Why Enyimba might lose key players – Udoji

What is your assessment of Enyimba FC performance in the just concluded season?It was not an easy season for us but I have to thank God that in the end, we were able to win one of the trophies. We won the Federation Cup back to back. But our target was to win the league […]

What is your assessment of Enyimba FC performance in the just concluded season?
It was not an easy season for us but I have to thank God that in the end, we were able to win one of the trophies. We won the Federation Cup back to back. But our target was to win the league title. Personally, I thank God because by coming second in the league, we have another opportunity to compete in the CAF Champions League.
Enyimba struggled when the league started. What was the problem?
I cannot say there was any serious problem. We started slowly because new players came into the team and needed time to blend with some of us who were on ground. So it was when the new players blended with us that we picked up. This is not peculiar to Enyimba because every club that has in its fold new players faces the same situation.
This year, Enyimba did not do well in the CAF Champions League. What caused the early exit?
It is true we did not live up to our rating on the continent. We crashed out so early and it was so painful. I think part of the problem was lack of adequate preparation. We did not prepare well enough and the league too did not start before the Champions League commenced. That made it difficult for the players to hit competition form. The only competition we played was the Super Four which was not enough to give us the fitness level we needed. The other club, Kano Pillars also suffered the same thing.
So what do you think is the way out?
The way out is for the league to start early. I am appealing to the league organisers to ensure that the league kicks off before the Champions League commences. It is disturbing that the league has just ended and nobody is sure of when the next season will start. But I want to say that in as much as there is need for the league to resume in good time, the league organisers must look into some of the problems that have to do with the welfare of the players.
Could you expatiate on the issue of players’ welfare you have just mentioned?
I can tell you that our league is very competitive but when it comes to the welfare of players, it leaves much to be desired. Players receive big promises but in the end, there is nothing for them to take home. It is for this reason that towards the end of this season, some of the clubs went on strike. The players had to cry out publicly. We are bread winners for our families and so when we are not given our dues, it becomes very difficult for us to concentrate on our game. It affects the standard of the league.
Do you believe Enyimba is going to present this year’s squad for the 2015 season?
It is not possible for all the players to remain. You see the truth of the matter is that whenever a team is doing well, some players have to move on to look for greener pastures. This is to say Enyimba will also lose some of the players who distinguished themselves. I want to give you an example. Do you expect a player like Ufon Udoh who emerged the highest goals scorer this season to remain with us? Already he is getting offers from foreign clubs and I wish him good luck. It is also my dream to play abroad so I always pray for better deals to come the way of my team mates. So to answer your question, I cannot say Enyimba will retain all the players.
Apart from Enyimba, is there any other club in the league that you wish to play for?
I have been in Enyimba for five years now and I am happy to be the captain of the club. Even before I became a professional footballer, Enyimba was my dream team. However, I have always been fascinated by clubs like Rangers, Heartland and Kano Pillars. So if I have the opportunity to play for any of these three clubs, I will be very happy. But for now, I am happy at Enyimba and I am expecting another contract from them.
Sometimes you are tagged as a very rough defender. Are you rough or just rugged?
All I can say is that I have my own style of play and nobody can change it. It has been part of me right from when I started my football career in FC Abuja. I do my job on the field with all seriousness and some people feel that I am rough. I am not a rough but hard player. I know that if I am not serious, attackers will make nonsense of me. Moreover, they are also hard on me so I have to defend myself. I don’t try to intimidate anyone one the field. That is my own style.
One of the problems of the league has been the win at home by all means syndrome. How can this be tackled?
I agree with you it has been a major problem in the league and the only way out is to educate the fans. The league organisers through the clubs must be ready to tackle hooliganism. Most times, the problem is from the home fans who believe their team must win all its home matches. Consequently, even when their team fails to play well, the fans have issues with the visiting team. The fans must be made to understand that in football, it is either you win, draw or lose. Enyimba fans don’t support us when we do not play well. They support the away team once we are not giving them good football. We lost at home in the season that just ended and nothing happened because our fans have imbibed the spirit of sportsmanship. So I am calling on the LMC to carry out campaigns against hooliganism at our match venues.
Eagles will not be in Equatorial Guinea to defend the AFCON title they won in 2013 in South Africa. How disappointed are you?
I won’t lie to you, I am really disappointed. However, I can say that it is a blessing in disguise. Now we have another opportunity to go back to the drawing board and come back stronger as we did in 2013. We have to sit down and try to find out what went wrong. And I am pained by the development because home based players have missed an opportunity to advertise themselves. Had it been the Eagles qualified, I am sure some of the players in the league would have made the team. That would have made agents and scouts to watch them. So we have missed something on and off the pitch. But like I said, it is blessing in disguise.