Fans Urge Ezenwa To Prove Mettle

Ebonyi football fans at the weekend tasked Ifeanyi Ubah’s FC goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, to become Super Eagles’ first choice goal tender.
The fans expected the keeper to use yesterday’s match against Benin Republic in the first leg of 2018 CHAN qualifier to prove his mettle and end the clamour for the recall of experienced former number one, Vincent Enyeama to the national team.
The CHAN Eagles tackled the Squirrels of Republic of Benin in Cotonou, in the first leg of the “Kenya 2018’’ CHAN final round qualifiers, a match the home-based Eagles narrowly lost 1-0 via a late minute penalty.
Those that were interviewed at weekend in Abakaliki were of the view that a good performance from the domestic league goalkeeper would solve the team’s prevailing goalkeeper crisis.
Ajah Okike, a former Ebonyi Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said that Ezenwa should be supported by all to succeed because of his consistency in the team.
“We should stop toying with our goalkeeping chances against Cameroon but support Ezenwa who has been in the team for long to cement the first team place.
“Ezenwa has been the second choice goalkeeper even before Daniel Akpeyi was invited and it is time for him to take his place as the team’s first choice keeper,’’ he said.
In the same vein, Hillary Obiesie, Secretary of Ebonyi Sports Council, urged relevant soccer authorities to stop clamouring for Enyeama’s return for the team’s benefit.
“We have less than three weeks to the match against Cameroon. The team should concentrate on preparing the available goalkeepers instead of engaging in a wild-goose chase.
“We should not use the Benin Republic match to judge Ezenwa, but encourage him to improve on his performances in spite of being a home-based player,’’ he said.
An Enugu-based football agent, Cajetan Ikpe, said that Enyeama was right to reject his invitation to the team due to the way the soccer authorities treated him.
“He was badly treated right from the Sunday Oliseh’s days and the authorities did little to accord him his full recognition as a captain and patriot.
“However, I join millions of Nigerians to appeal to Enyeama to return to the team for the sake of the soccer fans, who supported him during the trying periods,’’ he said.
Also, Chief Jacob Eneagu, a businessman and soccer enthusiast, called for caution in the call for Enyeama’s return.
“We should determine whether Enyeama is fit and desirous to feature in the match as the same people who are clamouring for his return would vilify him if he performs woefully in matches.
“Ikechukwu Ezenwa should use the Benin Republic match to prove that he is worthy of selection against Cameroon to eclipse the poor performance of Daniel Akpeyi against South Africa,’’ he said.