A very Blue story

A very Blue story

Dateline: Moscow, May 21, 2008 (My room, Ikorodu 8:30pm)

I had rushed from the office after meeting my production deadline for the week as I consider the day a very special one…. My beloved Chelsea is in the Uefa Champions league Final after grinding its way to the final and had set up a meeting with bitter rival and fellow English team, Manchester United.

I was so determined to get to my house without hitch that when I was faced with a heavy gridlock along Ketu – Mile 12 axis, I opted to pay an exorbitant price to a motorcyclist to take me to Ikorodu and I eventually arrived just as the game was about to kick off.

As I relaxed on my seat with my elder sister’s husband, who is also a Chelsea fan, we never hoped for anything less than a win. The blues had been so assured of victory for various reasons

·        The final was held in Moscow, the home country of Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea Multibillionaire owner, and he had prepared very well for it …. There had also been reports that he bought a whole hotel and a street and renamed it Chelsea in honour of his club and had lodged the team in the hotel as part of his preparation.

·        On the Road to Moscow, Chelsea had grinded out result with other clubs in the group stage like Rosenborg (1-1), Valencia (won 2-1), Schalke 04 (0-0) Rosenborg (won 4-0), Valencia (0-0), and in the second round with  Olympiakos (1-1), Olympiakos (Won 3-0), then the quarter final against Fenerbache (lost 1-2 away ) and (Won 2-0 at home) before an all English semi final clash with Liverpool which Chelsea drew 1-1 away and later won 3-2 (after extra time) with John Riise gifting us a last minute rare own goal. So Chelsea entered the final with confidence that we will grind out any result with Man U.

However, not long after I settled down to enjoy the game, Christiano Ronaldo fired Man United ahead with just 26 minutes played and my heart jumped into my mouth but parity was restored when Frank Lampard equalized before the interval and all was set for a thrilling second half and extra time but before we can say Jack Robinson, Devil entered Didier Drogba and he turned football into WWE by rushing Vidic and bullying him to silence with a resounding slap. This led to his sending off and Chelsea’s fate lies in its own hand with just 4 minutes to play

They rallied round, started a defensive style of play which denied the onslaught that would have happened if there had been more minutes to play.

Luckily, Chelsea held on and the ensuing penalty was mind-boggling. By this time, I was in a frenzy state and was pacing up and down the room, hoping for a miracle…. Yeah… it almost happened, I screamed when Ronaldo lost the third kick after Tevez and Carrick (for United) and Ballack and Belleti (for Chelsea).

So Lampard was successful from the spot, while Michael Owen also scored under pressure and Ashley Cole penalty took Chelsea to the brink of victory and Nani scoring his kick to prolong the tension.

The last kick was supposed to go to John Terry, our captain, but he gifted Man United a lifeline when he slipped in the process of taking the kick.

With renewed strength, Anderson and Kalou both scored for either side before Giggs threw all responsibility on Anelka as the shoot out reached sudden death.

By this time, I had nearly peed in my pants, I was nearly in a state of shock, what would happen, would Anelka keep his cool? I closed my eye as the certainty was about glaring on my face.

But this proved too much for the Anelka as he directed his kick straight into Van der Sar’s palm and thus, our hope came crashing down as Manchester United were crowned the winner.

Well, I did not pee in my pant but I was gutted at being denied the Champion’s league after having come so close.

Dateline: FCE Okene Staff quarters, (1983 – 1993)

My love for football dated back to my primary and secondary days in Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State. As the son of a lecturer and living in a staff quarters with other kids like me, we quickly formed a football team and play with other in the quarters.

I was a natural left footer so I was drafted to the left back where I played 3 or 6 as a defender.

However, after I sustained a serious injury on my left leg (Which would have put Messi on 9 months injury in present time - Lol), my father banned every form of football for his children.

So I started sneaking out to play football with other kids in the other compound and dashed back to the house whenever the sound of my father’s car drift to us as he make his way back from the office.

Despite my not being opportune to play regular football, my love for soccer never stopped and I always adored any left back I know both in Nigeria and Europe which was why I fell in love with Celestine Babayaro of the 1994 Super Eagles and when I later learnt that he had signed for Chelsea, I naturally started supporting the club and not long after, Abramovich put his billions in the club and the revolution started with Jose Mourinho after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

Dateline: Munich, May 19, 2012 (My room, Abuja 8:30pm)

Believe me, in December 2011, not even the most optimists Chelsea fan will tell you Chelsea will get any where pass the knock out stage in the Champions league after what we had witnessed with our new young coach.

Villa-Boaz had mixed naivety with natural gift as he battled with Chelsea’s mafia; the triumvirate of Drogba, Lampard and Terry who had combined to make life difficult for AVB at the detriment of our league and Champions league position.

However, the mafia again won the battle as they have done to other managers, so out go AVB and in come Roman Di Mattio (RDM) and immediately our lucked changed.

Chelsea was on the verge of going out of the Champions League knock out stage after a 3-1 away loss to Napoli and were held at home in the F.A Cup by Birmingham, but things quickly changed; Chelsea manoeuvre its way pass Napoli with 4-3 aggregate, beat Birmingham in the F.A cup replay, then came Benfica and Totemham and the Champions league and F.A cup respectively.

After Chelsea passed through to the Semis of the Champions League and the Final of the F.A Cup, many felt that no matter what happen next, Chelsea should accept their lots because they have tried pushing up to that stage.

Perhaps, looking at the credentials of the teams Chelsea was to play with in the Champions league (Barcelona) and the F.A Cup (Liverpool), one might be tempted to say this is the end of the road for Chelsea.

Even Mumini Alao, the Complete Sports’ Chief Editor and Columnist in his Column ‘Soccer Talk’ declared Chelsea dead and buried in the two matches.

But luck played its part, Chelsea with a divine help which was beyond human comprehension defeated Barca by even playing out a draw with 10 players at Camp Nuo as well as claiming the F.A Cup after defeating Liverpool.

So back in my room on May 19, the Champions’ league Final was set out to almost be a repeat of the 2008 Final with the game ending 1-1 and going into penalty.

I felt a sense of Déjà vu when the penalty was to be played, Oh God, will this be a repeat of 2008, why do you allow us to get to this stage only to suffer heartbreak.

But this time, the stage had been set for Chelsea to claim the coveted cup after Drogba calmly slot in the ball and Chelsea became to Champion of Europe.

Dateline: Present day

I had been vilified by lots of people for my support for Chelsea, some had hurled insult at me for even attempting to support the club which some called ‘Shepe’ or ‘Chelski’. I remember a guy who even deleted me from his Facebook list just because I am a Chelsea fan. According to him, he hate Chelsea and anybody that support the club.

In all sincerity, I sometimes ask myself why I love this club and still stick to it most time when we pass through coach crisis but I am a committed Chelsea fan and had always remain a true blues and after the Champions League and FA cup success, I will always raise my head high and tell everyone that I AM A CHELSEA FAN and AM PROUD OF IT.