Chukwu, Others Give Lagerback’s W/Cup List Pass Mark

Some soccer enthusiasts in Enugu have commended Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Lars Lagerback, for his fairness in the final selection of players for the World Cup in South Africa.

But some believe that the non-inclusion of home-based players does  not reflect the contributions of the national league to the development of players and soccer in the country.

Those who spoke on Tuesday in Enugu said the selection was good but complained over the non-inclusion of at least a home-based player.

A former Super Eagles Chief Coach, Christian Chukwu, said: “Lars Lagerback’s final list is the best the country could have for the tournament.

“We have players scattered all over the world and even locally, but there is no time to harness them,” Chukwu said.

“The injection of new players now may be dangerous because the old ones have played together and they understand themselves. They just need to blend.

“It has not been possible to exhaust our talents and that is why the ones referred to as tired legs still remain our best.

“It is hard to drop players at this last hour. I am fully in support of his list. I appeal to Nigerians to give Largerback the needed support,” he said.

Chukwu, popularly called Chairman, urged the Eagles not to underrate any team because their group was tough.

He, however, said the Eagles could go far if they qualified from the group stage.

Chukwu also called for a total overhaul of the team after the World Cup to give younger players the opportunity to prepare ahead of other major competitions.

Ernest Ufele, an ex-Rangers player, said Lagerback did his best by selecting only experienced players.

Ufele said the coach could not do selections based on recommendations and appealed to Nigerians to pray for the Eagles to qualify from the preliminary stages.

“We know that their performance in friendly matches so far have not been satisfactory to face the World Cup test, but we hope that they will excel,” Ufele said.

Dominic Nwobodo, another ex-Rangers player, said there was no difference in previous selections by Shaibu Amodu.

He said the coach had done his best but the players must be committed because they are going to face very tough opposition.

“I think the selection was done based on experience and that is why the home-based players were not considered.

“We definitely need experienced players for the World Cup,” Nwobodo said.

Edwin Eze, Director of Sports (Information), Enugu State Sports Council, appealed to Nigerians to accept the final selection.

“As an experienced coach, Lagerback should be allowed to use his discretion to lead the team to the world Cup,” Eze said.

Chukwuka Udensi, an Enugu-based businessman, suggested that Lagerback should have at least included a home-based player.

“We have good players in this country who can match the professionals.

“I think the non-inclusion of home-based players did not take into account the contributions of local clubs to the growth of our soccer,” Udensi said.