Before You Throw-in the Towel; Try These few Defensive Skills Used in Football

DEFENDERS are generally referred to as stoppers in any soccer team

One of the greatest defenders to have worn the green and white jerseys is Uche ‘Gentle Giant’ Okechukwu. He was so reliable that other players invested so much trust in his defensive skills or abilities to stop attackers terrorising Nigerian territories. When other player moved forward to attack opponents, Uche would stand behind as a solid rock of the defence – and most goalkeepers of his time knew he had to be beaten before they could be defeated.

Defenders must be:

(a)  Good with their heads:

Their heading abilities will help them defend effectively during corner and spot kicks.

(b) Good with their legs as it enables them to tackle and wade-off offensive attacks and even outrun the opponents.

(c)  Calculative, because a slight mistake on their parts might plunge the team into chaos. They don’t jump for nothing, run for nothing or commits unnecessary stunt or blunder in front of the goal post.

(d) Strong and energetic. Weaknesses and lack of stamina should never be seen in them.

(e)  Tireless. When other players are wearied, they are the tonics that agitate them to do more.

(f)   Focused. When the goals aren’t forthcoming as expected, the defenders must keep their concentration at 100% or more because a slight turn-off on their side might spell a doom for the team.

(g)  Have sharp sights. Their abilities to see, perceive and predict the game (or teammates and opponents) depends on how far they can see the velocity or acceleration at which the ball is travelling and this ability will also enable them read their opponents tactical moves effectively.

(h) Must be agile and flexible. A strong defender doesn’t only need to stand as rock; his reflex must be agile and superb like that of a cat.

Since a goalkeeper is categorised as a defender, he should be able to keep tab on the tempo of the match. If he falls, he should rise immediately as a waste of a centi-second can be costly to the team’s success.

(i)   Defenders sometime beef-up the attacking force or even score goals when the attackers are not delivering results.  Before they can make such moves, they will ensure that they can quickly make a comeback or else their team’s hope might be dashed through a counter-attack.

(j)   Defenders have a good view of the whole pitch. They see more than most attackers and are good at distributing passes, long thrusts and can easily coordinate activities of other players from their positions.

Today:

1.     What are the ideals that you need to tackle head-on to ensure you win?

2.    What are the likely limitations to your winning chances?

3.    Be faithful with yourself. What are the likely resources you will need in order to achieve your desired goals?

4.    Have you been calculating or avoiding risks?

For example, a defender will not contest for an aerial ball if it’s too far from his reach and he might decide to stay calm if he believes he might be injured by other charging players.

The former approach is calculating risk whilst the latter is avoiding risks.

5.    If you had discovered your strongest negotiation point (SNP); where do you think you can falter and how will you curb such weaknesses?

6.    How can you overcome your weaknesses?

For example; if your marriage or business must not come to an abrupt end, what would you do to stay in the game?

7.    If your real goal is winning; what will you do when you are provoked to give-up?

Remember, an obstacle is what you see when you take your eyes off your targets.

8.    How do you see the future of your venture? Do you have counsellors, advisers or coaches for it? If not, list out those who can or should be.

9.    Have you heard of insurance, family/business savings or target account, or legal requirements for such? If not, enquire and get into it.

10. In which area of your life do you think you are too rigid? You feel undaunted, trying the same thing over and over and not really achieving success – that’s called madness.

What can you alter in order to move forward?

NB: A body continues in its state of rest or continuous motion unless a force is applied to it.

How can you become more flexible without altering your goals or rules of the game?

11. What drastic adjustments do you need to make in order to piece together the ruins of your decisions?

NB: Some wastes or by-products will make good raw materials or finished goods to earn additional income.

Increase your focus on what you do have and reduce your attention on what you want.

12.  How can you save your business, company, marriage, family, association or church from total collapse?

YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM Vs. PEOPLE’S OPINIONS

It’s like an extra load; thinking about what others will say or think about you. It will slow you down and slow down your decision making and it will sometimes make you a slave – and if your decisions are in any way affected, your dispositions will be limited.

To do well in life, you need to live joyfully all the time. It doesn’t matter who criticises you if you succeed and it doesn’t matter who condemns you if you fail.  IT IS YOUR LIFE!

