Ghana Beat Brazil, Make History

By Hakeem Babalola

Ghana has made history by becoming the first African nation to win the U-20 Youth Soccer Championships when it defeated Brazil 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Friday night in a thrilling match the Black Satellites played with ten men read more

Concert Against Racism Held

By Hakeem Babalola
Special Report

Music Against Racism (ZARE) and Jewish Meeting Point jointly organised a music event to combat racism in celebrating the end of the year Hanukkah 5770 and Christmas 2009 on Tuesday December 15 on A38 Ship lying safely at anchor on Pethőfi Bridge Buda side.

The event, sponsored by the British Embassy, was attended by different races many of who claimed they have once experienced racial sluts.

Zariget Virág, 21, who came to Hungary from Mongolia when she was five, recalled her experience in the street. "I always shut my ears whenever strangers ask rudely what am doing here, or tell me to go back home," she said. "It is sad because my thinking is in Hungarian and not in Mongolian. I attended primary school, secondary school and college here”. 

Miss Zariget sings Hungarian folklore.

John Paul said that he was attacked and beaten by skinheads at Hero Square in 2007. "They asked me where I come from, and I told them it didn't matter. They punched me and I almost lost my tooth. It was scary”.

Lorincz Marcell, ZARE founder and one of the organisers, explained that racism “is a social problem and that it's not new but we have to act against it. We have to make small steps”. He added that music has different styles and one concert can unite several people.

His assertion was supported by Mbaye Ndiaye, Afro Magic Band leader. He said: “concerts against racism are very important because music is the key of communication; the most effective arm to fight racism. It is the world language and if every musician sings about it, it will definitely stop”.

Another participant, Eperjesi Boglárka, said that there is racism against the Jews and especially strong against Gypsies, but quickly added that racists are in the minority though they are loud.  

The participants include NGOs, musicians, journalists, and minority groups.

The Swiss Silenced Nigerians

Switzerland defeated the Golden Eaglets by one goal to nil to deny the host country the opportunity to make history by being the first country ever to win the trophy for the fourth time.

Although the Golden Eaglets got the Fair Play trophy, they watched with tears as the European boys took the coveted cup away from the Nigeria's backyard.

The Eaglets started with determination and looked as if they were going to carry the day, but lost several chances in the first half. It got worse as the Nigerian coach, John Obuh, threatened from the sideline to remove Sani Emmanuel if he continued to play selfish football.

Emmanuel had shot wide when he should have passed the ball to another player who was perfectly positioned in front of the goal. Such selfishness terribly angered the coache who later substitutes him with Olanrewaju Kayode who almost scored immediately he entered the field.

Switzerland did not play their best football as well but of course they managed to curtail the pressures mounted by the trio of Obinna Okoro, Sani Emmanuel and Edafe Egbedi.

The second half looked dull as both teams cooled than the tempo probably waiting for each other to make mistakes and then capitalise on it.

It was the Eaglets who committed the mistake in the 63rd minute when Haris Seferovic headed home the winning goal from a corner kick.

After the epic goal, the African boys tried to equalise but the European boys put up a superb defending which invariably disorganised the former who now looked desperate to find the net.

What could have been a goal and the last chance for the host resulted into scrambling inside the Swiss net after Okoro's header had hit the post, and a well taken shot caused melee. Although a replay showed that it was a goal, the referee thought otherwise.

The reality was getting too much for the fans who had been silenced by that lone goal which gave the Swiss their first-ever world title.

The Ladies Are Marrying The Men

 By Odimegwu Onwumere

Don’t tell anybody that I said this; it is what I have been observing in the society. Nigerian ladies, are marrying their Nigerian men. This is becoming a norm in our country, as against the axiom that, “He who foundeth a wife foundeth favour in the sight of God”. The reverse is the case. It is now, “A lady who foundeth a husband foundeth favour in the sight of the society”. The unmarried ladies are desperate due to the pressure the society put on them. So, they are ready to meet every necessary thought to marry the man who they might not naturally like.

What happens is that since finding relationship has gone digital, many of our people, even the married ones, do a lot of unprintable things to satisfy their LOVE life in the absence or knowledge of their loved ones. Name them: Internet sex, Internet dating, newspapers dating GSM dating etc.

Sometimes I become confused that people have taken to promiscuity and call it DEMOCRACY – the shameful government that allows everybody to behave any how, in any way, without discipline.

How can somebody publish his or her name (some fake names but the mobile numbers are not fake) and say he or she is looking for a man who would take good care of her, financially? This person has already told the world that he or she loves money. One can see that such relationship, if it begins to germinate, is based on material tendencies.

The heinous aspect of our marriage institutions today is that many men are lazy, but are bent on looking for ladies who are established. You can see someone marrying a lady as old as the mother. The man’s interest is that the lady has money and he could ‘survive’ through her. But this is bad? It seems that no one is marrying for LOVE in recent years but for material things. Is the dearth of material things in marriage that make many married couples put divvy to their marriages in recent time? The world is going gaga! Some even travel to Europe and marry their grand mama’s mate. It is unbecoming. I am watching.

Odimegwu Onwumere is the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State. 08032552855. apoet_25@yahoo.com  

The Trials of Ambassador Tunde Adeniran

By Hakeem Babalola

The professor was preparing to transport himself to the God Own country when his tribulations began. News gradually filtered around that America had rejected him. "What is wrong with this Obama people," I yelled. What is their grudge against the Giant of Africa? What are they up to this time around? Why should America reject one of the best brains in the country as our ambassador? Best brain?read more