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WILL DARE DARE TO BE GREATER THAN SOLOMON?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Nigerian sports community is welcoming Sunday Dare as the country’s 35th sports minister since the era of the first occupier of that position, Chief Joseph Modupe Johnson (JMJ) in 1960.
This is the post that the ever-lively Chief Alex Akinyele once described as the Games Master General of the Federation.
But as was the case with most of the 34 helmsmen before him, there is little or nothing to connect him to sports. He will have to learn the principle of sports administration and organisation while on the saddle.
As earlier remarked, he is not alone. In the past, possibly only five or six of the 34 sports ministers/National Sports Commission chairmen have claims to sports background.
Anthony Ikazoboh led the pack as a former player of the then famed Stationery Stores in the 1960s. Others with claims to sports before assumption to offices as either NSC chairman or sports minister were Silvanus Akinwunmi, Jim Nwobodo, Stephen Akiga, Sani Ndanusa and Taoheed Adedoja.
Of the previous 34 helmsmen before Dare, only the late Sampson Emeka Omeruah ever got a second chance. The new sheriff at the sports ministry therefore has to hit the ground running.
He is coming in on the yet to be officially accepted 86th anniversary of the oldest sports federation in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
His coming is also coming during the African Games holding in Morocco. That will undoubtedly be his first attention.
Being a ‘stranger’ in the sports community or just learning the curves may not necessarily be a disadvantage if Dare applies the best principles of administration.
After all, the celebrated American football player and coach, Vince Lombardy in his famous quote: “The Habit of Winning “remarked that ‘running a football team is not different than running an army, a political party or a business.
“The principles are the same”. The object is to win – to beat the other guy. That Dare is a stranger in the sports community may therefore not be a hindrance if he employs Solomonic wisdom. After all, the Biblical Joseph made great impact in a foreign land despite not having been schooled in the principles of administration.
For the records, Dare becomes the 14th sports minister since the advent of the present democratic dispensation 20 years ago.
The import is that the sports ministry is the most unstable and therefore has the highest turnover of ministers. On the average, a minister spends just a little over one year in office before he is shown the exit.
Only Solomon Dalung, the immediate past sports minister served a full term. This is the first lesson Dare has to have at the back of his mind.
Time is too short to begin any experimental exercise. Like most before him, it is very likely he too is planning a visit to the National Stadium in Lagos.
The new minister should just save himself the rituals, which almost all his predecessors had done since 2003 when the previous national edifice of pride went into ruins.
It became a sort of ‘tourist’ attraction to every new sports minister. Dare should just ask for the files and go through all the observations of his predecessors and attempt a revival of our national pride.
That was the arena that had hosted two final matches of Africa’s premier football competitions in 1980 and 2000. That was an arena that hosted the All Africa Games in 1973 and the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship (now tagged U-20 World Cup).
That was an arena that had witnessed more renovation that any other sporting facility in the country having been upgraded for the 1980 African Nations Cup, two botched World Youth Championships in 1991 and 1995 and finally 1999.
It is a great irony that the coming of democratic rules in the country suddenly brought ruins to such a massive edifice that is situated right in the heart of a mega city. Dare should look at the various reports his predecessors had written after pilgrimages to what was dubbed ‘Sport City’ when the arena was very functional in the 1970s and 1980s.
Europe and other parts of the world boast of time-honoured sports arenas that are constantly being upgraded and maintained to meet current demands. Our own National Stadium has turned a haven for hoodlums. The arena and the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan are in need of massive facelift.
A former sports minister, Taoheed Adedoja, once spoke of plans of turning the National Institute of Sports (NIS) hostel to a 130-room four-star sports hotel.
Adedoja, a professor of sports administration, also spoke of plans for the 50-room Games Village in Surulere Lagos and the 55-room hostel complex at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan as well as a similar 40-room facility of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna attaining the status of three star hotels. The hotels were to be named after outstanding athletes.
All those plans were in the ‘pipelines’ that have since been vandalised. According to Adedoja, each of the hotels was expected to generate half a million-naira daily and would be run by professionals in the hospitality industry.
He reasoned that such venture could provide additional source of revenue for the ministry, which is ever complaining of lean purse.
