story again. He had injury, he called to inform, he begged to be around to motivate, he was refused and the authority was approached to be stabbing him at the back. And he is expected to keep quiet! That can’t happen in Finidi’s day talkless of now. Are we not alive when his sets called the manager of eagles monkies openly on the TV? We’re we not aware of the problems they gave to their coach and late Yekini that made us lost in USA 94 against Italy? I got sick because y that so I know what I’m saying. How many of you making noise now were around that time and know what I’m saying. Love/Hatred or jealousy is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Finidi should please keep his legendary and learn human management and character. Why has it been impossible for some of his sets to manage the Eagle they played for like other managers around the world (Zidane, Arteta, Rooney, Deschamps of France, Stephen Keshi) Of Oshimen were to be my son, I will give him more reasons to do more than he has done.
You’re saying your mind sir. Don’t generalize. You’re biased in your opinion. Calling Oshimen a small boy and Finidi “old enough to be his father” bespeaks a localized African mindset of slavery! Oshimen is a man and not a boy. Even if he is a boy, must Finidi play God? Is he the first coach to handle Oshimen, why is his own Nigerian “Akuko gogoro” different? Please spit off this African mindset and tell your Man to go learn human management
If apology is not enough, should you kill him then? Besides this is a new era, and new generation entirely not the eras of past heroes .
Why are one sided in your reports. This is a clear bully case.
Why should this gangsterism continue in super eagles. Some of this old footballers are scared the younger generation are making more waves than they did in theirs days.
This is the same problem Sunday Oliseh created that caused Vincent Enyeama and others to leave.
Finidi has failed and he should concentrate and owned up to his failure.
Finding made a big mistake for calling out Osimhen. He would have taken responsibility for his decisions that failed. Looking at the compatability of the super eagles in the last tournament, Finidi would have invited that same group of boys, because the time to put them together for team work was short. Troost-Ekong should have been in the team even if he had one leg(God forbid) because he has shown a capable, motivational team player and captain. And everyone has accepted him as the boss. Finding made too many mistakes and he tries to heap the blame on just one man, that was unfair. Footballers are generally temperamental, coach Finidi should not have called our anyone, not even Osimhen.
He should have taken the blame quietly, learn from it and move on.
Desmond your perceptions are wrong
The writers ego is worse than Osimens. Please leave the young man alone. Finidi is not capable of coaching Nigeria period. We have accepted is resignation gladly. No apologies to Finidi but to Osimen. Stephen Keshi’s pedigree can’t be found in Finidi. So he commands no respect hence we failed woefully.
An African man with a mentality have spoken. Weldon because a father never goes wrong too right And why do you also think Finidi isn’t wrong in his actions ?