The New Boss, The Exit of Enyeama & the End of Super Eagles
Ok, I admit. I tried liking only clubs where my favorite Nigerian stars were featured like Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, Obafemi Martins, Osaze Peter Odenwingie among others. I’m not a football pundit, commentator, analyst, enthusiast or any other adjectives that connotes the people who “rap” statistics, data and provide the historical antecedents of present happenings in the world of soccer at supersonic speed. I admire them, but I don’t envy them because I don’t fathom being like them in this life or the next. I can’t even claim to be on the lowest rung in the pecking order of football fans, so I am hopelessly unqualified to compete in the battle of Soccer Lovers. I, like many other men (yes, there are actually men like me who are not animated at the mention of European soccer!) are merely contented in allotting our time to it parsimoniously. So no Liverpool For Life, Up Blues, Man-U to the Grave or Gunners For Life for me, no branded Jersey, bumper sticker or colorful muffler hanging about my car or house. I’m just content in receding into the quiet and surf the net, design something or perhaps pouring out my overstuffed head into this blog.
But there is or WAS one thing about football that elicited my passion, just one thing that could make me brave it all and purchase tickets to watch a game at the Abuja National Stadium just to watch a friendly and that “thing” was the Nigerian National Teams. From the Golden Eaglets, the Falconets, the U-17, 21 & 23 to the Olympic “Dream Team” (for whom Nigerians had since awoken from post 1996) and to the Super Eagles & Falcons. From the point I even bothered to take note of player’s names or achievements or even the positions they play (which till today I don’t totally understand why the midfielder and defenders are graded apart) when it comes to coaches, I can say till date that I have only liked three. Clemens Westerhof Austin Eguavoen and Samson Siasia for the sole reason that they are colorful, cool and in my own estimation they knew the game. The rest are a complete No-No especially Stephen Keshi, Adegboye Onighinde, Christian Chukwu the other white coaches whose presence never made the slightest sense. Everyone may have their preferences and are free to do so as do I and this is my own way of saying my mind- as usual. It is commonly known that the best players don’t always make the best coaches and somehow this saying doesn’t seem to sink into the skulls of Nigeria’s football authorities for reasons that beats me. The Nigerian Football Federation has consistently tried out ex-internationals in coaching positions and each seem to be worse than the previous one. Very soon, the whole Italia 90 or USA 94, Atlanta 96 squad will have their turns at coaching most especially the Super Eagles. Maybe once in a while they may trickle down and take appointments as Assistant Coach like Daniel Amokachi or handling Junior teams like Emmanuel Amuneke etc.
Recently, there has been a steady decline in our National soccer fortunes since we miraculously won the Nations Cup. Our National Teams have maintained a steady loosing streak to “minion” footballing nations which has its resultant effect in the fluctuation of Nigeria’s standings on the periodically released and much respected FIFA rankings. I don’t even recall when last I watched a Super Eagles/Super Falcons game or who the members of the current squad are save for seeing a couple of “half-caste” players by happenstance while browsing through the dailies. The point is, I don’t care much about their performance because they constantly depress me and I would rather watch Sounds of Music for the 100th time than sit for 90 minutes hoping Nigeria will push in a goal before the final blow of the whistle. But just incase the NFF is ignorant about this, let me educate them. For quite a long time, Nigerians have not been watching Super Eagles games because of the team, rather we watch for players, how they thrill us and how their skill can win us the game. One name that had kept me and millions of other Nigerians glued to the TV set irrespective of the outcome of the game is the bulky dude who donned the traditional all-yellow jersey and manned the goal post for Nigeria. Vincent Enyeama could do no wrong! If he conceded a goal, then the defenders were sleeping.
Everyone loves Vincent Enyeama and we all trusted that when he was at the goal mouth, we were safe. That’s what all Nigerians knew. Now enters Mr. Sunday Oliseh, Super Eagles ex-midfielder and recently appointed Nigerian Senior Team Coach and he does what most leaders in a takeover situation do- they start their own spring cleaning. And like other Super Eagles coaches (who incidentally were former players themselves), they get in and head towards the “strongmen” of the group and kick them out. Siasia did it, Eguavoen did it, Keshi did it and as expected Oliseh has done it. With their “cut the head of the snake” strategy we have witnessed the loss of many good players who were considered “too old” or “too stubborn” or “Not having enough club playing time”.
Enyeama is now the latest casualty. We never heard of his lateness to camp under the tenures of the other ex-players turned coaches or that he was rude or whatever to the coach when he received the captaincy from Joseph Yobo under the Keshi’s regime. Now he is the inciter of violence and dissent among players to warrant being strong armed by the coach out of camp. I read the full interview on Galaxy TV and what really transpired and I am on Enyeama’s side. It is obvious, Oliseh won’t go far and there’s more clashes ahead with players, the NFF and perhaps ex-players, brands, the press and so on. This is exactly how NOT to lead the Senior National Team.
Now, hot-headed Oliseh is the Boss and he runs the town, and what happens to coaches who play the “Boss” card? Well Ask Keshi.
The End has come for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Comments
Post a Comment