What we fail to realize is that football matches are rarely won on the match day, and the foundations for success lie in long term planning and the willingness to toil when no one is watching.
There is an old residence in the La Corts District of Barcelona popularly called “The Farm House.” It was built as a workshop for architects and builders of the new Barcelona Stadium, The Camp Nou, and closed down after the stadium opened its doors in 1957. When Johan Cryuff, a product of the Ajax Youth Academy, proposed the idea of a youth academy to the President of Barcelona FC in 1979, the old building was remodeled for this purpose. Today, La Masia is the most recognizable football academy in the world.
In 1988, Guillermo Amor became the first graduate of La Masia to play for Barcelona, closely followed by the man that elevated the academy to its current iconic stage, Pep Guardiola. Today, apart from its most accomplished graduate, Lionel Messi, the academy has produced more than 40 international players. It is not coincidental that Barcelona, and by extension Spain, are both enjoying the benefits of the painful investment in youth development, and the philosophy of intricate passing and movement, popularly called tiki-taka, is the foundation of the success Spain and Barcelona will continue to enjoy in the foreseeable future. But this has not always been the norm; there was a long period of planning and building that came before the glory days. Even when the personnel changed, the ethos remained the same. Today, everyone envies the Spanish, but few were willing to put the same effort into success.
In Africa, Ivory Coast has also demonstrated the benefits of a long term strategy to develop footballers, and guarantee sustained success. ASEC’s Academie Mimo Sifcom is the African La Masia and 10 of the 22 Ivorian players Nigeria will face in the Quarter-Final game at AFCON 2013, graduated from that school. It is a major reason Ivorian football has seen a period of sustained dominance and good performances, though the African Cup of Nations continues to elude this golden generation of players. On Sunday, our Super Eagles will face the Elephants of Ivory Coast, in the pick of the quarter-final games. We will support our team bravely, despite the knowledge that every ounce of logic supports a defeat. We will hope that the boys produce a superhuman effort, and somehow the underdogs will triumph.
It is interesting to see Nigeria go into a football match in Africa as clear underdogs, but a reminder how far we have fallen. From the dizzy heights of 1994 when we dominated everyone put before us, Nigerian football has fallen victim to the belief that we can wobble and fumble to titles (apologies to Fanny Amun). Whatever happens on Sunday is not important; Stephen Keshi has extracted most of the talent available in this group. It is impressive that despite the pressure of immediate success, the coach selected 6 home based players in his squad, and has played two of them already. Hopefully, the investment in youth will also pay off, and his decision to follow the methods made famous by his former coach, Clemens Westerhof will ultimately benefit Nigeria.
What we fail to realize is that football matches are rarely won on the match day, and the foundations for success lie in long term planning and the willingness to toil when no one is watching. The struggle between immediate results and long term success continues to trouble Nigeria. Our coaches use over-aged players to succeed at age group competition, hopeful that a happy government will reward them with cash gifts, houses and national awards. Yet, no one pays attention to building youth facilities were our best talents compete for limited spaces on the wall of success. Apart from Segun Odegbami’s facility in Wasinmi, and the academy founded by Bukola Saraki in Ilorin, there is very little investment in youth development in Nigeria. The City of David FC is the only professional league club with a structured youth development plan and teams at various age groups.
When we meet Ivory Coast on Sunday, we will face a team bonded over years, most of them team mates from their teens. As usual, we will hope that God is again Nigerian and will answer our prayers but ignore the Ivorian supplications. Who knows, this might just be enough.
The Arena Departs
The first sports column I read was “The Arena” and it remains the most educative sports column I’ve come across in Nigeria. Deacon Ayo Ositelu’s deep knowledge of sports, especially tennis, boxing and football, left me in awe. When I finally met him, he was more impressive, with a humble disposition that belied his knowledge and achievements. As he is laid to rest this weekend, we must thank “Arena” for gracing the stage, and sharing his knowledge selflessly. May his soul rest in peace.
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