I am writing under the ASSUMPTION that Coach @FinidiGeorge_FG said he could not be begging @victorosimhen9 to play for Nigeria. ASSUMPTION.
If that were to be the case, then @victorosimhen9’s outburst tells me (me) everything I need to know about his attitude to the appointment of Coach Finidi.
The outburst which has gone viral and created a lot of talking points has seen @victorosimhen9 in PR overdrive. Hungry sports journalists with very limited vocabulary betraying their obvious lack of intelligence lapping up Victor like the puppies they are(I am trying to be nice).
Who is @FinidiGeorge_FG ? Someone whose shoes @victorosimhen9 can never lace, not in this lifetime at least. Victor will need two lifetimes to better Finidi and another two to best him. He is a far cry from the quality Finidi was and will never achieve what Finidi has achieved.
Coach Finidi is considered to be one of Nigeria’s greatest wingers, Finidi was a physically strong and tall player who was known for his deceptively rapid pace, accurate crosses and efficient dribbles. He was also known for his accurate free kicks. Finidi was not only known for his technical abilities, but he also possessed a unique footballing brain and solid dribbling skills. He was not called Finito for nothing. he was an elite Athlete.
Nigeria had always been a country of “almost” (as in the 2006 movie Apocalypto) when it comes to qualifying for the World cup. Until October 8, 1993, in an away match that we needed a win or at worst a draw. Finidi’ s decisive goal in the first half secured our first ever qualification to the world cup. We had a better goal difference than Ivory Coast.
@victorosimhen9 on the other hand had the chance to be decisive against @GhanaBlackstars in what could have been his first world appearance. He instead chose to showboat and lost our closest opportunity of playing at the Qatar hosted world cup.
When another legend who had experience in decision making pointed this out, the lout lashed out at the legend supported by @AsisatOshoala . This Legend had won the @Olympics gold medal for Nigeria in Men’s football. His decisive goal lead a resurgence that saw us make history as a nation in Atlanta ’96. @victorosimhen9 and @AsisatOshoala called him an Àgbàyà Ìsọ́nu a derogatory word used for foolish older members of a society. It was painful but again hungry journalists praised them both.
Finidi would go on to score against Greece at the @FIFAWorldCup . That team is regarded as Nigeria’s Finest till date. He appeared in two @FIFAWorldCup for Nigeria reaching the Round of 16 on each occasion.
Victor has not appeared in any World cup for Nigeria how much less scoring at that stage.
Finidi won the AFCON in ’94, runner up medals in 2000, Third places in 1992 and 2002. A consistency that belies the greatness of Finidi and that team.
Osimhen’s lackluster performance saw us finish 2nd at AFCON 2024 to a team we beat in the group stage. His PR team of hungry journalists praised his “work rate”. His outing was a disaster. He missed more chances than anyone else accounting for 70% of offside calls in our games.
We wait for his first AFCON win.
In club Football Finidi not only won the @eredivisie thrice (1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96), he is a double invincible!
His team won the @eredivisie without losing a single match in the 94/95 season. They also won the @ChampionsLeague same year without losing a single game on their way to the Finals. He was described as “a mercurial foreign talent” alongside @papilokanu and Litmanen. @papilokanu will go on to win another Invincible at @Arsenal making him a triple Invincible. Finidi also won the @UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
Was @victorosimhen9 even conceived then. He was born AFTER Finidi had qualified us to our second consecutive @FIFAWorldCup.
Something Osimhen may do the exact opposite- ensure we do not qualify two times consecutively!
Finidi was the best because he played with the best. The list of the @ChampionsLeague 94/95 final players reads like the who is who in world football. His diagonal pass to @overmarsmarc11 catalyzed a string of moves before 18-year-old substitute @PatrickKluivert , scored the winning goal. A team with Greats like @EdgerDavids , @Frankdeboer_ , @vdsar1970, @cleranceseedorf , @frankrijkaard2 and our own @papilokanu .
Osimhen has a @SerieA winner’s trophy. Not two. How much more three.
@AFCAjax was competing at the top season in season out while Finidi was there so much so that they made it to a second consecutive @ChampionsLeague final losing to the Old lady @juventusfcen under controversial circumstances.
Finidi’s after retirement career is also filled with Highlights. He was Director of International football for @RealBetis . He was our Interim coach when we beat @GhanaBlackstars 2-1 after 18 years of trying to beat the black Stars.
Osimhen lost to the @GhanaBlackstars at Home!! Costing us the World Cup ticket.
Finidi was head coach for @EnyimbaFC . Guess what? He won the 9th title for @EnyimbaFC in @officialABAT Lagos. That was his first title as a coach!
A player with a career to die for and a successful Coach is who that lout is cussing and cursing. Someone Osimhen cannot touch his boots. Hungry Journalists have elevated players with money to the point where the players believe the hype.
Osimhen is a good player in his own right, but even at the peak of his career with social media and all, he has not done enough to enter the hall of fame of the greatest Nigerian Players. Real Heros who fought for the shirt and country. The Odę́gbàmís, the Keshi’s,the Okochas, the Yekinis, the Okechukwus, the Wests, the Lawals, the Rufais, the Amunikes, the Babayaros, the Taiwos,The Martins, the Ògèdèngbés, the Ikpebas, the Nwankwos.
They had issues with the corrupt and toothless @thenff ( then NFA) yes, but they oozed so much class that they’ll never rant like some deranged animal because they heard a rumor. They will never publicly cuss a senior colleague how much more a national coach!
it is preposterous!
I know what Victor’s problem is.
In Yorùbáland where I come from, we call people like him Ọmọ ojúkòrọ́lá rí.
When they somehow (usually by a combination of talent and luck) get some money in their account, the louts in them put on quite a show. His other brother is Portable. Massively talented but fame and fortune is drawing “surprise” eyebrows for them. It can be intoxicating.
To Finidi, please know that thousands of us hold you in very high regards. Your accomplishments cannot be denied. You shined like a million stars. Nothing has diminished you in our eye, nothing can. We appreciate and respect our elders and heroes.
You rank in our hearts second only to the likes of Professor Akínwándé Sóyínká. Your entire ’94 team united a bruised and battered nation reeling from the aftermath of an annulled election.
Pay no heed to this lout. He is very insignificant and just showed the world his background never left him.
I hope the @NGRPresident takes the MON and MFR away from him before he disgraces us any further. His likes do not deserve such national honour.
@victorosimhen9 Àjànàkú kọjáa, o ni mo rí nkan fírí, táa ba r’erin ká sọ pé a r’erin.
Finidi is not your mate.
By: Ayowande Adelemo
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drbiggie 