Written June 27, 2012
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Yet I was there
The devil's tube worked the magic
We won the gold in soccer
Kanu was wonderful
Bebeto cried
He must be stupid
From China '85
Football was my god
Even as a village boy
I had dreamt to be a goalkeeper
'I am William Okpara of ACB'
Could you imagine?
I'd nearly become an infidel
I could remember
Acting soccer commentator
Like that famous FRCN man
Shouting incoherent English
Round the pitch
'He's moving, he's moving! Oh, no!'
Football! Football! All our prime years
Saudi '89 Italia '90
USA '94 and Atlanta '96!
Odinmma! Otoge!
No more fretting
No more cry 'cause of Italy equalizer
No more sleeplessness
No more exasperation
And there was no more
My exercise book for match fixtures
Into the bush
France '98 I was tempted
But praise to Allaah
We survived it
Since them I had lost track
I'm happy for that
I'm not caught up in the new madness of our time
'Man U-u-u! Up B-l-u-u-e!'
Arrant nonsense
My brother until you are out of it
You will know the joy of not being there
My prayer is that Allaah should open your heart
To that which is good
Did you say Aameen?
