by Patrick Ogungbola
MD/CEO, BLUEHEDGE REALTORS
We welcome you to the month of July.
This month is most remarkable because it is the beginning of the second half of the year. January to June being the first half, while July to December is the second half.
For some years now, whenever we get to the second half of the year, the most memorable game in Atlanta 1996 between Nigeria and Brazil (semi-final match) always come to mind and I always ponder on the lessons.
Bringing you on memory lane, below is the summary of the match:
It was a one sided game, with Brazil virtually dominating the game, and the score line for the first half was ‘Brazil 3, Nigeria 1’. During the second half, the Brazilian players were just waiting for the time to tick away. They have previously beaten Nigeria 1 – 0 in the group stage of the competition and they seem to have weighed them out again. So the Brazilian coach began to substitute his key players like Ronaldo, Juninho, etc to preserve them for the finals (which unknown to him will never come to be).
The Nigeria team like wounded lions woke up from their slumber at the 78th minutes when Victor Ikpeba stroked from 20 metres to score the second goal and the pressure came upon Brazil. The Nigeria team got so motivated and they began to fire from every angle as the Brazilians struggled to contain them. And just 2 minutes to full time, Kanu Nwankwo turned and flipped the ball over Dida, the Brazilian goal keeper, for the equalizer, which forced the match into overtime. For the first time the, “golden goal” rule was in force, meaning the first team to score in extra time would win the match. Kanu secured his role as man of the match by scoring just minutes into extra time. History was further made as the Super Eagles of Nigeria made it into the Guiness book of records as Nigeria became the First Third World Nation to win the Olympics Gold Medal for Soccer.
The lesson in the above narrated match is obvious: you cannot judge a match by the result of the first half; an unexpected, unanticipated occurrence can still happen at the second half.
January to June may not have been too fantastic for you, July to December presents you the opportunity to make up. You may have performed excellently well during the first half (like Brazil did), the second half is not the time to relax or rest, you need to refire and surpass your first half performance. It is not over until it is finally over. Only those that endure to the end shall be saved.
You need to do something spectacular during this second half because it presents to you the opportunity to begin again more powerfully. Correct every wrongs, stop that bad harmful habit this second half.
The second half is also so special because it ushers us to the month of celebration (yuletide season in December); hence, if you have done excellently well, it’s a period to get rewarded.
It is certainly too early to give up, never ever concede defeat because it is very certain you’ll win only if you don’t give up. Whenever you feel dejected about your performance, always remember Nigeria’s match in Atlanta ’96.
We at BLUEHEDGE REALTORS are so much concerned in your overall success. We are so passionate about you, our client. We want you to always remember that when it comes to your real estate matters/ investment, we are always here to give you the best service you can never get elsewhere, that’s our promise.
We wish you a memorable second half!
Very truly yours,
BLUEHEDGE REALTORS
