FOOTBALL

CHUKWU MAY NOT GET TO COACH UGANDA
As the FA snubs him
***
If what appeared on the website of w.w.w.allafrica.com is anything to go by, then the dream of former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu to pick up the reigns as the new man in charge of the Cranes [national football team] of Uganda is set to remain just a mirage according to word out of Kampala.
Although the Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) is in the market desperately searching for a new man to replace Laszio Csaba following his 'defection' last week to Scottish side Hearts, in formed sources have told THISDAYSports that it is highly unlikely that an African coach will be considered.


Mark Ssali, who writes for the Kampala-based Daily Monitor, told us on the phone from Kampala yesterday that although he would personally love to see the former Nigerian skipper take charge of the Cranes, he was sure that Ugandan football officials will go for another European.
"I would personally love Chukwu to be given a chance. I believe he has the experience having handled Nigeria and Kenya, but I know this will never happen. Not because he is a Nigerian but because he is an African, our people (FUFA) don't just believe in African coaches."
The Daily Monitor sports reporter even went as far as to predict the nationality of the handler FUFA would most likely settle on.
"I'm sure they will go for a German. For some funny reason they appear to like coaches from that part of Europe," said Ssali, who was in Abeokuta March last year when the Eagles laboured to a 1-0 victory over the Cranes in the race for Ghana 2008 tickets. It was Berti Vogts first competitive game in charge of Nigeria.
Ssali, who is still piqued by the equaliser disallowed in the Ogun State capital, said he was hopeful FUFA would quickly conclude the search so that the Cranes would have a coach in place before their next Angola/South Africa 2010 qualifier away to Niger on September 6th.
"We need to have the new coach in place in time so that he will have enough time to prepare for the Niger game. It has been a very long time we've taken part in the Nations Cup so we shouldn't allow anything to jeopardise our chances."
Although Chukwu, who is currently the technical adviser for Rangers, confessed that he was yet to formally throw his hat into the ring for the Cranes' job, he had made his desire very clear last week in some interviews he gave the media last week.
"Though they (FUFA) have not approached me I have been monitoring the situation there since last week.
I have a decent knowledge of the East African environment having once been in charge of the Harambee Stars of Kenya for two years before accepting to return home to coach the Super Eagles in 2002.
"The environment is always the right place any coach will like to work because the administrators respect the terms of contract. If the Ugandans approach me and the negotiations are fine I will definitely accept the challenge," Chukwu who once handled Lebanon said.
Giving further insight, Chukwu said that his total package while in charge of Kenya was better than what NFA offered him to handle the Eagles until the term was severed following Nigeria's failure to qualify for Germany 2006.
The former Super Eagles captain will be aiming to follow the step of Harrison Okagbue as the second Nigerian to be on the technical staff of FUFA. Okagbue handled the Cobs - the Ugandan U-23 side till 2000 while on attachment as a technical assistant with FUFA.
Although media reports indicated that applications for the Cranes job have already been received from 12 coaches of American, German, Brazilian, Moroccan, Belgian and Serbian nationalities, Ssali said no one had been short listed yet.

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Poetry

BABA MI

She, Always They Adore
For In Songs, She’s Praised
And In Poems, She’s Lauded
But You, They’ve All Ignored
Not Even With The Roles
Unto You Saddled By Nature
As Head O’ The House
And Winner O’ The Bread...
Even Of Rice And Stew!

*****
Just Because You’ve Chosen To Be
Of Actions Than Words...
Just Because Winning The Bread
Will Not Allow You Sit
With Us To Sing
The Songs Of Tales
And Just Because
Our Obstinance; Our Mischiefs
Will Not Bring Your Tears
But Lashes, Hot Lashes
To Our Soft Stubborn Buttocks.

*****

Yea, Your Song They Refuse To Sing
In Poems, In Books, In Schools...
But This I Write For You
For I Know Without Your Being
Her ‘Nine’ Could Not Have Been
And I Know Without Your Interest
Forever She’ll Stay With Her Poppa-N-Momma
And Forever I’ll Stay Within Your Legs
Not Like A Protruding Belly
But In Liquid Undischarged!

*****

Baba, Your Praise I Sing
And My Hero You’ll Be

******

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on movie location

SOLITUDE finally produced!
Oops! You guys should spank me thoroughly. I am more than sure that I deserve to be scolded. You know why? I forgot to post this piece since the time I have written it! That’s bad, you know?
Anyway, I was on location throughout the first week of June busy recording the rushes for my story ‘Solitude’. It was originally meant to be produced as a television serial, the one we call soap opera in this clime, but my friend, the producer (Femi Sanyaolu) pleaded with me to have it converted and recorded as a home video. Well, he is the boss here and I’ve got no choice than to agree with him, if I really wanted ‘Solitude’ produced.

