Whizkid: Life! Your Most Precious Gift

Whizkid: Life! Your Most Precious Gift: Life can be beautiful yet can be frustrating. Some days could be so exciting that we wish it would never end, others so frustrating that...

Life! Your Most Precious Gift

Life can be beautiful yet can be frustrating. Some days could be so exciting that we wish it would never end, others so frustrating that we regret why we woke into it. While some are celebrating, others are in grief. Indeed it is different strokes for different folks.

Life is full of uncertainties, which we cannot escape. Uncertainties are sometimes very disruptive and inconvenient. Although it can bring pain, yet it can also bring great joy and exciting new possibilities.

For some life is all about existing while for others like me, life isn’t life until you live. The choices and challenges that life throws up on a daily basis only add to the excitement. Tough times though challenging are moments that require careful reasoning. An optimist will always see opportunities in the midst of these challenges. In all, life is what you make of it.

Boys and girls will be your friend- they’ll act like it anyway. But remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything- they’re your best friends. Don’t let them go. As for lovers, they’ll come and go too. I hate to say it, most of them- actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can’t give up because if you give up, you’ll never find your soul-mate.

Failure also serves to instruct. Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you’re always going to fail at everything. Quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit so keep trying. Believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then you have failed even before you started. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?

Keep your head high up, keep your chin up and keep smiling because life is beautiful if only you can see it- Monroe

In the words of mother Theresa,

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it

Life is beauty, admire it

Life is a dream, realize it

Life is a challenge, meet it

Life is a duty, complete it

Life is a game, play it

Life is a promise, fulfill it

Life is sorrow, overcome it

Life is a song, sing it

Life is a struggle, accept it

Life is a tragedy, confront it

Life is an adventure, dare it

Life is luck, make it

Life is too precious, do not destroy it

Life is life, fight for it.

Until you live life your own way, then you are not living but merely existing. Dare to be different and dare to stand by the values you hold sacred. Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning. This is your life; live it your way for life is your most precious gift.

Written by: Wisdom Udoh

On twitter: @meetwhizkid

Everton vs Man Utd: My thoughts

Perhaps not the start RVP dreamt of when he moved to Man United but his pain was our(gooners) joy. Goodison park was the venue and Everton vs Man united was the game. Everton who are traditionally slow starters chosed the perfect occassion to finally begin the season with a win. They also chose the proper team to beat in Man United.

So much has been said of RVP's move to united as this match was to witness his debut albeit as a second half substitute. Perharps we focused on the wrong player as Fellaini was a man on a mission. Not only did he prove a handful to deal with but he delivered the killer blow scoring in the 57th minute from a Gibson corner. Need I remind u that Gibson is a former united player? I celebrated that goal as much as Fellaini did and craved to see what RVP made of it from his facial expression.

Ferguson's post reaction gave the impression that he was stunned. He lamely resorted to lame abuse by accusing Everton of "just lumping the ball forward to Fellaini". What a cheap shot.

If one person impressed me, it was David Moyes. Often not given the praise he is due but what an incredible job he has done at Everton over the years.

As a way of comfort, may I say that RVP will come good if he manages to stay fit. Not that I want to see it happen, but it will.

Twitter is fun place to be when Man united are losing. Gooners came up with all sort of jokes and trust me, they were all funny.

Let's all enjoy this moment while it lasts. Seeing United lose their first game with RVP was nothing short of fun.

Written by: Wisdom Udoh

On twitter: @meetwhizkid

Finally, Arsenal are back in business!

Arsenal Football Club prides itself with winning trophies while playing an attractive brand of football. However, seven years have gone by without a silverware. Failure as we know breeds dissatisfaction and frustration and these are in full effects at Arsenal. Football experts, analysts, journalist and indeed everybody(including those who know next to nothing about football) have all had something to say about Arsenal.

Arsenal's transfer policy has been seen as a major factor hindering the clubs challenge for silverware. Arsene Wenger's policy of buying relatively unknown and unproven players have often been criticised. Almost every summer, Arsenal have consistently lost their star players to richer clubs, yet, they often fail to replace these players with established performers instead sticking to youth.
Summer transfer windows have turned into the most frustrating periods for an average Arsenal fan. They get linked with established, exciting players yet end up buying unknown, cheap and inexperienced players. The fans often looked to a new season without a genuine sense of excitement or hope of winning a major trophy.

