Sports
Haruna Set For Improved Attitude, Performance For Nigeria
Haruna Lukman’s representative John Ola Shittu is confident that his ward has put his attitude problems behind him.
Lukman is one of four players, the others being Joseph Yobo, John Mikel Obi and Chinedu Obasi, managed by Shittu, giving the agent the singular distinction of being the only manager with four players in the Nigeria squad.
But apprehension remains as to the discipline of his youngest charge, especially after a near miss with Colombian players during last Sunday’s friendly match.
That altercation did nothing to calm frayed nerves back home with many suggesting that he is a red card away from costing Nigeria dearly at the World Cup. But Shittu says that will not be a concern.
“He is gradually becoming a changed player now. His attitude is improving and as he gets older, he is getting more matured,” Shittu told Tidesports source, “I dont think he will pick up a red card if he plays at the World Cup.”
Shittu also pointed to the calming influence of team captain Nwankwo Kanu.
“Kanu is like his mentor when they are in camp, and he advises him and takes care of him. He is a really big influence on the young man’s career and I believe he will learn from Kanu.”
Shittu also says the Monaco midfielder will be spoken to prior to kick-off.
“We have been talking to him and we will still talk to him and make him understand that he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He is a young boy, and he will learn from his past experience.”
Lukman captained Nigeria at both Under-17 and Under-20 levels but became the subject of government, media and fan displeasure at the 2009 African Youth Championships when he was caught on camera chewing gum during the national anthem.
Things did not improve when he missed a penalty in a 1-2 loss to South Africa, and his hairstyle and general attitude drew widespread condemnation.
He was also axed by coach Ladan Bosso during the tournament.
Haruna’s growing reputation as one of the rising stars of Nigerian football also took a tumble following reports of poor discipline, and a lack of commitment to the cause when Samson Siasia took over from Bosso for the World Youth Championship and Siasia stripped him of the captaincy, handing it to Odion Ighalo instead.
The youngster’s misery was complete when a rush of blood to the head saw him give away the ball in the dying seconds of the quarterfinal game against Germany at the World Youth Championships in Egypt.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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