By Desmond EKWUEME
If Super Eagles must fly and shine again, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should appoint the quartet of Samson Siasia, Emmanuel Amunike, Monday Odigie and Vincent Enyeama as goalkeeper trainer.
You cannot continue to rob your nation of the best hands just because of your selfish interest yet keep employing mediocre coaches.
- Samson Siasia Emmanuel Amunike Monday Odigie Vincent Enyeama
Carve a niche for yourself. Get the best hands, motivate them to excel and when they do…. give God the glory and take the credit of doing the right thing.
Countries are praying to have these quality and calibre of football personalities to help take their beloved sport to greater heights but here we are witch-hunting our own on ground of ethnicity, religion and selfish interest of having a bite from their (coaches) contracts.
The last World Cup in Qatar 2022, the five African representatives went to that tournament with indigenous coaches who qualified the countries anyway. And Morocco ended up as historic semi-finalists.
Gareth Southgate has been in charge of England national team for seven years and still counting. He may not have won any major trophy but the English FA and all stakeholders trust his ability to build a modest team of young players who keep growing and hoping of doing their country proud.
If it were here, some people would have led a campaign to kick him out on ground that he has been with the team for seven years without winning the World Cup.
We must not forget that Southgate was a coach of the Under 21s before he was promoted to the Three Lions. Siasia and Amunike have done well for themselves at youth levels too. As Super Eagles coach, Siasia wasn’t as bad as Gernot Rohr and Jose Peseiro. All they need to succeed is motivation and encouragement.
Monday Odigie who worked with Siasia as assistant coach for years in the Flying Eagles and U-23 Eagles has equally done so well for himself as coach of Bendel Insurance FC.
He has shown that his experience in the national team under Siasia wasn’t for fun. He has put his experience into proper use by making his club, Bendel Insurance FC one of the best teams in the domestic league.
Vincent Enyeama on his part is arguably the best goalkeeper in the history of Nigeria Football. His experience is needed at a time like this to help rebuild the Super Eagles which he exited as captain.
Until we give these gentlemen their rightful positions in our football we will continue to fumble and wobble. Apologies Ambassador Fanny Amun.
To before warn is to before harm. Apologies Chika Okpalla aka Zebrudaya Okorigwe Nwogbo alias 4: 30 of The New Masquerade fame.