Written by Bethel Kalu
It was a modest press room. Journalists had set their equipments waiting to ask questions. Leslie Notsie, Lesotho’s coach had left the room with his captain, their heads held high. It took long before Peseiro arrived.
Some press men had joked that someone should take the place of Peseiro and then imitate him. In no time, someone notified others that Peseiro was coming. Then Frank Okoye (Orangeman), a journalist with Rhema FM, Aba moved closer to the press conference coordinator and said: “Enyimba I no ask, Lesotho I no ask. This one, I must ask Peseiro.”
The coordinator acknowledged that. When Enyimba played the African Football League game against Wydad in Uyo, Orangeman raised his hands a million times but was not given the privilege to ask Finidi George or Ikenna Cooper questions.
So when Peseiro arrived, Orangeman was beckoned to begin but he moved the privilege to Emeka Dennar–a veteran with Brila FM, the coordinator insisted and he muttered: “I say mek he ask because I know this one go bring wahala.”
Then he let the ballistic missile off its bedrock and boom!
Orangeman: “If the NFF decides to terminate your contract on account of this game, will it come as a surprise to you?”
Peseiro was stunned and asked: “Why?”
Orangeman: “Because of the performance.”
Peseiro: “I expected the performance. 76% of the ball possession…”
Finally, Peseiro told him: “I like you.”
Next time Peseiro was asked a question, after his first sentence, Orangeman thundered from the back: “You are right!” That was the best thing Peseiro had heard all evening, he paused to breath and to continue to answer questions from journalists who had a basket of questions each to ask.
For Peseiro, he could tell that the atmosphere was tensed. The question about his sack stunned him and opinion is divided about whether it is the right thing for the NFF to do. The Portuguese has a lot to do and the NFF are watching the situation to see what would happened.
For the Eagles, they are condemned to win their next game against Zimbabwe and their next game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Maybe then, Jose Peseiro will see his new friend, Orangeman, again.