Also, if you have the time for this, I went to Nigeria with Neal as his 'oily rag' under the rational of him being a public school boy and no knowledge of football was having to refer to his son's PlayStation for reference. More to the point he was struggling to find people to take the risk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaPHGSlUmsE
This film does not show the military letting the dogs loose on the celebrating punters who flooded the pitch post match, I couldn't see the dogs either from where I was stood on the race track at the tunnel all I saw was a wall of terrified faces coming my way! Not that I was worried being lined up alongside an all-female paramilitary outfit equipped with baseball bats. No I didn’t ask if they knew how to use them. As the crowd came closer a relaxed loosening of the wrists was apparent and a brief glint in the eye only to quickly fade with the cold of disappointment as the throng like a flock of starlings suddenly veered left and back up the stairs from where they came.
On arrival to Abuja (we were the last crew group to arrive) and the crew hotel we were honoured with a greeting from the Nigerian bomb squad, smiling wasn't their forte, communication wasn't their forte, going through the smalls of the project co-ordinator and all our luggage was. I wouldn't have minded if we had brought six pounds of Semtex with us but from what I could see from the gates to the walled grounds someone had beaten us to trashing the hotel and when we did get in I wasn't far wrong.
By now the project co-ordinator was looking a little angst as the overnight flight arrived at Abuja 04:30 local time and it had taken us some five hours or more to arrive at the hotel. Augustine of Control Risks had collected the oddball (fast tracked through immigration) of Spanish only speaking Argie players from the flight but failed to realise he was missing some Brits from an incoming LHR flight.
When the relief 4 x 4 did eventually arrive, as I climbed into the passenger seat I immediately clocked the empty fuel gauge light. Low and behold half way into the 45 minute journey we coasted to a standstill on a half built highway, the sun had now risen and it was hot. The only other thing of white around was a chicken scrapping at the earthen 'hard shoulder'. The soon to follow phone call to me from a 'Consulate' sounding but with a hint of concern big wig at Control Risks saying 'we'll get you out of there promptly' was quite frankly not reassuring.
Peruvian / Bolivian military and Shining Path guerrillas in the early 90's is one thing this was another. We were just down the road from a large local Sunday market and I wasn't quite sure what to do if the masses took an interest of us, a young Georgina and two choreographers, George May and his mate David (hardly the Empire stuff of that seen in 'Zulu', more 'Ain't Half Hot Mum') they stayed firmly inside the vehicle. I am sure if the chicken had as much said 'boiled or fried?' the two Control Risks chaps with us would have spun into a Voodooist trance and run a mile. As it was Augustine eventually arrived and soon after introduced us to the bomb squad.
Finally, though there are other stories from those six days...I watched the football pitch being mine swept, it took them a morning, it gave the pair chance for a good chat and a stroll in the sun as perhaps you do in Nigeria with the nature of mine sweeping and potential of being blown to pieces, why be worried about it!
I have no recollection, all those years ago when you first interviewed me of any mention of bomb squads or mine sweeping.
Production Support - outside of the British Isles the next largest market for Guinness is Nigeria. Brand awareness / promotional event, Nigeria vs. Argentina FIFA match. Show caller for pre-game and post press conferences, ‘oily rag’ (I went for the adventure) to the Project Director and as a stage manager for ‘opening ceremony’ at the Abuja National Stadium
