Did Nigerian midfielder Sani Kaita really receive more than 1,000 e-mail death threats for his play in a 2-1 loss to Greece on Thursday? (Insert your own Nigerian Internet scam joke here, and let’s move on). Kaita received a red card for kicking a Greek defender on the touchline last Thursday as Nigeria took its second World Cup loss. This did not please the people of his homeland, one of whom put Kaita’s address on the Internet along with the words “We will kill you.”
Sounds pretty straightforward to me, but the Nigerian government is downplaying the emails. See if you can make more sense out of this than I can:
On Sunday, team spokesman Peterside Idah said the player had received “more than 1,000 threats to his email from within Nigeria” and the team were “taking these threats very seriously.”
But on Monday, Idah said: “There’s nothing official that’s really come out that there’s been a threat on Kaita’s life. It’s just rumours and his friends talking about it. There’s nothing official that we can begin to panic.
“In our language, if we say ‘we will kill you’, it means we are not happy with you. If a German hears ‘I will kill you’, it means you are dying next week. We really need to clear up this matter.”
So true about the Germans (who must be wondering how they got dragged into this). But as for the Nigerians saying “We will kill you” when they mean “We are not happy with you,” I’m somewhat skeptical. What do they say when they really want to kill you?
“No, you’re out of the family business, Carlo. That’s your punishment. Here’s a ticket to Tuesday. Get out of my sight.”
ABOUT LAST NIGHT …
What you missed while inventing a hamburger that has grilled cheese sandwiches for buns …
* Ty Lawson wants to rent a Kardashian. Just until he wins an NBA title.
* Tattoo real estate on Chris Anderson’s body is going fast.
* Staples Center CEO writes $10,000 check to LA man whose cab was trashed by Lakers fans.
***
TODAY IN MARK TRAIL …
And they say newspapers are dying?
-
- Kick the Ball! - Jun 22, 2010 at 1:48 PM
-
My my! I just saw on HLN last evening how the french coach couldn’t get the players to practice because they were “upset that the best player on the team” had been sent home for insubordination against the trainer. The trainer resigned and the coach called all his players idiots………
And the score is?? Guess on the plane ride home they will think about what not practicing cost them!!!
