Yen Bo biem and a certain Boko Thugs

Gbovuga, the clock has been reset and we are back to start a new month which promises to be an exciting one if you ask me. The people of the umbrella party will be going to Sunyani to install a new flag bearer for their party while the Flag bearer of the Elephant party will be commencing his door to door campaign. 

In all these, the beginning of the month has been quite a moving one already with the presidential cup match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea living up to expectation . The fans that trooped to the Accra sports stadium was encouraging especially the friends of Chelsea who as usual comprised of bitter rivals of Kotoko were in their numbers. You know such days are for the family and so I did not let the opportunity off the hook.

Gbovuga, the game which was generally entertaining also did some damage on our football dispensation and exposed some of the problems of the game technically. Simply put, the players on the field especially Kotoko players shown that they have no much understanding of the laws of the game. 

The technical bench and players of Kotoko especially the Keeper Sulama Abdulai went ballistic, roaring and beating his chest at the referee for repeatedly calling for the retake of the spot kicks during the penalty shoot out of the game which ended in a stalemate at the end of the 90 minute. Gbovu, the keeper will not accept the retake and even threaten to walk off the pitch had he not been talked out of it. Can you believe that?

Now this was the problem, the Kotoko Keeper in the entire kicks move forward from his line before the opponent kicked the ball. He was hypertensive in the post and replay of the match will reveal it but as usual the supporters and the technical bench and some football commentators labelled the decision of the referee as controversial. Gbovu, what is controversial about making and taking the right decisions? At a glance I thought Kotoko bench were going to repeat the ‘yen bo biem’ slogan. Hahahahaha….!!!

Gbovuga was it not surprising to see the coach, the technical bench on the field after the decision of the referee went against them? Why, the technical bench too don’t know the rules of the game? If they don’t, then we are doomed!

Juxtaposing what happened on Friday with what is done elsewhere, I am really disgusted at the behaviour of the authorities who organised the game and the technical bench of Kotoko. It showed that players who ply their trade in the country are not abreast with the rules that govern their own profession and obviously nothing or less attention is given to that.

Gbovuga, they tell us that we should not compare our football management to elsewhere like Europe because it took them several years to get it right. How will you get it right when after a match like this one, Kotoko officials and players boycotted post match interviews and their medals?

 For me I say, there is no need to wait for a hundred years before we get things done the right way when there are various examples, football administrators can learn from. These fundamental mistakes committed by our administrators which includes rules of spot kicks, free kicks, using appropriate kits, addressing grievances of teams fairly and efficiently among others make our local football unattractive.

Gbovuga, some toy soldiers are giving the Nigerian police tonnes of sleepless night. They go by the name Boko haram and the group had vowed to inflict wider and more deadly attacks on the 19 northern states including the federal capital, Abuja, if the Nigerian government refuses to allow the full implementation of Taliban-like Muslim laws in the north. Gbovu, It is only in Africa that you can issue what I call a diplomatic threat.Isn’t it?

This small group have entered into an opened confrontation with the police and their signatures can be seen on recent terrorist attack that country has experienced. Yesso! For the past weeks this group have raised their profile and like any other terrorist group attention is the key.

To ensure a better ranking the group attacked the headquarters of the Nigerian police. After griming the police a local drinking spot was the next target. Then suddenly, Boko haram has exploded like never before since 2009 on to the international scene. Chei..! West Africa has a terrorist group and a deadly one too Gbovu.

The Boko haram spokesperson was reported to have said that any dialogue with the Nigerian government must be preceded by the total imposition of Sharia law. What kind of mess is Nigeria in now? How and when this Boko haram will be insulated remain unclear as the group seem to be enjoying support from some citizens.

Gbovuga, the Nigerian government appears helpless as years of corruption and official irresponsibility has rendered its security agencies poorly trained, poorly remunerated and poorly motivated. What will become of Nigeria if a Taliban like authorities are recognised? The Taliban we know controlled Afghanistan with iron fist and undermining human right and freedom and that can not and should not happen in Nigeria.

Gbovu, the government and people of Nigeria should for once stand together to get rid of this group swiftly or have for themselves “a state within a state”.  They have no choice on that because a state that can not protect it people is as good as dead. 

They have to realise that Nigeria today is no longer in an ethno-religious crises but pure terrorism orchestrated by forces within.  Let see the next action line for Boko haram and what antidotes the police and the good people of Nigeria has for them. Catch you next week.