Be in-charge of your life; whether you run so fast or crawl very slowly, people will still talk. Do not think that every spectator in the stadium is happy with the goal scorer – he had scored against some people, he had scored for some. As his goal plunges some into debts, some have increased their wealth. Despite it all, he has to score great goals and celebrate the great goals to the chagrin of the opponents and for the amusements of his fans. Above all, he has to score great and wonderful goals to confirm himself a good player.

You are a player. Everything depends on you; what people are thinking about you is immaterial. You don’t live your life on other’s opinions; you only thrive on God’s – and that’s the only opinion that matters. God will never encroach on your plans, why allowing human beings to do that? Live every moment as a joyful lamb. Throw your fists in the air if need be. Praise your God in the park if you wish. Shout openly if you want. It is your wish and it is your life. Learn to prioritize yourself; God never said, love your neighbour more than yourself.

The Rising Profile of ADENIYI OJIKUTU from apprenticeship to CAPDAN Presidency

Adeniyi Ojikutu, the Avant-garde President of Computer and Allied Products Association of Nigeria, is one guy who sights opportunities where most of his mates see problems. Over time, he has learnt to soar higher beyond limits. When the winds are resisting his upward surge, he knows how to flap his wings and when the current is contrary, he knows to glide – and he has definitely flown higher than circumstances that could have kept him glued to poverty and shame.

When most guys of his age seek someone to pull them up the ladder, he positions himself as a ladder lifting others to the citadel. Adeniyi Ojikutu is a young, dynamic and versatile businessman, leader, speaker, mentor and MD/CEO of PACIFIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD. He was born into Ojikutu Royal Dynasty of Lagos Island. As a Grade 'A' contractor with the Lagos and Federal governments, his business interest spans ICT, Agro-Allied and other sectors – and his workforce can boast of almost 100 employees.

Mr. Ojikutu had his OND in Business Studies from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and his First Degree in Actuarial Science and Insurance in 2002 from the University of Lagos. His Second Degree is in Business Management from Lagos State University and has professional membership of the Institute of Business Strategy, Institute of Conflict Management and Peaceful Resolution and also possesses a Certificate in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

His life was marred by opposing circumstances but his will to rise to the top was the reason he expunged excuses from his vocabularies and impossibility from his dictionary. At age four, he lost his dad and the responsibilities of raising him and his sister fell solely on his young mother who did a wonderful job of sending them through school.

In his word he said, “I promised myself not to ever disappoint my struggling mother. After my first degree, I didn’t wish to add extra burden to her by sitting down at home, sending applications for jobs that I am not sure of when it will come. Instead, I want her to reap the benefits of her investments in me, so, I went to the Computer Village, signed an apprenticeship with Mr. Bazuaye – and within my one year of serving faithfully, I had garnered over a million naira in bonus and commissions to start-off in business. I remember going to the high-sea (Takwa Bay, Tin Can and Apapa) in those days to sell computer hardware and software to sailors and others in the ships. I just wanted to make things happen because I believe there is a way beside a roadblock and there are untapped treasures behind every fenced wall.”

“After the training, I formed a partnership with a friend; we spread our tentacles into corporate offices and I later decided to establish my own company from my own share of profits. I registered Pacific Technologies – and that company has given birth to other fleet of businesses.”

When asked why it took him such a short time to succeed, he responded, “There is God-factor, a stint of hard-work and focus. I believe; I’m only limiting myself if I should be running when I can fly and I am sure that if I can take a step, I can cover a million miles.”

The versatile Ahmed Adeniyi Ojikutu is an executive member of various clubs and organizations including Young Entrepreneurs of Nigeria, Better Nigeria for the Future, Rotary Club of Ikeja and Ademola Ojikutu Foundation (for educational based scholarship). He had attended many trainings and conferences at home and abroad on e-Commerce, Telecommunications, Internet, IOT and IT. He leads a multi-billion naira IT utility company; presented academic papers and lectures ENTREPRENEURAL DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT in several universities, and also offers consultancy services and mentoring to other small scale companies and entrepreneurs.