Whatever happened to that plan enunciated in February 2011, barely three months to end the tenure of the government that appointed him?
The former Liberty Stadium main bowl (now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) has been a shadow of itself as it had not hosted any major football match since Al Ahly of Egypt beat the Shooting Stars on home soil in the 1999 CAF Champions League.
The minister should consider reviving this premier Nigerian stadium. Possibly, the high turnover of sports ministers is due to their overwhelming interests in football.
Virtually all the preceding 14 sports ministers ended up being football ministers to the neglect of other sports.
Will Dare dare to be different by not being a football minister? Except probably Bolaji Abdulahi who resolved lingering issues in the NFF, football spelt doom for all the other past sports ministers since 1999. This is a big lesson.
Dare should endeavour to build a functional sports data bank for the sport ministry. Anthony Ikazoboh on September 26, 1990 inaugurated a 25-man National Sports Library Committee under the leadership of Dr. Awoture Eleyae.
The objective was to document all aspects of Nigerian sports. Ikazoboh remarked at the time: “sometimes, records available are too old to depend on for modern treatment of sports”.
Continuing, the Air Force man noted: “all along, we have depended on half-truths in some cases to decide on issues for lack of reference points and low academic content of publications on sports”.
Over 30 years since, the committee did not achieve the set goal, possibly because months later, Ikazoboh whose project it was, was transferred from the sports ministry to transport.
If there were a functional documentation process at the sports ministry, it will aid the functions of organisers and other administrators.
Planning process would be aided with such records serving as working documents, even for a new comer into sports administration. A body without history will not be able to know its past and evaluate the present and project its future.
With well-articulated programme, Sunday Dare, as in the book of Matthew 12:42 should be able to proclaim: “A greater than Solomon is here”.
The Supreme Council of Sufi Orders has officially recognised the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, marking a significant step in the regulation of Sufi practices and reinforcing what the Council describes as its commitment to a moderate religious approach.
Sheikh Sayyid Ayman Hamdi al-Akbariyya, head of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, met with Dr Abdel-Hadi al-Qasabi, Grand Sheikh of Sufi Orders and President of the Supreme Council, where he presented the official recognition decree.
With the issuance of the decree, the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order becomes one of the officially recognised Sufi orders in the Arab Republic of Egypt, joining 80 other orders operating under the Council’s umbrella.
According to officials, the recognition follows a period of organisational and administrative work by the Order’s leadership, including compliance with legal requirements and regulatory standards approved by the Council. The move is expected to strengthen the Order’s institutional presence and enhance its religious and spiritual role within Egyptian society.
Rooted in the Legacy of Ibn Arabi
The Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order derives its methodology from the teachings of the renowned Sufi master Ibn Arabi, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Islamic mysticism. The Order has followers in Egypt and across several countries in the Islamic world, with a notable presence in parts of Europe and Asia.
Its teachings emphasise love, spiritual purification, tolerance and deepening the spiritual dimension of Muslim life.
During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of adhering to the moderate Azharite approach and strengthening the role of Sufi orders in promoting sound religious awareness, ethical values, coexistence and social peace.
The Influence of “The Greatest Sheikh”
Born in 560 AH in Murcia, Andalusia, Ibn Arabi — whose full name was Muhyiddin Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Arabi al-Hatimi al-Ta’i al-Andalusi — grew up in a scholarly and spiritual environment. He later travelled extensively across North Africa and the Levant before settling in Damascus, where he died in 638 AH/1240 CE. His shrine in Damascus remains a well-known landmark.
Often referred to as “The Greatest Sheikh,” Ibn Arabi’s school of thought came to be known as the Akbariyya. Among his most celebrated works are Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations), Fusus al-Hikam (The Bezels of Wisdom), and Tarjuman al-Ashwaq (The Interpreter of Desires).
His writings are characterised by philosophical depth and a mystical exploration of divine love, spiritual purification and the concept of the “perfect human being.” His influence has shaped Sufi thought across the Islamic world and extended into intellectual circles in Europe and Asia.
The formal recognition of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order reflects Egypt’s continued effort to regulate religious institutions while preserving the rich spiritual traditions rooted in centuries of Islamic scholarship and mysticism.