Dou you know why I said I am without a choice? ‘Solitude’ has been written as far back as 2005 and here we are in 2008! So, if disagreed with him, Solitude could still remain in my kit for the next 3 years or thereabout!

So, from the 2nd of June till around the 8th of the same month, I was on location in far away Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, Abeokuta Ogun state, and I must confess, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The cast and crew were simply marvelous to work with, although a particular heavyweight (I will tell you it was a veteran actress, who has been around for a while. In fact, she is British trained!) in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood gave us a tough time both on and off set. It was quite obvious that the popularly called Mama sneaked out of a location elsewhere in order to quickly record her beats on the set of Solitude. That’s the hallmark of the Nigerian movie industry.

Despite that she was supposed to take just a scene or two, Mama was too much in a hurry that even the camera man (Gbolahan Busari) was too timid to take enough angle shots on the set! I don’t blame Gbolahan anyway. Who would not be afraid of an old woman, who had earlier promised to stay long enough on location, only to come around and start spitting dragon fire! She was obviously thinking by being harsh on the producer and everybody, the crew would quickly record her scene sand allowed her to return to the location elsewhere.

Anyway, other bigwigs on location for Solitude included Sanya Gold, Tunji Sotimirin, Kayode Olaseinde (Pa. James), Joke Fadirepo and Hafis Oyetoro (Oleku, Area C) among others. It was just too interesting to work with these veterans. Tope Dansu, Tosin (Tee-boy), Saidat Olorode, Bolaji Fakeye (Beee-Jei!), Lola Adekanmbi, Kris Mordi and of course, myself (Oba’ Adeoye) as well other experienced stage artistes joined them in giving a good interpretation to Solitude. Femi Sanyaolu married the job of a director with that of a producer… and Olo’un, I pity the Youngman as he was running from pillar to post all in a bid to ascertain that we had a good production at the end of the day.

Solitude is the story of an orphan, Toorera Ajayi (played by Tope Dansu) who gets diagnosed of the deadly HIV virus while at the university. This despite the very obvious that Rera is chaste to the marrows! Hardly has her been announced that the whole world turns its back on a girl who was once a celebrity, consequent upon her academic brilliance. Not even her only brother, Babajide Ajayi (Oba’ Adeoye) or her Fiancé, Adekunle Martins (Kris Mordi) was ready to give her the needed shoulder. They all abandoned her to her plight!

When she could not manage it any further, she took her leave from the university community (that is, she dropped from school) and relocated elsewhere in a city where she believes nobody is aware of her health status. Alas, her shadows followed her there and what seemed as an end turned out to become another bend!

If you would not say I’m blowing my own trumpets by myself, I think Solitude is a good story and until I see the end product, I hold my breadth….

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Experience

SOLITUDE finally produced!

Oops! You guys should spank me thoroughly. I am more than sure that I deserve to be scolded. You know why? I forgot to post this piece since the time I have written it! That’s bad, you know?
Anyway, I was on location throughout the first week of June busy recording the rushes for my story ‘Solitude’. It was originally meant to be produced as a television serial, the one we call soap opera in this clime, but my friend, the producer (Femi Sanyaolu) pleaded with me to have it converted and recorded as a home video. Well, he is the boss here and I’ve got no choice than to agree with him, if I really wanted ‘Solitude’ produced.
Dou you know why I said I am without a choice? ‘Solitude’ has been written as far back as 2005 and here we are in 2008! So, if disagreed with him, Solitude could still remain in my kit for the next 3 years or thereabout!
So, from the 2nd of June till around the 8th of the same month, I was on location in far away Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, Abeokuta Ogun state, and I must confess, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The cast and crew were simply marvelous to work with, although a particular heavyweight (I will tell you it was a veteran actress, who has been around for a while. In fact, she is British trained!) in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood gave us a tough time both on and off set. It was quite obvious that the popularly called Mama sneaked out of a location elsewhere in order to quickly record her beats on the set of Solitude. That’s the hallmark of the Nigerian movie industry.
Despite that she was supposed to take just a scene or two, Mama was too much in a hurry that even the camera man (Gbolahan Busari) was too timid to take enough angle shots on the set! I don’t blame Gbolahan anyway. Who would not be afraid of an old woman, who had earlier promised to stay long enough on location, only to come around and start spitting dragon fire! She was obviously thinking by being harsh on the producer and everybody, the crew would quickly record her scene sand allowed her to return to the location elsewhere.
Anyway, other bigwigs on location for Solitude included Sanya Gold, Tunji Sotimirin, Kayode Olaseinde (Pa. James), Joke Fadirepo and Hafis Oyetoro (Oleku, Area C) among others. It was just too interesting to work with these veterans. Tope Dansu, Tosin (Tee-boy), Saidat Olorode, Bolaji Fakeye (Beee-Jei!), Lola Adekanmbi, Kris Mordi and of course, myself (Oba’ Adeoye) as well other experienced stage artistes joined them in giving a good interpretation to Solitude. Femi Sanyaolu married the job of a director with that of a producer… and Olo’un, I pity the Youngman as he was running from pillar to post all in a bid to ascertain that we had a good production at the end of the day.
Solitude is the story of an orphan, Toorera Ajayi (played by Tope Dansu) who gets diagnosed of the deadly HIV virus while at the university. This despite the very obvious that Rera is chaste to the marrows! Hardly has her been announced that the whole world turns its back on a girl who was once a celebrity, consequent upon her academic brilliance. Not even her only brother, Babajide Ajayi (Oba’ Adeoye) or her Fiancé, Adekunle Martins (Kris Mordi) was ready to give her the needed shoulder. They all abandoned her to her plight!
When she could not manage it any further, she took her leave from the university community (that is, she dropped from school) and relocated elsewhere in a city where she believes nobody is aware of her health status. Alas, her shadows followed her there and what seemed as an end turned out to become another bend!
If you would not say I’m blowing my own trumpets by myself, I think Solitude is a good story and until I see the end product, I hold my breadth….

