Yesterday's el classico between the Galacticos and Catalans of spain {Madrid V Barcelona}, was a match filled with hysteria, excitement and well, disappointment for others.
It was a match that had both Lionel Messi and C. Ronaldo { the two best players in the world} on the same pitch trying to out wit one other. The combination of Xavi, Iniesta and Sergio in the heart of the Barcelona team was a strong force but not one to reckon with the solid defense line of Pepe and Sergio Ramos, who kept every one at bay.
One must commend Barcelona, as their free flowing kind of knocking around the ball was in effect last night, unfortunately, it seems the special one has found a cure for such genre of soccer, the counter Attacks by Madrid was top of the chart, if not for Higuain and his careless misses, Barcelona would have been buried deeper than 2-1.
THE NEW SIGNINGS!
While Song showed he wasn't in the Barcelona squad to warm the bench, it was Lucas Modric who went away with a title barely one week to his stay in the Spanish Laliga.
There are going to be a lot of El classico's this season and one can only wish for the best.
Congrats Madrid Fc! Congrats Mourinho! and Congrats Modric!
Halla Madrid!!!
Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
Mallam Sanusi Lamido officially announced the restructuring of the denomination
of currency in Nigeria i.e Naira notes. It is trite knowledge that the Laws of
the Federation fully empowers CBN to carry out such restructuring of the
currency from time to time, for the economic benefit of the country. However,
this act by the CBN to introduce a new higher note of #5,000, has generated an
outburst of divergent views from Economic and Financial experts, to the common
man on the street.
Caricature of the #5,000 naira note!
THE PROS OF THE
#5,000 NOTE
The CBN as usual, has assured us that the public outcry of
hyper-inflation as a result of the #5,000 note is baseless and unfounded;
The CBN Director of Corporate Communication, had this to say
“I have heard that the introduction of the #5,000 note will
bring inflation. I challenge anybody who is an economist to tell me an economic
theory that says when you have a higher denomination in your pocket, it will
change the way you spend. ”
Supporting this view, the President of the Association of
National Accountants of Nigeria said,
“Looking at it from the macro-economic aspect of it, it will
not FOR NOW produce outright
increase in inflation” {Emphasis mine}
{I’m just laying the
facts for you to judge which argument holds water and which does not}
THE CONS OF THE
#5,000 NOTE
There is a popular saying in the Soccer world that “Every
Nigerian is a coach”, so don’t mind how beautifully coined Nigerians have
criticized this #5,000 note, though with sound reasoning;
Prof Ademola Oyejide in his analysis about the proposed
#5,000 note in one of the dailies had this to say,
“The introduction of a #5,000 note may be a step in the
wrong direction, and down a slippery slope towards hyper-inflation. It is
clearly time to abandon failed inflation control policies and inadequately
thought –through experiments”
The punch ‘Salvo’ reported Economist and Former Vice
chancellor, Onabisi Onabanjo University, Prof Afolabi Soyode as saying
“Apart from the transaction motive of holding cash, I cannot
see the initiative as reasonable. The existing structure is okay and as a
matter of fact, if you want to discourage the use and carrying of cash, then
what is called for, is to reduce from #1,000 to #500 not to increase to
#5,000”.
A common man’s view
“I keep on wondering about the future of this country. I was
disappointed when I heard the report that the Central Bank of Nigeria was planning
to spend #40 billion on the printing of the proposed #5,000 note and #5, #10
and #20 coins. They should use the fund to enhance security and provide
education and jobs”
Be that as it may, the Senate has said it plans to suspend
the introduction of the #5,000 note because its approval was not sought by the
CBN before announcing it, not because it approves or disapproves of it.
I’ll plead with the Senate, to mandate the Governor of CBN
to give a straight and simple answer to the question that bear on the lips of
majority of Nigerians “how does one correlate the cashless policy
with the emergence of the #5,000 note, simpliciter, how can the cash less
policy work hand in hand with the #5,000 note?” {Me na my own be dat}!
Nowadays, anytime one gets abreast with the recent happenings in the country through the media i.e Television stations, Radio stations, Newspapers et al, one is amazed at the heap of complains piled on President Godluck Ebele Jonathan's head, which makes me pose the question "do we have the right to complain?"
In the American democracy currently, based on the polls so far, people are doubting if President Barrack Obama will return as President of the states, whether he will win or not, is left for time to decide. The thing of significance in this remarkable twist of events, as little as it might sound, is the way the American voters choose to use their votes, they are so informed about the power they yield, that they will only choose a candidate based on performance or the likelihood of performance, which is why Barrack Obama won in the first place irrespective of his color.
Not in my country Nigeria, the voters are usually and always bought by cheap propaganda sponsored by political parties, inciting sentimental feelings in their minds, making the Nigerian voters think the only way to secure their interest is to choose a man with the same Religious, Tribal or Ethnic background as theirs.
Nigerian voters are thereby blinded from the truth, which is "The best and only way to secure your interest is to put the right man for the job in any political office"
I ask again "do we have the right to complain?", Elections are bound to come, will we make the right choice or be deceived yet again, and then sit down and continue to complain for another four years, with the hope that Nigeria will get to where we want her to be?