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- Summary
- * Tottenham slip closer to the relegation zone
- * West Ham denied at the death by Man Utd
- * Chelsea held at home by Leeds
Yet another Premier League home defeat left Tottenham Hotspur looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone and manager Thomas Frank nearer the exit door on Tuesday as Newcastle United eased their own slump with a 2-1 victory in north London.
Last season’s Europa League winners and qualifiers for this season’s Champions League last-16 were booed off after Jacob Ramsey sealed a rare away win for Eddie Howe’s side.
Tottenham would have found themselves only three points above the drop zone had it not been for Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to deny 18th-placed West Ham United a 1-0 win.
The 1-1 draw kept United in fourth place although it ended caretaker manager Michael Carrick’s 100% record since taking over in January.
Another unblemished record went at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior dropped his first league points since replacing Enzo Maresca, his side drawing 2-2 at home to Leeds United having led 2-0.
Bournemouth came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Everton with second-half goals by Brazilian teenager Rayan and Amine Adli. Everton, who had led through Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty, ended with 10 men after Jake O’Brien was red-carded.
Tottenham have not been relegated from the top flight since 1977 but such is the present malaise at the club it is now becoming a genuine fear as they are in 16th place, five points above West Ham whose form is on the up.
They have not won a Premier League game since December 28 and have managed only two victories from their 13 home league games this season. To make matters worse, their next fixture is at home to north London rivals and leaders Arsenal.
‘UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION’
Whether Frank is still in charge then is beginning to look increasingly unlikely. Not for the first time this season, the Dane left the pitch to chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ from Tottenham’s fans.
“I understand the frustration and the easiest thing is to point at me,” Frank said of the fans. “That’s part of the job unfortunately. I will work day and night to turn this around but it is not just one person. There is no doubt we need to improve and I need to be part of that.”
Newcastle completely dominated the first half and the only surprise was it took them until stoppage time to get ahead as defender Malick Thiaw stabbed home a rebound.
Injury-hit Tottenham were marginally better after the break and Archie Gray levelled. But Newcastle deservedly took the points when Anthony Gordon teed up Ramsey for a cute finish, his first goal since joining from Aston Villa.
Newcastle moved up to 10th in the table on 36 points. Tottenham have 29 points from 26 games, with Nottingham Forest, who play bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, on 26 from 25. West Ham have 24.
SESKO SALVAGES POINT FOR MAN UNITED
West Ham were seconds away from a fourth win in five league games as they led with Tomas Soucek’s strike early in the second half after good work by Jarrod Bowen.
United had an effort from Casemiro ruled out but salvaged a point when substitute Sesko struck at the death.
Carrick’s side have 45 points, one more than Chelsea who will be kicking themselves after drawing with Leeds.
“It is a tough place to come and we didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers,” Carrick said. “Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”
Chelsea appeared to be cruising with goals either side of the interval from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer who scored his third penalty in two games.
But they threw away two points as Moises Caicedo fouled Jayden Bogle and Lukas Nmecha converted a penalty before Noah Okafor poked in an equaliser after Chelsea failed to clear a ball into the area.
“If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we’re switched on for 90 minutes. It’s as simple as that,” Rosenior said afterwards.
The draw lifted Leeds above Tottenham into 15th.
-Reuters
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Rivers United’s campaign in the CAF Champions League suffered a major setback on Sunday after the Nigerian champions fell 1–0 at home to Zambia’s Power Dynamos.
The defeat, recorded in Uyo, leaves Rivers United anchored at the bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches, severely denting their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
With only two matches left in the group, the Port Harcourt-based side now faces an uphill task, as both remaining fixtures are against the group’s leading teams; Morocco’s RS Berkane and defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt.
Sunday’s result boosted Power Dynamos’ chances, as the Zambian side moved up to third place in the group with four points, three adrift of second-placed RS Berkane. Berkane’s position was weakened earlier in the day after they were thrashed 3–0 by Pyramids in Egypt.
Pyramids FC continued their impressive run in the group, tightening their grip on the standings with 10 points from four matches to remain firmly on course for qualification.
For Rivers United, the loss marked another frustrating night in their continental campaign, with hopes of a late revival now resting on unlikely results against Africa’s in-form clubs in the remaining group fixtures.
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