My remarkable journey to the 2022 World Cup coverage started with a phone call on my way back home from the hustle and bustle in the streets of London, United Kingdom on a Thursday night, from the LEADERSHIP Head of story Mr Adebayo Amodu. He said the Editor in Chief, Mr Azu Ishiekwene would like to speak to me, I really knew something big was coming with the big masquerade out.
Mr Ishiekwene asked after my well-being in London and requested if I would be available to cover the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, I wasted no time in accepting the offer, which is the coveted desire of every sports journalist to cover the biggest football tournament in the universe synonymous with the dream of every footballer to play in the mundial.
Prior to the call, I had no intention of going to Qatar, hence getting the FIFA media accreditation to cover the event immediately was a huge task with the tournament just a few weeks away. After making some calls I had to settle for the Host Country Media accreditation which gave access to Qatar, FIFA Fan Festival venues and other interesting sites to visit but with no access to the World Cup stadiums.
I wasted no time in coming up with a media plan to cover the World Cup which was approved and went ahead to book my tickets and getting my bags packed. It was clear skies till my descent in Hamad International Airport in Doha on Thursday, December 1st.