Read more »

I was @ Alahaja Olorode's Final Funeral Rites and returned with this album. Enjoy!

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MOVIE REVIEW

TITLE: White Waters
DIRECTOR: Izu Ojukwu
PRODUCERS: Ify Dozie, Ngozi Nkwoji and Tokunbo Adodo
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Amstel Malta
GUAGE: VHS
STARRING: Joke Silva, Rita Dominic and O.C Ukeje
YEAR OF PRODUCTION/RELEASE: 2007/2008

***

White waters, no doubt is a reference point in the present-day Nigerian movie industry, and definitely will be, for some time to come. Sponsored by Amstel Malta, the movie clearly attests to the emerging fact that the Nigerian industry has an avalanche deposit of yet untapped whiz kids who would not only dictate the tempo and coloration of moviedom in Africa but who would also resituate Nigeria from the position of quantity producer to that of quality producer.

The movie stars veteran Joke Silva, Rita Dominic and O.C Ukeje, winner of the TV reality show tagged AMBO 3 (that is, Amstel Malta Box Office, 3rd edition) created and sponsored, of course by the same Amstel Malta. White waters tells the story of Melvin (Ukeje), who was forced into perpetual loneliness by his parents as a result of his seeming psychological deficiency in academic learning. Out of frustration borne out of his inability to learn anything in school, the mother and the step father concluded to stop wasting more money on a boy who is not only slow at almost every conceivable thing, but equally unrepentantly unreceptive. To save her marriage, the mother (Augusta Isaac) decides to ‘bundle and dump’ her little boy in the village in the care of her own mother (Joke Silva), who’s asthmatic.

As he grows up to become a man, Melvin is always found keeping to himself, save for one little fish which he keeps as a means of killing boredom. He christened the tilapia, ‘loneliness’. Day in day out, he does nothing except to help grandma look after her pets (rams and poultry) and occasionally helps her fetch her drugs from the village doctor, Doctor Maria (Olajumoke Olatunbosun), whenever grandma has attacks.

Meanwhile, an athletic team is busy in the same town preparing for state and national sports festival. Banji (Hoodmsuk), the most promising in the team, has a soft spot in his heart for Norlah (Rita Dominic), who is also an athlete in the same team, although a university student who’s father’s retirement and national strike by university lecturers have compelled to relocate to the village. This same Norlah, in return, has a soft spot for, wait for this, Melvin!

Every now and then, members of the team have always been arrested by the presence of one gentle village chap, who always substitutes walking for running at every given opportunity. Besides, Melvin, to them is an unrepentant introvert who’ll not talk to anyone in the whole village, so their bewilderment get deepened as they know next to nothing about him.
His unusual display of raw athletic talent attracted the chief coach (Tony Ofili) to Melvin. He found his ways to drag him into the team, against all opposition, especially from the ‘super star’ Banji, who sees a prospective enemy and a challenger in Melvin.

