History has an uncanny way of vindicating the just. It only takes time. This writer is always unsparing whenever Nigerian coaches handle the Super Eagles, largely because they hardly come clean in the team’s affairs. When they are not picking players on other parameters than current form, they are bullying the younger ones to accept what they couldn’t stomach as players. They create a facade around themselves under the guise of instilling discipline whereas they do worse things, such as engineering players’ revolts when their demands are outstanding.
It is still a misery how coaches who claimed to be instilling discipline in the players come short when it comes to persuading them to back off from such revolts during big competitions, such as the Confederations Cup and the World Cup. These coaches don’t care about the odium they pour on the country with such disgraceful acts for as long as they achieve their goals. The excuse that the federation’s bosses would misappropriate cash amounts to cheap blackmail. Thankfully, the law of retribution catches up with them – Nigeria has never won any competition smeared with such shows of shame.
‘’Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it.’’ ( Uthman Dan Fodio) This quote rings so true about what transpired in the Super Eagles’ camp in 2014 in the explosive interview which former striker Daniel Amokachi granted AOIFootball.com on the Eagles’ way to the Brazil 2014 World Cup, where Nigeria was eliminated in the second round by France. Of course, the defeat came less than 10 hours after the team and their coaches spent the better part of the night before the match sharing $3.8 million which the Federal Government sent to avert a walkover. The squad threatened to boycott the France game during the revolt in Sao Paulo.
Ordinarily, I would have ignored the report. But AOIFootball.com is the NFF’s official online platform where those who run the federation talk directly to the players and coaches. It was set up, following allegations by players and officials of being misquoted in the media. So, Amokachi couldn’t have been misquoted by the NFF online platform.
Besides, KweseSports and Amokachi are like Siamese twins. They would have whispered into Da Bull’s ears about the gravity of his allegations since the other party to the discussion is dead. He would have authorised the publication. It should, therefore, be discussed, taking only the message not the messenger or the accused.
Going to the World Cup in Brazil, there were tales that suggested a rift among the coaches, with many alleging that one of them forced the players to buy one of his wrist watches as a basis for qualifying to play in the team. It was dismissed as one of the tantrums of the media. But, it was clear that all wasn’t well with the technical crew, considering Amokachi’s pot-shots.
“Brown, for me, was one player that I regret that we did not take to the World Cup in 2014,” Amokachi told KweséESPN, speaking for the first time on Brown Ideye’s shocking exclusion from the Eagles.
“Hundred percent I didn’t know how he didn’t make that list. I never saw it coming that he didn’t make the list till when the list came out and we found out. I think I probably had a lot of fights with some people that I shouldn’t have, but it happened because I saw no reason why such a player should be left out. We ended up going to the World Cup with players that even me I don’t even know,” Amokachi revealed.
“I think it is very tough if a coach is already an agent. It is very, very difficult, and that is why I always say you cannot be a coach and be an agent at the same time.
“When the World Cup comes around, you always have a lot of new players showing up. Players who will decide that they are Nigerians and bring confusion to the team. When you find yourself in that situation, you try to advise, because you have agents that will be calling left, right and centre. If a coach is an agent, he will fall a victim too. Those are things that we really need to avoid. There is no room to be trying new players,” Amokachi concluded.
He didn’t mention those responsible for the decision. But what stands out clearly is that the list was done with the coaches’ consent. And it says a lot on why Nigerian coaches cannot be trusted with such sensitive matters. Isn’t this the reason Nigerian coaches’ actions are vetted by chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who carry the can when Nigeria fails while the coaches take all the credits in victory?
What makes Amokachi’s revelation more disturbing is that the coaches in the 2014 squad were former Nigeria internationals who also made their marks playing for European teams . They were expected to replicate here the settings they found in Europe. They were also seen to have made enough cash to be able to shun foreign scouts, lobbyists and influence peddlers from the corridors of power.
The KweseESPN report said: ‘’It is a stunning admission by Amokachi, who went on to suggest that outside influences may have played a part in the striker getting cut in favour of players like Michael Uchebo and Uche Nwofor, both of whom had a combined total of six international appearances prior to the World Cup. Four of those combined caps (two each) were in the friendly games just before the squad was named.’’
Sadly, Amokachi didn’t have the guts to name who picked the squad raising doubts about his intentions in granting such a controversial interview. Why did he not cry out when the list was released? Was he scared that he could be dropped from the team? I don’t think so, given Amokachi’s pedigree in the game and his popularity. Who knows, the team could have gone further than they did in Brazil, four years ago.
The NFF should always get coaches to work in harmony. The federation should routinely hold talks with the coaches to gauge how they relate with each other. Except there is a synergy among the coaches, the team would totter during matches.
Amokachi’s poked conscience has compelled him to speak the truth, which is the only way forward. He spoke late but the message wasn’t lost on Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, who rightly dropped Brown Ideye, who has not been a regular in the squad since he took charge.
Rohr’s 30-man list is a departure from the past where at least four names would have been added to the authorised provisional 35-man list by FIFA, where each country would pick its final 23-man squad. Under Nigerian coaches, a horde of players with many unknown to lovers of the game would have been picked under the guise of giving everyone a chance to prove their mettle. This is where the sharp practices which Amokachi highlighted start.
Indeed, I’m still pinching myself to find out if Samson Siasia criticised Rohr’s 30-man squad. If he did, he owes those of us who questioned his selections as Eagles chief coach an apology. Siasia scandalised this writer for daring to criticise his list. Siasia spared no word in deriding coaches and ex-internationals who queried his decisions, especially when the country stood behind Vincent Enyeama, asking Siasia to forgive him. He stood his grounds but paid dearly for it when Nigeria drew 2-2 against Guinea in Abuja. We didn’t qualify for that edition’s Africa Cup of Nations. Siasia got the boot.
Glad to know that Siasia is canvassing the inclusion of Efe Ambrose, four years after his below par outing in Brazil. This is the problem with Nigerian coaches who are eternally committed to players they discovered. Siasia, Junior Ajayi had his time with the Eagles. He appears to be a club player. Besides, he is injury-prone. This is the difference with foreign coaches. they consider factors which our coaches cast an indulgent eye on.
The fixation of Nigerian coaches has killed many enterprising players who rot away because those manning their positions in the Eagles were discovered by the coach. Products of our successful age-grade teams, especially the Golden Eaglets, have melted from our sights like ice-cream under the scorching sun – no thanks to our local coaches’ fixation.
Today, Nigeria is heading for the Mundial with its youngest crop of players. This means that we are building for the future, using the World Cup. If we qualify for the second round, we would have equalled our feats in the last five editions in which we participated.
Nigeria is not alone with her armada of young boys for the Russia 2018 World Cup. England’s 23-man squad isn’t anything different from ours. This means that the two countries will have players ready for the big stage by Qatar 2022. That is the way forward, except that England will see theirs through while Nigeria’s may be destroyed by the diabolical machinations of those fighting to be members of the next NFF board.
