JUST A SPICE TO OUR WORLD CUP MENU....................read with open mind and laugh when you need to. REVIEW OF SEVEN PLAYERS DROPPED FROM SUPER EAGLES TEAM TO THE WORLD CUP........A job well done Preamble: The list of the 23 players to represent Nigeria at the world cup was released early this morning. Since we have 9 or 10 days (as the case may be) to the world cup, which will last for another month, the focus of this writeup is on the seven players dropped (and not the 23 players picked). The bias of this piece is to justify the decision of coach Steven Keshi in making the selection. ------------------------------------------- Going through the list of 7 players dropped by Big Boss Steven Keshi, I reckon hes done a near perfect job in sifting the wheat from the chaff, as far as the list of 30 players earlier invited to final camping for the Brazil world cup is concerned. The fever generated in anticipation of this list is unimaginable. Judging June 2 was the deadline FIFA gave participating teams at this world cup to submit their list of 23 players vis-a vis the promise by team handler Keshi to unveil same on that day, every follower of the super eagles waited with bated breath. Our situation wasnt helped by the teams belated decision to announce the list of 23 players, first at 11pm Nigeria time and and later shifted the announcement to after the teams training scheduled to commence in Philadelphia 12 midnight Nigeria time. The last time I experienced a similar level of emotion, waiting to be among the first set of persons to lay my hands on a new product (oh so you didnt know the super eagles list of 23 to the world cup was a product with Keshi the producer? Well you know now) was in the cold winter night of October 2013 in Boston when I waited in a queue to get my hands on the new Apples Ipad Air. That wasnt funny just as waiting for Keshi s list wasnt. Twitter was buzzing and in no time smart Alec came out with a list purported as the official list and disseminated same using the super highway the social media provides. True, 9ja no dey carry last! The focus will naturally shift to the the 23 players that made the list. For the purpose of this review it is instructive we recap the names of the seven players who dreamt of Brazil but never to go there, at least not as super eagles official players: Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Obinna Nsofor, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Joel Obi, Sunday Mba, Nosa Igiebor and Ejike Uzoenyi. Only 4 goal keepers were invited to camp and of the four, FIFA requires that 3 players of the official 23 must be goal keepers. Considering the pedigree of the three other goal keepers in camp-Enyeama, Ejide and Agbim, it was clear rookie Akpeyi would be the one to give way. Those expecting Keshi to drop No. 1 home based super eagles stopper Agbim on account of his inconsistent performance at the nations cup for local players needed to think again. Agbim is a good keeper on a good day and hes also relatively experienced. Had Nigeria a plethora of goal keepers to pick from it would have been a different matter altogether. As far as goal keepers are concerned, these are the best, most experienced three keepers Nigeria can boast of right now. Considering the third goal keeper may never really man the post through out the competition, whatever risk Agbim remarkable inconsistency (that has become his albatross) might pose, is effectively hedged by that singular factor. Come to think of it, we cannot tell if he has worked on that weakness any way. Then coming to rugged but declining Nosa Igiebor. Igiebors influence in the team has progressively diminished over time. From a commanding and regular showing at the initial assemblage of the team, it would seem as new and better players were introduced to the midfield section of the team, Igiebor found it difficult to hold down a shirt. One factor that might have worked against Igiebor is his limited versatility when compared with his competition in the team. At last year nations cup, he was more or less a fringe player. That situation remained so through out the teams world cup qualifier. A player faced with such a situation needed to work extremely harder to regain reckoning but in my estimation I doubt if Igiebor realised that simple fact. Perhaps he did but it was a case of his spirit willing and his legs just couldnt. Joel Obi is ordinarily a good player any day. Hes skillful and silky. However, since he returned from a debilitating injury that kept him out of playing for his club for close to a season, he cant be said to be that same player as the one before the injury. He returned back to playing not too long ago and it would appear hes yet to retain full fitness. Since the midfield is any teams engine room, the coach expectedly picked fitter players who are in better form. Otherwise, the skills of Obi is what any good team needs to blossom. Sunday Mba practically shot himself in his foot. Granted Sunday Mba was a hero of last years nations cup in South Africa won by Nigeria. Immediately after the competition, Sunday Mba jumped from one controversy to another which never really helped his form. Because he was a player after coach Keshis heart, the manager was initially understanding of his situation but later excluded him from the team at the early stage of the teams world cup qualifier matches. When he finally managed to get himself sorted of the issues with his local club or clubs, as the case may be, he made an ill advised move to a French division two team Bastia. Playing in the less competitive lower division of the French league hasnt helped his form. When doubt was still hovering over the players inclusion in the team to the world cup based on current form, of the 30 players invited to camp, Sunday Mba was the last player to show up and that was after the deadline given to players to answer the call to serve the nation. Mba only reported to camp on Wednesday during the teams first friendly against Scotland at Fulhams Craven Cottage in London. Now you understand why I started by saying this player shot himself in the foot?...........he set out to fight fire wearing a skirt made of dry grass (please dont crack up yet). Obinna Nsofor--I was surprised the old horse was even in the reckoning in the first place. Hes ordinarily a hard worker who packs bazooka punch in his boot. But he can occasionally go AWOL during big matches, it must be said. The truth is that this Bufallo Soldier has seen better days. In case you have forgotten, I want to rejig your memory to appreciate the fact this player was only given a look in the incessant quest to find a suitable player to take the place of Osaze Odewengie in the team, all in attempt to banish the ghost of that enfante terrible from the team to no avail. Nsofor was never part of the initial team to the nations cup. He joined during the world cup qualifiers. Granted he scored an important goal that helped the