Vox Pop: Re-Organise Super Eagles …Nigerians Tell NFF

Disappointed by the considerably poor performance of the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, in the just concluded Africa Nations Cup in Angola and the fluctuating fortunes of the team in the World Cup qualifying series, soccer enthusiasts are calling for a new coaching crew and reformed team.

This is the outcome of Vox Pop randomly conducted by The Tide reporters among Nigerians on their take for the future of the national team.

A soccer enthusiast and religious supporter of both the Super Eagles and England Premiership side, Arsenal, Mr Dere Ishmeal said the assurance of both the Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Engr Sani Ndanusa, that the national team will be reorganized is a true reflection of the views of many Nigerians.

Mr Ishmeal said Coach Shuaibu Amodu had performed within the limits of his technical knowledge of the game, but said prevailing global challenges required a technical adviser with better knowledge, exposure and dynamics of soccer.

‘It is my view that Amodu lacks the ability to assemble the best team that can reflect the country’s vast reservoirs of soccer talents and groom them for the World Cup tournament in South Africa this year”, Ishmeal said.

Another respondent, Elder Blessing Agama called for fresh trials of the three national teams, particularly the Under-23 crop to enable Nigeria assemble the best for the World Cup

Elder Agama observed that Ghana’s semi-final defeat was the product of lack of technical options, apparently re-echoeing the views of Nigerian international, Osaze Odenwinge.

But Mr Adafe Philip Jaja deferred, arguing that Coach Amodu was not to blame  for failing to get either to the finals or lift the Nations Cup.

According to Jaja, “ we understand that the deal between the National Football Federation and the Amodu coaching crew is to get to the semi finals of the Nations Cup in order to secure a coaching job for the World Cup.

In Jaja’s opinion, if that is so, then, Amodu has delivered and is right to suggest a partner like Stephen Keshi to hang on to his national duty.

Mr Jaja who is also the state Secretary of the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union, (RATTAWU) said it was only in a country like ours where you find all associations asking a coach not to be ambitious and I feel bad.

Of nearly 25 respondents randomy sampled in Port Harcourt, no one spoke in favour of retaining the current coaching crew of the national soccer side while others are unanimous that Amodu be replaced by a well technically grounded Technical Adviser to handle the World Cup team.

Our correspondent in Abuja, Mr Justus Awaji reported a similar outcome as did Fyneface Aaron in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.