The qualification of the super Eagles of Nigeria for the coming biggest sporting event in the world, and to be staged in Africa for the first time is a pleasant surprise to all Nigerians worldwide.
Many Nigerians and Africans had wondered silently and publicly before the final qualification match between Kenya and Nigeria in Nairobi on the 14th day of November, 2009 at how Nigeria could qualify because of the unimpressive displays in the final group qualification stage. Some had also resigned to the grimness of Nigeria’s flag being missing at a fiesta being staged in Africa for the first time. In addition, the lingering memories of the absence at the 2006 event stressed the pains of missing another in the psyche of Nigerians and admirers of their sometime exciting soccer displays.
This writer did not join the chorus of ‘soccer technocrats’ like Segun Odegbami, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Peters and others who felt that Nigeria would have it easy in the final world cup group of Tunisia, Kenya and Mozambique. These popular and respected soccer analysts had told us all that Nigeria had nothing to worry about and that the 2010 ticket was just for Nigeria to pick up at the expense of the other group members.
There were other people like them who chose to ignore the coaching and other issues which have always bedevil Nigeria’s preparations and qualifications for major soccer events.
As a matter of fact, the ‘jumping up and down’ over some coaches with no serious achievements or convincing pedigree by one or two of the above has always confounded very objective and unemotional observers of soccer management in Nigeria.
It is important that Nigeria and Nigerians do not get too carried away over achievements of no empirical pedigree by coaches who just bank on individual abilities of their wards and ‘luck’ to win matches. A careful look at the technical impact would always tell you more about these coaches. This is very important if Nigeria wants to expand or develop her soccer and make headways in major competitions.
With due respect to the Siasias, Amodus, Obuhs, Equavoens and many others in the rank and file of indigenous coaching line-up in Nigeria, straight talking Nigerians should own up that these people are yet to prove their technical prowess in molding teams.
Except for once under coach Adegboye, when he brought out unknown or unheralded players like Ogbeses, Utakas, Enyeamas and few others into his world cup team, Nigeria’s smooth and confident displays had been under foreign managers.
Give credit to coach Onigbinde, a FIFA recognized technocrat who boldly assembled several unknown talents within three months and embossed good management at the 2002 World Cup. The sleekly Finidi, powerful Oliseh, gentle giant Okechukwu and other ready made were not in his team. He only had the master midfielder Jay-jay Okocha in his team which showed sufficient fluency and promising development at the competition, and helped the new names to get better contracts in England and elsewhere in Europe. The killer came from the Football Federation of Nigeria which could not see beyond its nose to follow up on Onigbinde’s brand.
The Football Federation should have seen from Onigbinde’s example that only coaches who can mold players and show empirical evidence on the field should be brought to manage our teams at all levels. Or what is the benefit of getting a technically sound coach for the senior Football and allow ‘they fail to play to instructions’ types to handle teams at U17 and U21? Nigeria needs to collaborate and stop being foolish of wanting to please individuals at the national expense.
This is not a campaign for the employment of Onigbinde who is without any prejudice no longer in his prime to handle a tedious assignment of handling a national team of Eagles status. It is however, and again with due respects to our present coaches, a no confidence in the present handlers of national football teams in Nigeria.
The simple truth which some of our so called technocrats are running away from is that Shaibu Amodu should be thanked for qualifying Nigeria for the 2010 world cup and be relieved from that position today.
The technocrats are running away from this because of hurting the feelings of these coaches. Samson Siasia and John Obuh need more club coaching experience or tutelage under masters, and proofs of knowing what they are doing before being saddled with the tasks of handling the senior national team of Nigeria. The game in Nigeria is not moving forward because those who suppose to talk are not being objective because they want to make individuals happy at the expense of the country.
Stuart Pearce in England handles the junior Lions and has humbly admitted that he is still years away from taking over the main English team. He needs to talk to Siasia who arrogantly told the world including the Amodus, Keshis and others that he is tired of handling at the low levels, and ready for the senior team! What a self conceitedness!
Yes, he won some one or two important victories at the junior levels as a coach, but has the so-called technical committee of the FA or our revered technocrats dissect his management to see if the victories came from his fluency as a coach? The use of propaganda and some publicists by both players and coaches to get places in Nigerian teams should be dying by now. Players and coaches always enjoy the support of some arm-chair chorus singers to blow them out of size, and get into positions in Nigeria.
Due respects should go to Siasia, Obuh, Amodu and all the rest but it is important that Nigeria knows her onions very well, and learn from countries well above her in soccer hierarchy always avoiding putting the horse in front of the cart.