teams sail in the direction of Brazil but he has his limitations. His place in the team was always threatened the moment other better players came back to give the manager options in the attacking midfield area. Nnamdi Oduamadi doesnt cut it. Hes never the purposeful super eagles player badly needed in the offensive part of their game. If football is about converting chances or putting the ball in between two upright posts sealed by a rear net, then Oduamadi can be a source of frustration at times. It would seem he doesnt know when to pass the ball or run with it or even dribble. Hes also lacking in defensive duties when the team needs numbers at the rear. From a far, I suspect his concentration level, even though he flashes some skills every now and then . Oduamadi came to the lips of ever emotional super eagles fans after he managed a hat trick against non starters Tahiti (did I hear you say Ta-what? ...........just cool down first) in that 6-1 drubbing Eagles gave the Oceania team of non professionals . Besides the fact Tahiti was the most passed around team in that competition so to speak, in that game the sad fact is Oduamadi had the chance to score 8 goals yet managed three...........so much for productivity. That says a lot about the efficiency of the AC Milan wannabe. How can I end this review without talking about Ejike Uzoenyi? If we say in football that a player is as good as his last (major) match, the preponderance of opinion would be Uzoenyi is a good player. Considering the memory of football fans is influenced by recent performances, it could be forgiven if some.fans cried blue murder over his exclusion. But remove sentiments and nobody would be surprised by his exclusion. He was the weakest link in that attacking midfield area and like every weakest link, he needed to go. At the nations cup for home based players, Nigeria was in need of a hero and one showed up in the form of Uzoenyi. The dimunitive player mesmerized with his skills, putting his left foot to use whenever Nigeria needed to be bailed out from a difficult and embarrassing situation in that competition. If you say he singlehandedly took Nigeria up to the semi final stage of of the competition especially at a time our team composed mainly of timid players lacked confidence to carry on, I wont fault you. But the truth remains thats where it ends. At the global stage, Uzoenyi was never a player of such an enormous influence in a competition that will be populated by the very best in world soccer. Uzoenyi has many limitations. Who amongst us remembers that the same Uzoenyi, who shone like a northern star in the edition for local players, was also in the all conquering nations cup team (of professionals) in that same country about a year earlier. He was unheard of in main nations cup competition apparently comprised of better players. The few times he was used as a substitute in that competition, his collective play lacked substance. Regardless of what anybody says, age isnt on his side. His play is predictable and versatility limited. The reason Uzoenyi couldnt cut it when he went professional in Europe some years back. He quickly came back to the local league in no time. Having now piggybacked that (second class) nations cup performance to join a club in South Africa, the host of the competition, these limitations still haunt him at his new club in South Africa today. Uzoenyi initial inclusion in the team could be viewed as befitting reward for his contribution at the local nations cup, but to play at the the world stage needs more than sentiments. All said said and done, the management of the super eagles in its wisdom has selected 23 players it believes has what it takes to make the green white green flag fly high in Brazil. What we owe the team is our unalloyed support because at this point in time it is no longer about the players but about country and national pride..........it is about respectable representation and that calls for support for the team. Granted that we all would have our preferences if given the chance to pick our choice of 23 players. In that situation you can bet with me Nigerians wouldnt even be able to find a consensus before stipulated deadline for team list submission as every Nigerian would have a different list of preferred players. Thats exactly the reason why one man was picked to do that job seamlessly and we have to trust his judgement in that regard. Selecting and dropping players from from a closely - knit team is never going to be an easy task, by no means. The coach is better placed to know the players, their psychology, emotional well being, strengths and weaknesses more than us outsiders and and we must put that into consideration when we approve or disapprove of his team selection. To the players dropped, hold your heads high and walk tall. If out of about 170 million people you are among 30 found worthy and capable to represent Nigeria then you are blessed.......champions you are already Your day will come. all you can do now is support the team and support you must give. The countdown has begun. 9 days, 9 long days to the commencement of of the 2014 world cup. Since some folks still see football as a mans game (which isnt true), this is the moment our wives and girlfriends (WAGS) dread the most--moment of divided attention. It will be a moment of one full month of pulsating football, with adrenalin pumping to a level rarely seen and a month of mix emotions. I cant wait. How you approach it makes a whole lot of difference to the outcome. To our WAGS, theres nothing to worry about in this football moment. Football is your complement and no substitute..........not even a competition. Join us to savour the moment. Who knows this might just be the moment you would get your man to sign off on that request he had hitherto denied you. You just need to know the right moment and that moment is when your mans emotion is at a crescendo that comes whenever his team wins or plays some scintillating football. You can help create that moment. Support the super eagles.Pray for super eagles victory because when the super eagles win, you win, we all win and the nation wins. One last night line. As I made to retire, the feeling of de javu struck me. Like I did mention earlier, the last time I kept vigil for a product was for an Ipad Air. After I got and started using the product, I reached an anti climax. My expectations were short-lived. I expected so much from the product it couldnt deliver. Would this be case for my darling Eagles at the world cup? Is my hunch telling me my eagles will under-perform at the world cup? Everybody say tufiakwa. No way. Our Eagles will soar high and high, never to land until it claims the diadem........and the people say I se r rrrrrrrrr Super Eagles..........................Aluta Continua................Victoria Acerta
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 05:29:36 +0000
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