THE TROUGHS OF SPORTS

(Above) Former Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia - crestfallen

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

It was a nightmarish weekend for the hordes of sports lovers in South Africa, where millions of lovers of football and rugby were left scratching their heads in dire frustration. What could have happened? What kind of double blow was, this?

Yes, recently, it was a very important, pivotal weekend for the teeming sports lovers in South Africa and everyone was sure that all would go well. In football, all the national team, the Bafana Bafana had to do was defeat Sierra Leone at home (in South Africa) The same weekend the powerful Rugby side would play Australia in the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup, and they will be on their way to the very finals.

Unfortunately, things did not go according to the plan. Incredibly, South Africa could not score even one goal against Sierra Leone, hardly a football powerhouse in the continent. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, but it still looked as if the Bafana Bafana might just have done enough to qualify for the finals, with Egypt doing them a favour by spanking their main rivals, Niger Republic 3-0.

In fact, the South Africans were celebrating with gusto after the draw with Sierra Leone, Players dancing and basking on the field of play; officials hugging each other with excitement; jubilant sports pundits patting each other on the back. Then news broke, that after all, with current CAF rules, South Africa had failed to qualify, the whole nation was thrown into mourning.

It was a devastating blow, but for many others, they still felt that the Springboks, the national rugby team, would put a smile on their faces in the Republic World Cup quarter finals. The first half against Australia saw South Africa trailing, but some ten minutes before the game ended, the Sprinkboks were leading, surely the semi final was beckoning.

Yet again, it was not to be. A back-breaking drop-goal from Australia ensured it was the Wallabies, Australians, that made it to the final.Another tragedy for South African sports. With many experienced rugby players retiring after the match; players whose dream was to grace the very final, Tears flowed. It was a double-whammy for South African sports; a horrific weekend.

Ironically, Nigeria would suffer the same fate, same weekend with the very painful inability of the Super Eagles to make it to the Nations Cup finals (2012). After all, for decades, Nigerians have been accustomed to accepting participation at every Nations Cup finals as a birthright. An understatement! For years on end, Nigeria not only played at such finals but almost always got to the finals, coming home with either bronze or silver. Now, not even an elementary qualification.

A combination of Niger and Sierra Leone ensured that South Africa missed out on the next Nations Cup finals. Guinea somehow turned the tables on Nigeria right there in Abuja. What disappointment and poignant melancholy for two supreme football loving nations.

As for the followers, many tried to drown their sorrows in their favourite watering holes, but can deflated emotions be washed away in such meretricious fashion?Millions of people are now asking: what would a Nations Cup finals be without giants like Nigeria, Egypt and Cameroon participating? A nightmare forthe organisers and marketers of course. Yet what happened provides a trenchant lesson in the face of complacency.

Ah well, such can be the troughs of sports!