My apologies for such a long absence from these pages... As explained, I was on the FIFA delegation to the U-17 World Cup finals in Nigeria, which saw me working as a football administrator, a world away from my regular journalism work as the Associate Editor of NewAfrican.
Working on the tournament, despite the organisational challenges that hosting the tournament in Nigeria presented, was a truly enriching experience.
I was truly, for two weeks, on the other side of football's divide and my readers, who will now see me write with an added perspective, will only be the better for it.
Over the ensuing weeks, I will be revealing my thoughts on the tournament, the fast approaching African Cup of Nations, as well as my forthcoming tour of Australia - where I'll be from the 21st to the 29th of November, and South Africa - for Soccerex 2009 in Johannesburg and the 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town.
In the meantime, watch out for the forthcoming edition of NewAfrican magazine - where we have launched "African Football" a monthly pull-out which I am editing and should, at the end of the 2010 World Cup, be turned into a fully fledged magazine.
In my new monthly column, which will feature in this pullout, I have written a piece titled "A matter of (dis)honour", which reveals my feelings on the age controversy surrounding Fortune Chukwudi, the captain of Nigeria's U-17 team (see picture above). Don't miss it.
Check out our website www.africasia.com/icpubs and take out a subscription to the magazine.