After a robbery attack on Norlah some days back, her expensive wristwatch is found among Melvin’s kits. The whole team follows him home for further search. To the chagrin of all, every other item that was stolen from Norlah, including her mother’s international passport, digital camera, and her purse gets discovered in Melvin’s room. The grandma could not believe her only trusted grandson was a thief! This is despite Melvin’s open denial of the accusation.

The incident forced Melvin back into his shells and back to his fish, which has been replaced by another he calls ‘Mon Ami’. (Loneliness died as a result of his friendship with Norlah). Although, all efforts by the chief coach to get him back into the team hit the brick-wall, Melvin develops a change of mind and makes a bold return to the team, amidst shame and indignity of the highest order.

He finally succeeds in making the relay team for the state sports festival, where he eventually brings the coach –the only backbone he has- to public disgrace. Melvin disappoints the cheering crowd when the baton for the relay race carelessly drops from his grip. This led to the sack of the chief coach, and of course, the ouster of Melvin from the team. However, white waters’ dénouement revealed that it was Banji who planted the stolen items on Melvin as a means to, one, get Norlah discouraged from him (Melvin) and then two, get him destabilized in the team since he constituted a stiff opposition to him in both areas.

The fired chief coach later gets another appointment in a neighbouring state, which is also billed for the national sports festival. He literally drags Melvin along with him.
At the close of the movie, Melvin wins a national honour for the state he eventually represented at the national sports festival, beating the pompous Banji to the runners-up position.
The picture quality of the movie is highly laudable as the images that compose the production are appropriately sharp with good dosage of contrast. The colour separation is unlike what obtains in many Nigerian movies, even of the contemporary industry. This is a clear indication that the lightings for White waters were handled by a team that understands the imperatives of lightings in filmmaking.

Same can be said of the audio quality as the sounds were not only audible, but also impressive.
In the area of dialogue, the production crew obviously made an attempt to make the artistes (especially Banji and Hammed) sound like typical (core) Africans, say of Kenyan, Mauritanian or Zambian accent. This is not too good for a movie which makes its audience believe that the events took place in contemporary Nigeria. Since names like Banji, Osa, Emeka and so forth as well as Nigerian car plate numbers are used, it shows that the story was set in Nigeria, hence no need to make the characters sound foreign. The artistes should also share out of the blame.
Continuity wise, the crew did a good job except for some flaws here and there. For an instance, the scene where younger Melvin was to transform into a man has a poor continuity. The character was putting on a greenish and longer short as at the time grandma sent her to Dr. Maria, but along the way, the short became shorter and turned blue! Haba, Movie magic?! Even if the director wanted to indicate that the lad was gradually growing along the way, he could have had the whole costumes (both the short and knickers) changed entirely.

Another avoidable but very grievous flaw occurs in the scene where Norlah came to visit Melvin at home. She saw the printed and elegantly framed picture which she took of Melvin on the night her stuffs were stolen, sitting conspicuously on the only table in the room. Does it mean that Melvin has not sighted the frame all this while before Norlah’s appearance? Or could Norlah have believed that the rustic Melvin had the picture developed and framed, all by his intuition? Where? When? How?

Although a minute error of carelessness, but the continuity manager, the director or even the editor –as the time of postproduction- should have observed that the boom mike used on location was actually reflecting on the sunshade worn by Banji in the scene where Norlah’s Silver wristwatch was found on Melvin. The crew could have, at least substituted the shot for another good one in the scene. Definitely, that was not the only one taken for the sceen! Abi?

The dialogue, as tight as it sounds, has a number of pitfalls. The most prominent and most illogical was Hammed’s line in the scene where the athletes were talking about Melvin, who was running by, at the time a training session just ended. According to Hammed who seems to know more about Melvin in the team, Melvin dropped out of the same secondary school Hammed attended. Hammed even went ahead to inform us (the audience) that Melvin was nicknamed ‘speed racer’ back then in SS2. Now, the questions: was Melvin not forced out of school at the primary school level? How come Hammed knows much about him? What secondary school is he talking about?

The location (Nassarawa state) chosen for the shoots was another plus for the producer. The lush vegetation which served as a very good background for scenes, especially during the training scenes, is a way of promoting Nigeria as a good tourist spot in the world. Kudos, Izu and the gang!

Also, the photographic creativity of Izu Ojukwu who doubles as artistic director and a director of photography (DOP) should be applauded. It is simply superlative of this wonderful man to give us the picture of the scene where Norlah contracted barbers to transform Melvin. The use of mirror to establish the new ‘born again’ Melvin, is quite admirable.

A good movie no doubt, white waters proves bookmakers wrong that indeed, Nigeria still has good heads in the industry. On the overall, the movie should be applauded and of course, scolded in certain areas.

It is a must watch for lovers of good movies.

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