Need To Re-Organise The Super Eagles

Last Monday, while addressing newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commssion, NSC, Engr. Sani Ndanusa said that the National Football team, Super Eagles will be overhauled with a view to making it stronger for the forthcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

According to the minister, watching the Super Eagles struggle to make impact at the ongoing 2010 Africa Cup of Nations almost made him have High Blood pressure.

The observation and comment of the minister after watching the national team’s lacklustre performance in Angola may not have come at a better time, and have perharps, highlighted what millions of Nigerian football fans have been experiencing watching the Super Eagles play in recent time.

Indeed, the Eagles literally took Nigerians to hell and back during their struggle to qualify the country for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. There is no gain saying that  the World Cup Football is a national passion in Nigeria and plays major role in uniting the citizenry. Thus, the game cannot be allowed to bring grief to the fans, or even the government, which invests so much to ensure that the country remains a major player in Africa and the world.

We are worried at the evanescent potency of the national team. By the performance of the Super Eagles in the first two matches against Egypt, which was lost 3-1 and Benin Republic, which was won 1-0, the need to give the team a shot in the arm becomes more glaring.

Even the 3-0 victory over Mozambique that qualified the country for the quarter final stage of the current 2010 Nations Cup was not without serious pitfalls.

It is worrisome that the nucleus of the national team is still formed by players who seem to have gone beyond their prime.

Also, the fact that not one of the youth players that represented Nigeria at the world youth championship, Egypt 2009 and U-17 World Champion, Nigeria 2009 got a look in the Super Eagles team, casts a shadow on the future of the team.

The Tide believes that the over dependence on aging European-based players, coupled with a bench that seems to lack the unity of purpose, the clout and self confidence to try out new things must be turned around.

The era of Clemens Westerhoff when he called the bluff of Nigeria’s “bigmen” players and took starry-eye young players to ‘Algiers’ 90 Nations Cup, lost 1-5 in the opening match, but reached the final, is eloquent testimony that with thorough scouting and good coaching, young players can be nurtured to become world beaters.

With the World Cup coming to Africa for the first time in June, it is our belief that the Super Eagles cannot only be equipped to fly, but must make appreciable impact at the mundial.

We, therefore, call on the National Sports Commission, no matter the eventual achievement of the national team at the ongoing Cup of Nations, to inject new blood into the technical and playing personnel of the Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, which has direct control over the team must be closely monitored to ensure that the right technical personnel are engaged.

Equal opportunities must also be given to players within and outside the country to prove themselves and earn their invitation to the national team.

When call ups to the national team and engagement of coaches are made to be competitive and came out in an open manner, the national team may not be able to win all matches but can be seen to give its all even in defeat.

That is why the Super Eagles should be tinkered with and made more formidable for the forthcoming World Cup and other challenges ahead.