I do not remember the last time I attended a Super Eagles media parley. This is because these sessions are held a full two days before the game. It would cost a lot and ensure I was in town for three days.
I remember my first Super Eagles media parley when Colin Udoh was the team’s media officer. This was circa 2010. My last was probably when Stephen Keshi coached the team and Ben Alaiya was the media officer.
My reason for coming to Uyo this early was to meet with Football Fans Trybe, while Okey Onwugbonu, wanted to attend the media parley at the Super Eagles’ hotel. This was different from the regular pre-match presser on the eve of the game. In the media parley conversations, the players are more relaxed and just hang around the hotel space ready to be interviewed. I had called Ademola Olajire on his (Okey’s) behalf to confirm the time for this event and he promised to get back to me but did not. You know say him na big man and he dey quick forget.
On getting into Uyo town, Okey was even more worried about the parley, and whether we would be able to attend it, so I called up Dada, who said it was fixed for 12.30pm but was strictly on invitation.
As soon as Okey heard this, he was worried again. I looked at him, and in three seconds I thought I could read what was on his mind. Okey was probably saying to me, in his mind, “Today we will know your capacity. Let us see if you can make a few calls and get us in to the Media Parley.” The silly boy.
He asked me to call Ademola Olajire to speak to the Super Eagles media officer, Promise, to get a pass for us. I told him I will not and he wanted to know why.
I can call Demola, but I won’t because I do not operate like that. Why go over the head of the media officer when I can talk to him directly. Besides, I will not call Olajire to ask for that favour. I also knew that Demola would not be calling Promise even if I spoke with him.
I called Promise, the Eagles media officer. I told him I just got into town and wanted to attend the media parley. He said I should come to the hotel at Ikot Ekpene. And that was it. We made a quick dash to our hotel, and were out at 11.30am hoping to get to Ikot Ekpene on time. Eventually, it was a car hire we did as we were running out of time.
Security and the overzealousness that mars events like these
We got to the hotel and they refused to let our car in. There was a big argument between two Uyo based journalists and the security personnel who would not let them in. We just stayed in our car, waiting for them to recognise our arrival.
At a time it got heated, and the journalists started making call to whoever was on the other side, claiming they were being harassed at the 4 Point Hotel gates for wanting to do their jobs. It was getting messy and the journalists were embarrassing themselves. At a point they were about to get physical with the hotel security when the police officers on duty came to intervene. All they said was that they had instructions not to allow any one in except a call came in from the front desk.
This was when they saw the car I was in, and one of them came to me to ask if I was a hotel guest, and I said I simply came for the media parley. He wanted to speak with the media officer, so I put a call through to Promise, who spoke with the man. The silly man, after wasting my time told Promise to go to the front office and ask them to call the gate house. I was thinking, if you knew that was the procedure, why did you ask to speak with the media officer.
For me I was just thinking of the amount of money I had spent on car hire and if it would all go to waste. We got out of the car, because it was blocking the hotel entrance. We didn’t want that, and we waited. There was no call from the front office. The other two journalists were still arguing and quarelling. We kept our distance.
Then Promise called me and asked where we were. I said we still had not gained access. He was livid and was walking towards the gate. He said front desk had called long ago telling them to let us all in. I just smiled at the overzealous security personnel as they grudgingly opened up the gates for us to pass through. This was after Promise had walked to the gate. He was so angry, even me sef, fear catch me.
Meeting old acquaintances
Like I have said many times before, these games, apart from doing my job as a football writer, and documenting experiences as a travel blogger, are also avenues for me to meet up with old acquaintances. One of them I met this time was Oluwashina Okeleji. I have known him for about 4 years, even though he is now a big man and I do not see him as often as before. The story of my friendship with Shina Okeleji is so long and rich. I also met Adejoh who served on a Nigeria Football Federation Committee with me in 2020. He was with the Super Eagles and it was good to see him again.
Oluwashina and I
Why I am in Uyo?
But the reason why I am in Uyo is beyond watching the game. As I packed my bags to leave, my youngest son asked me, “Daddy, do you have to go to Uyo to watch the match? Why can’t we all just stay at home and watch the game like we have done before?”
So, I took time to explain why I was travelling to watch a game that would be on television. But the explanation was more than that.
My book, The Diary of a Vagabond is selling fast. And with the first physical copy yet to be released by the publishers, the demand for copies of the books is massive, almost more than my first book, A Thousand Times on The Same Road.
I am still pushing my book, there would be no place like a Super Eagles game to do it. Besides, like I stated earlier, I had a session with the group, Football Fans Trybe. It was all about promo for the book.
inspite of our late arrival into the Eagles hotel, i had sessions with William Troost Ekong and Maduka Okoye. I also shared a word or two with Victor Boniface, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka
The fan that recognised me
I just remembered an incident on our way into Uyo, and just as we were getting to Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, I got a call, spoke for about 3 minutes, then a young man behind me, leaned forward and asked, “Sir, please do not be offended, it is as if I know you.”
I assured him that he did not. But he would not give up.
“Your voice sounds like that of a great Ikwerreman I always hear on radio.”
I retorted again, “What is so great about him?”
Then he asked again, “Don’t be offended, but your voice sounds like China Acheru. Are you the one?
At this point I was fighting to hold back the laughter and I admitted I was.
He just heard me on the phone for less than three minutes.
My day’s job was done after the media parley. Tobi Adepoju, Pooja and Victor Modo asked me if I would be at the training session at 4.30pm, but I said I would not. Adepoju and Pooja had done a movk interview with me. I have no idea if they were really recording. They asked me about the sales of my book and if i was really making any profit. Abi, dem want make i pay tithes? I stand with Abel Damina o. I needed to rest, and my rest, I had.
The white soup i had was horrible. Never again. Never!!!
i also had movies to see.