Siasia’s last assignment before the expiration of his contract witnessed a lot of blame passing by him. His team did not show any technical coherence and adaptation which can easily be noticed in teams handled by experienced and capable managers even when they are not winning. This is not about winning but about showing promises and simple evidence of a master at work. In fact, Siasia shouted that the boys were not playing to instructions when his team was wobbling and fumbling and only changed songs when they won the first match.
John Obuh too, it does not matter if the U17 is won or not (this being written before the final), needs to tell the technical committee what instructions were not listened to by his boys when they came from behind to level with Germans in the opening match of the November FIFA U17 world cup competition in Nigeria. He also needs to tell them like Siasia needs, what instructions he gave them that made them to win other matches. Just like in matches where Amodu or Siasia or even Equavoen shouted ‘not playing to instructions’, the team work, coordination and the extra clear sign of a team are always missing; one only sees the individual abilities and promising character. The senior players who just qualified Nigeria for 2010 should be interviewed individually and confidence, it is assured that they will open up that it took the raw talents and professional training from their clubs to squeeze out the victory in Nairobi, and not due to any technical input from a no doubt patriotic Amodu. Ditto in other teams under Siasia, Obuh and their ilk except few times, either in the past under now out of sync coaches who had tutelage from an Otto Gloria, a father Tiko, Bonfrere Jo or even Westerhof.
Siasias, Obuhs and others will surely grow but they need understudy reputable coaches and should not just be double promoted without merits to handle our national teams. These coaches will be better and ready when they learn their trade by going through the ranks, and in the right way instead of their being laundered into positions. Some of these Nigerian coaches should emulate Stephen Keshi who has confidently gone to other national teams to exhibit his ability, and definitely this coach may reappear in the future to handle the super Eagles.
Nigeria needs to use a round peg in a round hole. It is time to hand over the job of coaching the Super eagles to a sound coach who can mold a team which will be a pride to all Nigerians. Amodu should be handsomely rewarded by the Nigeria Football Federation but should be desptched with military alacrity from the senior Eagles headship today. The job should go to whoever has the pedigree and expertise to quickly bring immediate quality and playing pattern to bear on the indubitable talents available in Nigeria. The qualification matches before the final dramatic capture of the ticket in Nairobi should convince all Nigerians, especially the NFF that an immediate hiring of a technically sound coach is necessary to save the country for going down in the ‘who is who’ in soccer, at South Africa 2010 and also from retarding the march towards greatness. ‘Pyrrhic’ and non-lasting victories are not the parameters for judging or appointing good team managers. It is therefore instructive that there is a futility in any reference to few examples of places where certain mumbo-jumbo coaches have been able to eek out some soccer victories. These types always fail abysmally when it matters most or make themselves laughing stock in the committee of sound technocrats.
Nigeria has professionals playing in the best league in the world on display against Tunisia in Lagos but ‘luckily’ scored two goals against their opponents, and eventually collapsed to a 2-2 draw. This is not because these boys are not good, even on an average note, but because the bench is not only inept on that day but also not qualified to impact anything concrete to handle the other side. One on one, Nigerian players are of better quality than their Tunisian counterparts but the Tunisians’ average display was complimented in the technical support which was from their trainers.
Even at Nairobi, the players only amassed the Nigerian strength of purpose against all odds to come out victorious against an opponent whose players need to learn from the Obis. Yobos, Enyeamas, Aiyegbenis, Martins, but with visible benefits from training reflected in their better coordination or pattern.
To regular visitors to Barclays Premier League matches or other professional leagues around the world, the impact of managers is never in doubt. This is noticed from their substitutions, line-ups and instructions. The reliance on luck and prayers as some of Nigerian coaches are wont is very invisible or unknown.
Most Nigerians are thanking God and Mozambique, just like this writer, for picking a world cup ticket but for how long will Nigeria be relying on ‘luck’ to make qualifications? What does it take Nigeria to be well prepared on all angles to meet any opposition with her array of stars?
If Nigeria wants to be disgraced at South Africa 2010, then she should hang on to luck brandishing coaches. If Nigeria wants her fortune to change in soccer, there is the need to get a sound coach with the firm instruction to perform at 2010 South Africa and develop all our teams. The junior teams could be given to those of our coaches who have touchable performances to show, but the overall technical control and development should be in an appointee with a fixed contract to give face to our soccer.
The soccer lords and Federal authorities should listen today because the next competition is tomorrow.
John Ayodele,
[email protected]
Atlanta, United States
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