The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ezeugo

  • Ezeugo: Oliseh failed at CHAN 2016

    Ezeugo: Oliseh failed at CHAN 2016

    Former international,  Emeka Ezeugo has dismissed all the excuses made by Super Eagles coach,  Sunday Oliseh by maintaining that failure remains failure.

    The Super Eagles head Coach had highlighted several issues that mitigated against his team’s progress at the CHAN 2016. Oliseh told footballlive.ng that his players endured tough times off the pitch citing the lack of motivation as a major clog.

    Ezeugo insisted that a proper post-mortem of the Rwanda 2016 CHAN debacle otherwise other teams would use the ‘details and problems of the poor outing to hurt Nigeria.’

  • Ezeugo wants Eaglets groomed for future

    Ezeugo wants Eaglets groomed for future

    Abia Warriors head coach, Emeka Ezeugo has canvassed for proper career guidance for the newest world cadet champions, the Golden Eaglets.

    The Nigerian youngsters defeated title holders, Mexico 3-0 on Friday in Abu Dhabi to emerge the winners of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Ezeugo said Nigeria should not repeat previous mistakes of leaving their past cadet heroes unguided thereafter paying the high cost of not having proper succession of players from the cadet cadre to senior national side, the Super Eagles.

    “It is important that these boys are placed in some teams that have programmes. Since they’re youth internationals they should be kept in some club sides that really have good youth programmes from there they can be playing themselves into the Under-20, Under-23 and gradually into the senior national team.

    “If that’s not done these players will be lost forever.If they’re going to foreign teams they should be guided to choose teams that have good youth programmes that’ll surely help them a great deal,” said the former Nigerian defender to supersport.com.

    Ezeugo said he was never in doubt that the Nigerian prodigies will conquer the world for a record fourth time.

    “I saw their victory in the final coming as they’ve been consistent in the championship not only were they the most entertaining side they’re equally a high scoring side.

    “I’m happy as we’re back on the driver’s seat in the world cadet category after winning the title three times previously.

    “I’m happy for the players, coach Manu Garba and my former teammates, Emmanuel Amuneke and Nduka Ugbada as they’ve brought smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” said the former Heartland coach.

    Ezeugo was hard put penciling down any player or players that interest him in the team.

    “The captain of the side, Musa Mohammed, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, among others were outstanding and very impressive. I think the team is made up of some quality players,” Ezeugo said.

  • Ezeugo lands Abia Warriors job

    Ezeugo lands Abia Warriors job

    The management of newly promoted Glo Premier League side, Abia Warriors has appointed former Heartland gaffer, Emeka Ezeugo, popularly known as ‘The Destroyer’ as their chief coach for the 2013/14 season.

    Abia Warriors finished top of the table on 42 points in last season’s Nigeria National League (NNL) Division B and will be joined in the elite league campaign by other promoted sides, Crown FC, Giwa FC and FC Taraba.

    The USA ’94 FIFA World Cup hero has already agreed terms with the Umuahia-based side to lead them to a successful outing in the top flight league just as he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in the new assignment.

    The former Super Eagles defender’s last coaching job was at two-time Federation Cup winners, Heartland where he assisted his national teammate, Samson Siasia in the club’s 2011 CAF Champions League campaign.

    Ezeugo started his playing career in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State. He has played and coached in England, the United States of America (USA), Bangladesh, Bolivia and other South American countries.

    Abia Warriors chairman, Emeka Inyama said the appointment of Ezeugo is a deliberate effort to reposition the team to be able to compete with the best in Nigeria.

    “This appointment is in fulfillment of the promise I made at the end of the season that we shall beef up the team in different departments. We’ve brought in an experienced coach in Emeka Ezeugo. We believe he will bring a different perspective to the team in order to excel in the Globacom Premier League,” said Inyama, an executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation, to supersport.com.

    Inyama said Ezeugo’s first assignment is to prepare the team for the upcoming Super Four in Abuja while he is expected to work harmoniously with other members of the coaching crew to lead the club to the Promised Land.

  • Heartland’s slump worries Ezeugo

    Former Heartland coach, Emeka Ezeugo has expressed deep concern over the side’s dwindling fortunes in the ongoing 2012/13 Glo Premier League season.

    The fallen Nigerian Cup holders were beaten 0-1 by Gombe United in the mid-week Matchday 25 encounter to drop to 18th spot on the 20-team elite league on 31 points from a possible 75.

    Ezeugo said the managers of the side must rise to the challenge to halt the slump before it gets too late.

    “I’m disappointed with the way things are unfolding for the worst, especially the attitude players bring into the game and instability in the coaching crew.

    “The position the side occupy on the log at the moment is quite undignified and I think it behoves on the management to quickly take drastic measures to change the fortune of the team.

    “Imo State people love football and deserve the best from their darling team,” said the former Nigerian defender to supersport.com.

    Ezeugo said Heartland may have missed the league title this year as efforts should be placed on keeping the side in the Premier League by quickly resolving the coaching impasse.

    “Heartland may have bid bye to the league title and continental ticket for this season, I think the concern should be to secure their status in the Premier League.

    “The league shield looks a tall order to achieve, rather management should hire a knowledgeable and experienced coach who needs no tutorial but will hit the ground running immediately,” said Ezeugo.

    Heartland suffered a huge setback after their home loss to Kwara United in Week 24 as the entire technical crew members were placed on indefinite suspensions while the players’ salaries were slashed by half.