Fanny Amun Eagles did not perform woefully
What is your assessment of the Super Eagles in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?First and foremost, I think they have done well because they have not gone lesser than what we had in previous years at the World Cup level. They have done well because in the last three games of the preparatory match, […]
What is your assessment of the Super Eagles in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?
First and foremost, I think they have done well because they have not gone lesser than what we had in previous years at the World Cup level. They have done well because in the last three games of the preparatory match, we saw what they played in England and the others in USA. The platform was set for us to have a team we had on hand to execute the World cup. My candid assessment of the team is that they a young team, a team for the future and what we need now is just reinforcement of some relevant areas to prosecute the World Cup in 2018 in Russia.
However they were not a goal scoring team. We all saw it but suddenly in a match against Argentina, they even suggested they missed many scoring chances they scored two fast goals. So I expected that after the Argentina match we should be having one or two goals. You could see in the match against France there were signs of goals that were to come that did not come. It was only the conversion so I do not want anybody to raise any eye brow about the team’s performance. I want us to look forward that we have a team on ground to prosecute subsequent matches for the nations’ cup and world cup qualifying matches that is the way I see it from technical angle.
What is your take on the present relationship between the NFF and coach Stephen Keshi?
The NFF must review the activities of the coach and the team itself. You know there are some things a father will not say about a child outside. The coach can come outside and complain and shout but is only the NFF that actually knows what they agreed upon in employing Keshi as a coach. Siasia had his short comings and Keshi was called from nowhere to come and was charged to perform. Though we hear a lot of things from outside, it is only the NFF and Keshi that can tell the world the truth of the matter. But one thing is certain no board will like to fail and if there is any differences it should be settled amicably.
If the federation decide to say we accept his resignation, they should tell him you have done well we wish you well in your future endeavour. He should go in peace and the coach will as well say you people have done well for me, you have given me the platform to be valued in where I am going, I thank you people.
If there is any need for him to come back tomorrow that mutual thing should be there. There is nothing that is impossible. You remember he was assistant to coach Amodu Shaibu. You remember the way they left and nobody thought they will ever come back and then they came back again and he is now going so you never can say never. If they are parting ways they should do it mutually because we don’t know where we are going tomorrow.
Are you in support of a revolution in Nigeria football?
We need a revolution but let us call a spade a spade, Aminu Maigari’s board against all odd and expectations has done well. If there is a word above excellent you can use it to qualify his performance it will fit in. We are heading towards an election in the next month and I have said it before that anybody that is thinking of vying for the office of the president has mental problem because Maigari has done well beyond any reasonable doubt. I am not campaigning for him because people that know me will tell you I speak on the side of truth. What we should be asking him is who are those on the board that did not contribute to the success recorded by the board. What we need in the football family now is consolidation because the challenge now is tough and you bring in new people we might fail so we should allow him to continue the good job he is doing and this my personal opinion
What is your take on Super Eagles code of conduct as what it set out to achieve has failed based on the experience in Brazil?
I will not have the code of conduct with any player but I will rather have mutual agreement with them. There is no way you can agree with a player. They are like that. Some of them are mentally derailed, some are not cultured, some of them have very raw backgrounds while some of them are very humble. We had players like late Rasheed Yekini and Mutiu Adepoju, you don’t need a code of conduct to work with them. Those of them who were rebels as players will still rebel as coaches. For me as a person that code of conduct is always signed by the players under duress. So it depends on who is in charge of the team. From day one tell the coach what you expect him to do. He should be the one that should sign the code of conduct and not the players because some of these coaches they will agree and go behind and connive with the players and incite them, telling them if they don’t revote NFF will not listen to them. And these are not good statements from anybody. If your coach tells you to come and train will you say you will not train?. You must train but if the coach comes out to tell you I cannot force them, they are professionals, this is rubbish talk. If today I am the president of a federation I will be the first coach that will remove a coach in the middle of a competition and I will.