Let's not deceive ourselves...... we can only get it right, if we do it right!
In theory, the cashless policy initiated by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN}, Sanusi Lamido is a laudable initiative, for it reduces the hassles of having to carry too much cash to purchase a particular goods or service, thereby making formerly tedious transactions become simple and faster. But of what use is the cashless policy when there are no readily available point of sales terminal popularly called POS, within the reach of the ordinary man?
The other day {on a weekend, just imagine}, i had nine hundred and eighty seven naira in my account but since the Automated Teller Machines {ATM} in Nigeria no longer give below one thousand naira notes {i don't know who made that policy}, i could not assess this money, the only option left for me was the POS.
Na only God know the kind trek way man trek just to find POS way dey work, unfortunately for me, no one within reach was functioning, as in, even fast food joints {eatries} and petrol stations don't have one, it's that bad.
True, the POS in big supermarkets like Shoprite, Mega plaza, Park and shop, et al normally have a working POS but how many of these Mega Malls are within the neighborhood of the common man.
His Excellency, this cashless policy make sense but the common man never begin benefit from am........ something needs to be done!
The fans are the ones who make the game of soccer interesting, nowadays, it has become a fanatical thing for followers of football around the world and to some, a religion, this has made fans to expect all sort of things from their club and players.
Take Robin Van Persie as a case study, when the transfer market opened and rumour had it that Manchester United had shown interest in the young lad, Arsenal fans here in Nigeria were agog with emotional Shinanigans, i heard one fan say "RVP cannot join Manchester United because of the long time rivalry between both clubs", i only laughed, for Christ sake, is there any blood relationship between Van Persie and Arsenal? another fan said "Arsene Wenger is not a fool to sell his best striker"... Forgetting that the same Arsene Wenger sold the likes of 'Thierry Henry' 'Patrick Viera' 'Cesc Fabregas' 'Nasri' et al, all for the right price.
Arsenal fans should know by now that Arsene Wenger is not there to win trophies but to make more money for the club.
Manchester United fans who before now have been a strong critic of RVP all of a sudden have changed stands, one Man u fan described RVP as "the best striker in the world", i don't know what happened to Zlatan Ibrahimovich or Didier Drogba.
When the season finally kicked off, Fans were expecting the young lad to just start netting goals with immediate effect, but after the club's unfortunate loss to Everton, many have begun to doubt the buy, while Sir Alex Ferguson is of the opinion that he was not fed enough balls during the match.
Anyway, the season is just beginning and i expect to see a lot of thrills and excitement, just be rest assured that i'll keep you updated all through the way!
The Barclay's premier league is no doubt the toughest league in the world, there seem not to be an under dog or small team, as any team has the capacity to beat any team, like West brom winning Liverpool or Everton winning Manchester united fc in the opening games of the league, unlike the spanish la liga that is highly dominated by Real Madrid Fc or Barcelona Fc, let's throw in Valencia for good measure.
WHAT ARE FANS TO EXPECT THIS SEASON?
With several good players changing clubs, one can only expect the fun and thrill of this season to be at it's best. The new signings are expected to put up spectacular performances to aid their new clubs move a step further, but are these new signings capable of so delivering. let's watch and see.
CAN MANCHESTER CITY DO IT AGAIN?
While listening to a radio station yesterday, i heard one analyst say "if Chelsea wins the champions league again, he will dance Azonto from Lagos to Delta state." With Manchester United Fc desperate to clinch the title that slipped off their hands last season.
Chelsea would also want to have a trophy in their possession if the champions league fails to return to bridge, Arsenal and Tottenharm Fc would also put pressure at the top, as they would need to secure a place in next year champions league, so i ask again "can manchester city do it again?".... keeping fingers crossed to see the outcome, one thing i know for sure is its going to be one feisty season.
Abi no be so?
In 1904, Besie Anderson Stanley, wrote the following definition of success in brown book magazine;
He who has achieved success who has lived well,
Laughed often and Loved much,
Who has enjoyed the trust of purest women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children,
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task,
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul.
Who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty, or
Failed to express it,
Who has always looked for the best in others and
Given them the best he had,
Whose life was an inspiration,
Whose memory a benediction.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise...... Gal 3:29 WHAT THEN IS THE PROMISE?
I will make thee exceeding fruitful and will make nations of thee and Kings SHALL come out of thee...... Gen 17:6
I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly............ John 10:10b
The LORD shall supply all our NEEDS not our GREED or WANTS.
POSITIONING ONESELF TO ACHIEVING GOD'S PROMISE
Fine tune your thought;
Change the way you think and carry the abundant life mindset.
ESSENCE
you can have so much and still be poor, for tis not the pocket that needs revival but the mind.
When i was a child, i spake as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things............. 1 cor 13;11
2. Grow in Godly wisdom
The wisdom of GOD is the master key to abundant life.
you don't quote wisdom, you live wisdom
Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established.
WISDOM is the principal trhing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get UNDERSTANDING!