This summer however, has a different feel to it. Arsenal have so far conducted most of their transfer dealings early which sharply contradicts what happened last summer where they bought 5 players on the transfer closing deadline. Also unlike other summers, Arsenal have gone for experienced and proven performers who have achieved on the big stage. The summer acquisition of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla shows that indeed Arsenal are serious about ending this embarrassing trophy drought. In Lukas Podolski, you have a player with 100 caps for Germany and a proven goal scorer in the bundesliga. Santi Cazorla who argueably is Malaga's best player and a world cup winner with Spain. Olivier Giroud was one of the top scorers in Ligue 1 last season and also won the Ligue 1 title with Montpellier.

There are enough signs already to show that Arsenal are not yet finished with transfer acquisitions. Arsenal are in advanced negotiations to secure the signature of Youngster M'Baye Niang from Caen and Nuri Sahin(on loan) from Real Madrid. On the whole, it's already been an exciting summer for the Arsenal faithfuls. For the first time in as many summers, Arsenal players and fans alike can genuinely look forward to the new season with hope of ending the clubs trophy drought. This is the least we deserve.
I can confidently then say that "Finally, Arsenal are back in business".

Written by: Wisdom Udoh
On twitter: @Meetwhizkid

In defense of ALEX SONG

Born on the 9^th of September, 1987 in Douala, Cameroon, Alex Dimitri Song Billong has become a key player for Arsenal over the last few years.

Originally a utility at Bastia playing mostly in central defence, Alex Song has developed under the watchful eyes of Arsene Wenger- arguably the best talent spotter and groomer in world football.

Losing his father aged 3 and being one of 28 children(17sisters,10brothers), song’s early years was tough but thanks to his cousin, Rigobert Song who helped him focus.

From Bastia to Arsenal, song has continued his meteoric rise to stardom. From being a utility player on the fringes of first team football in 2006 to being a midfield general is testament of his hard work and determination.

Ever since breaking into the first team at arsenal, Song has not looked back. Year after year, he has steadily improved his game and justified the faith Arsene Wenger has in him.

Wenger once said of song: “I brought him here aged 17 and worked hard with him because I felt he had the talent to become a good player. I know that the opinions are changing about him now.”

Song intrigued Wenger as an athletic, versatile defender at Bastia, but club scouts were unconvinced that he had the concentration to match the undeniable application and reach the top. – Jamie Sanderson wrote.

Song’s outstanding progress is a result of hard work in training and his appetite to learn.

Yet despite his modest achievement, the man himself does not forget his humble beginnings and family. Married at the age of 18, song has 2 kids. Questioned about his family song said:

“Every time I step on to the pitch at Emirates, I just look up to where my wife and son are sitting, wave to them and I do everything for my family. I want to give them all my love because they make me strong.”

I remember watching Song against Fulham in October 2006 and wondering what he was doing on the pitch with an Arsenal shirt. I wanted him sold because I lost faith in him. Now I realise how wrong I was and maybe that explains why I will never be Arsene Wenger.

The departure of Cesc Fabregas only served to expose the then hidden creativity in this great son of Africa. Playing alongside the experienced Mikel Arteta allowed song to venture forward and create unbelievable chances. Oh I recall with nostalgia that pass to Robin Van Persie against Everton among other great passes. Little wonder that he racked up 13 assists last season with an avarege through pass of 0.7 per game, the highest in the premier league.

This tough tackling, aggressive, formidable and enthusiastic midfield enforcer is not without his weaknesses. Sometimes his habit of venturing forward and out of position leaves the defence exposed.

However the job of combining defence and attack in itself is not without pitfalls. But this should not rob Song of the praise he deserves. His contribution to this Arsenal team cannot be underestimated and as such deserves a new and improved contract as a reward for his effort. He is not a finished product yet, but will only improve.

Follow me on twitter @meetwhizkid.

Comments are appreciated.

A New Day

You’ve been disappointed and fallen short off the mark. But that was yesterday, and this is today.

Perhaps you weren’t as effective as you could have been and didn’t discipline yourself as much as you could have done. But that was yesterday and this is a new day.

Every shortcoming and every disappointment is now in your past. Though their effect may linger for a while, now is your opportunity to start moving beyond them.

You’ve learned some painful yet valuable lessons, now you can put those lessons to positive use.

This is a new day, with opportunities for you to act in new, more meaningful and effective ways. This is when you can work to transform your past experience, whatever it may have been, into present value.

No matter what has brought you here, embrace this day. For now you are free to create more good and meaningful substance in your world. By Ralph Martson

Follow me on twitter @meetwhizkid.