By El Nino, La Nina, HRA, And Everything In Between. A Forey Into Furtive Territory By Azeez Mustapha – https://blackboxnigeria.com/el-nino-la-nina-hra-and-everything-in-between-a-forey-into-furtive-territory-by-azeez-mustapha/
Continuation from 2024…
The shining lights of the Ghetto had a great deal of ferocity injected in them and metamorphosed into Tigers. Superintending over the new phase was the legend many conscious citizens of Nigeria refer to as HRA.
A key moment in this relationship was in July 2024 when 5 ferocious tigers joined others bundle of talent to take on the world for the Gothia cup in the shape of the SKF Nigerian Eagles.
The delegation was led by the Country Manager of SKF Nigeria, Mr. Dare Oyegunle, Hon. Seyi Jakande as community leader, Mr Tunde Tinubu, Mr Seyi. While your sincerely and coach Micheal Egem held the coaching duty.
This was a glorious opportunity for the players as no player paid a dime all through the trip. Passports, Visa applications, flight books, accommodation, feeding and all other expenses were all covered by the SKF.
In fact, the Ghetto ballers in the fold having the backing of HRA and his vice Hon. Seyi Jakande got new football boots, training accessories and everything that would make for a memorable outing. I remember all five boys rushing down to HRA’s inner office and all five prostrated to show gratitude. All five also got allowance for feeding all through their stay.
On the day we were billed to travel, as expected we had packed our stuff on the eve and I’m guessing not many of the players got enough sleep. Is this happening for real? Must be the question they would have soliloquies on all night.
I picked up the players Daniel Olajide, Qudus Adigun, Faruq Idris, Mubarak Adisa and Dare Owoseni from Ayantuga around 3pm and headed for the rendezvous point.
I was to come with only the boys and the understandably excited parents made for the airport as soon as I left home and would wait till we got to their around 9pm to be get the opportunity to bid there wards farewell. We would take off around 11:30pm, straight into the sky as everything scene got smaller and shortly we were balanced above the clouds with just us, our co-travelers and the pilots navigating us.
That was my first time on a flight as well be it local or international but luckily my partner had the privilege of traveling to Dubai for the world school games with the school he managed, so I was able to get a head start while dealing with some question you’d not want to be left dumbfounded when asked.
I should add that the SKF Nigerian Eagles was blend of “Posh and Street” because as we had the five ghetto Tigers, Fawaz and Yahya from Ebutte Metta, Emmanuel, Akibu, Qudus from Berger we also had the two Demilades, Tomisin and Zikore who had double or triple passports. So when “posh”was required we have the contingents to make it happen without hassle and when street will open the door we had a reservoir of it.
A funny incident happened on the plane while we were being offered desert. It was a snack and looked tasty in a well packaged pack. Immediately i took a bit, between you and me I was already chewing then Dare called my attention to the pack and behold an image of a pork (pig meat) was staring me in the eyes. It made me come to terms with the fact that for them to exclude an imam while distributing parts of a dog. The Imam must endeavor not to go to another man’s land.
I believe it would not have been a sin if I wasn’t told but since I was told. I was duty bound to spit it out and trash it. And pay more attention to packs in the future.
We had a stop over in Paris airport before joining another 1:15m flight to Goteborg. The pilot actually did the trip in less than the estimated time and he bragged about it as we were about to touchdown.
Finally, we landed in Goteborg and SKF had arranged for our conveyance to the accommodation they had secured. I believe it was while in that bus that many of us began to question the need for traveling with a power bank. Because SKF Nigeria office had power, all the planes had charging ports and bus also had a port. We had left Nigeria but we were able to post pictures. There was WiFi in Paris airport, there was in Goteborg and the bus also had a WiFi.
In fact, it was when I touched down Nigeria that it became important to do my subscription and I didn’t buy any international sim. Made WhatsApp call and was online every time I needed to be.
On getting to our destination, we met Max, Sandra, Hannah, Ally and Joaquim. They all had just one job and that was to make our stay in Goteborg memorable and they sure did a great job.
Shortly after, SKF hosted all SKF teams to a treat and played music across all those countries. I guess they gave us Rema at first but some boys changed it to Seyi vibes or something. Then Gothia cup organizers also hosted us at the big stadium in scandinavium and we throughly enjoyed every bit of the proceedings. It was fun.
After settling in, two days after, we took a road trip to play Uefa Europa league side, Torslanda IK’s U16 team in the Torslandavalle Stadium. We won the game 3 – 0 with goals from Mubarak, Qudus and Emmanuel.
On a rainy Monday morning at Kviberg 12 Stadium, we began our Gothia cup campaign against an extremely aggressive Iceland side, Flykir. They came with a brand of football that was alien to us. Shouting to intimidate, making flight substitutions and throwing dangerous tackles. And there I was on the touch line still battling the extreme weather and shivering under a tick coat. Before we knew how to respond a goal had gone in against us. And we were trailing. A goal from Fawaz in the second half was able to get us a point in that game.
