Origami is considered the art of patience, refinement and delicacy. The manner with which the lovers of this art design their various shapes gives rise to creativity at its best. Japan has long since been a powerhouse in most areas of human endeavor. It has shown its resilience in re-branding and reforming itself like no other people have in recent history.
This tiny island for long was the world's second largest economy, only after the United States. And surprisingly enough, during this past Women's World Cup, these two countries have inspired us, and thought us two great lessons. What it means to take reform seriously (the real meaning of going back to the drawing board), and they also have devised a way to show the rest of the world the true meaning of resilience and brilliance in football.
We all watched a cagey first round set of matches, where it was apparent that the gulf between countries have closed down a lot. We saw the Equatorial Guinean side, that didnt let Africa down, the South Americans came with their usual flair and coordinated play, while the Nordic countries were as resolute in their stride as ever, all in all, I saw an elevated level of football than has been exhibited in recent time.
To my point, what did Japan teach the rest of the world, especially Nigeria???
I remember how Arsene Wenger summarized his time in Japan (coach of Nagoya Grampus eight 1995-96), he said "the speed, with which the Japanese replicate my instructions, teachings and trainings is superb, dont be surprised if they are not world champions within the next 20 years". Zico, has always believed that there was something different in the Japanese footballer, "strength of character" was how he termed it.
How did Japan, go, from "qualifier" to being champions of the World Cup???
It is not surprising, to followers and students of the beautiful game, and the avid watchers of transworld sport, you will find that the Japanese have one of the best female football youth development programs in the world.
The Japanese team triumph is a true cindarella story. Now here are some outrageous but true facts about the NADESHIKO (Japanese female national team):
1. There are amateurs and part-timers in the team!!!!!!! Players drawn from female soccer and recreations teams around the country. Majority of the players are students, part time footballers, and some of the players worked at the Fukushima nuclear plant, even one of them still works in grocery store
2. For winning the world cup, their net bonus is $13,900 (which was or slightly less than super eagles 3 game non performance at WOZA 2010)
3. Up until invitation to the national team, the part-time players practiced only at night, after a full day of work
4. Homare Sawa's mother was sponsored by a famous Japanese newscaster to attend the games, and she had to make do with some other monetary support to stay in Germany. Incredible.
Another story of rebirth, comes from the USA and France. Both teams have had a hiatus of sorts. USA have not won a world cup in twelve years, while France have not qualified since 2007. Both countries have gone back to the basics in focusing their teams, players and methodologies back to ensuring that results are achieved utilizing systematic development of players, tactics and supporting infrastructure.
While some Nigerians applaud our efforts with two loses and a win. I saw an opportunity for the country to have achieved its set aim of going beyond the quarter finals. The two loses should at worse have been draws!!! Our overall build up was shambolic. This indictment is not aimed at the FA (surprisingly, only legacy issues of Uche's salary, and a bit of meddling from CB on coach selection was identified) but the technical competence of the BENCH was our undoing. The depth of the coaches to ensuring that we were strategically prepared, was our weakest link. The crop of players selected were just not up to snuff.
Lets take a leaf of what Samson Siasia is doing (and by extension, Austen Eguavoen, and John Obuh), he has come to recognize, that the best 11 players, is not always equal to the available 11 (and "parakpor" infected) situation. He has taken his off and down time to scout, research, study and evaluate performances of Nigerian players WORLDWIDE.
Our female team handlers, have limited themselves in a lazy, unimaginative and restrictive manner to settling for the available being equal to the required..........And even at that they have selected the players that they felt have deserved to be in the Falcons (petty politics contributing). A fortnight ago, after the miserable performance against a toothless German side, I conducted a desktop search on finding Nigerian female footballers worldwide, or people playing football with Nigerian parentage. It took me the better of 7 hours but I succeeded in tracking down no less than 15 adult female Nigerians (or born of Nigerian parentage with other nationalities).
If I could do this, from my computer, what is the technical team of the Female national football team doing, or what have they been up to. Let me be patriotic. I will give them some hints. NCAA, Sam Okpodu, The Olukanmi Brothers, Godwin Odiye...... Those key words should guide anyone with a bit of desire, knowledge of football and some patriotism to solve the current problem Nigeria female football has today (in terms of aging and sub performing players).
Kudos to Japan, USA, France, Sweden. I know the Europeans are off to take stock of the world cup fallout, I hope someone or a group of people on our side are doing the same. With the pointers I have given above, that might guide and help them, to ensure that we take our potential to its real height.
Watch out for more. I hear a lot smells in the Athletes world of Solomon Ogba. I will look into it, and when I am sure it does, I will share with you....stay safe, in these days of BH infested challenges.
