The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bassey

  • Don’t bench home-based Eagles –Bassey

    Don’t bench home-based Eagles –Bassey

    EX-INTERNATIONAL Charles Bassey has advised the Super Eagles coaching crew to give enough playing time to the six home based that made the team to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    “Those six boys are determined. They are focused. They want to win and are ready to fight. The players are hungry for success. They know that whatever they do in South Africa will shape their future in the game. So they are ready to do everything possible to see that Nigeria win the trophy if it possible,” he said.

    “But sincerely speaking, the boys are committed towards ensuring the Super Eagles do well in the tournament. That is why the coaching crew should give them enough playing time. “I am sure you saw the home based players in the game against Catalonia and of course Godfrey Oboabuna in the game against Cape Verde. Oboabuna showed the trait of a man who knows what he wants in the match. We need fighters in that team and only the players who are ready to give their all can fight for every ball in any match.”

    Bassey would however praise the efforts of Stephen Keshi for having the faith in the home based players. “No coach has ever done what he did apart from Clemens Westerhoff. He has been able to prove that there are good players in the Local League.

    “Keshi has done well and he will reap the benefits of trusting the players at home. I am very sure that the home lads will be the players that will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians during the Cup of Nations. I am proud of the six players and they will show everyone that talents abound in the Nigeria Premier League,” Bassey concluded.

  • JANUARY 9 AFCON SQUAD DEADLINE Bassey warns NFF, Keshi over CAF order

    JANUARY 9 AFCON SQUAD DEADLINE Bassey warns NFF, Keshi over CAF order

    CONFEDERATION of African Football (CAF) Match Coordinator Paul Bassey has urged the technical crew of the Super Eagles not to complain about the January 9 deadline date for the submission of squad list for the 2013 African Nations Cup.

    An assistant coach of the Super Eagles Daniel Amokachi had charged at CAF on the deadline of list championship holding in South Africa but Bassey, a technical committee member of the NFF who is billed to serve as venue coordinator in the championship said the CAF’s rule is not out of order.

    “What CAF is demanding is not out of order; there is a rule that says players list must be submitted not later than a particular days to a competition and the coaching crew must act on what is on ground,” he said.

    “I want to believe that by now, Keshi should know the majority of the players that fits into his plans. He should know his staring team depsite the fact that he is still trying out some players that he want to bring into the team.”

    Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi is expected to be extremely careful in his players’ selection and is hoping to give chances to a few players he could be adding up to his first-team ahead of the championship.