I remember when Max was consoling me after seeing the disappointment on my face that we could only muster a draw. He said if it was any consolation he assured me that the weather forecast for Tuesday evening which was our next game against US Gouvieux of France was going to be good for an African team. A sunny evening.
Max was right, a sunny day it was and we maximized the opportunity, goals from Daniel and Fawaz handed us all three points and in contention for qualification in group 13.
The following day we had a complex but straightforward task. We play a Sverigie based team IFK Falköping in Hagenplan Stadium and a win would take us to the next round. Fawaz grabbed a brace and Daniel also found the back of the net as we ran away 3 – 0 winners. And zoom, the ticket was secured.
How can I forget our travel companion, Gustav. He is an under 15 goalkeeper coach at BK Hacken. One of the top sides in Sweden and he tell us stories about everywhere we go and where to find
What and when. After our final group game he finally got us to go with him to his team’s facility up north. We took a tram across the city centre. We saw the first team train and female team receive a pre match briefing. Gustav had to sleep with us in our lodge just so he can share those experience with us. Great guy, Gustav.
The following day Thursday 18 July 2024, we faced off with FC Plato-Vake from Georgia in the round of 32 in Kviberg. Mind you Kviverg has over 30 football pitches just in that environment. Kviberg 1 – Kviberg 30 are all quality football pitches. In fact, the State of Goteborg has over 128 standard football fields. We won the game 4 – 1 with goals from Zikore, Qudus and a brace from Emmanuel to book a place in the round of 16.
On Friday, we had this difficult task of playing a free scoring HIT Sports FC from UAE who had scored 18 goals already in the competition. We were able to stop them from scoring but we couldn’t take the game as we lost 4 – 5 on penalties. And the journey that started along with 181 other teams across the world had just come to an end being among the best 16.
The players were encouraged as they felt really bad and the company had to take them shopping. Mr Dare Oyegunle bought special gifts for the best players in the team and even gave them mobile devices as a reward. Not me oooo, I gave them attitude all through that day as I was furious that we’ll lose to a team from UAE. It was too bitter a pill for me to swallow. Luckily for the players I didn’t have any say on the funds. Even the ghetto ballers got money from HRA for a final shopping.
I was furious to the point that I didn’t even join Hon. Seyi Jakande when he left to watch Sporting Lagos take on Beyond limit in the finals of the U17. I stayed by at the lodge playing Skipp Bo with Max and Hannah and i sort of forgot that we lost. I don’t know if they made me win but I won a game. My first game actually and he game me the pack as a reward. Max is about the only person I still keep close contact with in Goteborg. Such a nice guy.
We flew back home on Sunday morning and the highlight was the big hug Max gave me just before I got on the bus. It was such a special and emotional hug, I literally had to drop all i was holding to just to have that hug.
We had a stop over in Amsterdam and from there back to Lagos. We got back to Lagos on Sunday night and the next day, I had to superintend over the kickoff of the Odi Olowo chairman’s cup.
Let’s go back to 2021 and when Ghetto Tigers participated in the Lagos FA cup for the first time in her history playing against Charlessann FC in Epe.
That year Shamsu Yakub exploded and played a prominent role as we won the Mushin Youth League. He also scored a memorable goal and assisted Sodiq Ganiu as we defeated Lyon blessings FA in an epic battle on a rainy afternoon in the HRA Youth Cup(Odi-Olowo Chairman’s Cup).
Our ladies didn’t have much luck on the day losing 1 – 2 to Rising Stars of Isolo.
Also that year, I guided Eko Boys to victory GTB Bank masters cup. A year after the school defeated Kings College, Lagos to pick up the final ticket but the final couldn’t materialize because of the COVID-19 that ravaged the world. Against the school benefited largely from the logistical support from Ghetto Tigers FC and HRA.
Yakub Shamsu (Male) and Misturah Bello (Female) won the best player of the year awards to cap up a memorable year.
Before 2022, Ghetto Tigers FC had won a cumulative of 5 trophies at the end of the year, Ghetto Tigers had won 6 trophies taking the club to 11 trophies.
That year Yakub Shamsu also won the Player of the year award and the female set up discovered Aishat Bolarinwa and Rokibat Egberongbe who flourished in the WAFA division 2 championship and other competitions. Ruth Origbo, Idera Sodiq along with other female players also joined the team that same year.
In 2023, the club won another 6 trophies to take the clubs tally to 17 with the female team winning the Oshodi football championship in an emphatic fashion. Daniel Olajide will go on to dethrone Yakub Shamsu while Idera Sodiq won the POTY for the second time.
Aside celebrating my second year in Office as Female Football Academy Proprietor’s Public relations officer, being elected Treasurer of the Nigeria women’s football league club owners association Treasurer. Ghetto Tigers won 2 more trophies to take the club’s cabinet silverwares to 19.
Under the watchful guidance of HRA, Ghetto Tigers moved from being a regional league side, into the divisional league side, a mainstay in Lagos State before laying claim to being a national football club.m
To be continued…
