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Tag: Iroha

  • Iroha tips Eaglets for Chile 2015 final

    Iroha tips Eaglets for Chile 2015 final

    Ex-Super Eagles’ star, Benedict Iroha has tipped the Golden Eaglets for the final of the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup but was tight-lipped on whether the team would defend the crown won in UAE in 2013.

    The Eaglets were rampant against Chile whom they demolished 5-1 barely three days after humiliating USA 2-0 in their first match and Iroha in a chat with SportingLife revealed that the team led by Emmanuel Amuneke has the wherewithal to qualify for the final at least.

    He said the prowess of the team as the competition continues will decide if the Eaglets have the endurance to defend the trophy and thus end the inability of the cup holders from defending the crown they won two years earlier.

    Iroha told SportingLife that the Eaglets’ first two victories shows that Nigeria’s reps will go far in the competition but that as the competition reaches its crucial stages a lot would be needed from the technical crew and the players to emerge as the champions.

    “You and I know that the Under 17 competition has never been our problem but from the U-20 when the big boys start coming in, a lot is required then. I don’t know about winning it but I am certain the Eaglets will play in the final,” Iroha told SportingLife.

  • ‘Iroha not Heartland supervisor’

    ‘Iroha not Heartland supervisor’

    The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Heartland, have explained that former Nigerian strongman Ben Iroha is not the side’s technical supervisor.

    A Nigerian sports tabloid reported on Monday that the former under-23 national team assistant coach has been engaged as supervisor by the Naze Millionaires for the remainder of the ongoing league season.

    However, an official of the Owerri outfit, Cajetan Nkwopara, distanced the side from the purported engagement of the former Nigerian star but stated that Iroha was merely granted permission to conduct a clinic with the coaches and players within the period of his holidays.

    “Iroha asked and was given the opportunity to conduct a clinic with the coaches and players on temporary basis during the period of his holidays.

    “There is nothing like appointment as technical supervisor, director or anything in that vein.

    “There was no discussion on engagement or negotiation for employment so I do not know where his reported engagement as technical supervisor came up from” said Nkwopara to supersport.com.

    Iroha was part of Heartland’s technical crew from 2007 to 2010 together with Kelechi Emeteole the period that saw the side play the final of 2009 CAF Champions League.

  • Keshi needs Yobo in Omeruo’s absence—Iroha

    Keshi needs Yobo in Omeruo’s absence—Iroha

    Former Super Eagles defender, Benedict Iroha has urged Eagles’ Chief Coach Stephen Keshi to recall Eagles’ want-away Captain, Joseph Yobo for the final play-off of the 2014 World Cup between Nigeria and Ethiopia.

    Iroha told NationSport in Abuja that in as much as the draw has favoured Nigeria since the Eagles avoided big teams like Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire; there is still need to work on the defence line of the team before the play-off is played.

    This is a favourable draw and I believe God has answered the prayers of all soccer loving Nigerians. But it all depends on our preparations and hard work put in before the two legged matches are played. But the most important thing is that we need the Captain of the team Joseph Yobo in this team now.

    “Yobo should be recalled by Keshi to bring sanity to the central defense now since our dependable central defender, Kenneth Omeruo is out injured. The best leg to do the job is Yobo who has also been very active for his club Fenerbahce even in the Europe competition. I am saying this as a patriotic Nigerian nothing more. I believe once the central defense is knitted and solved we should be home and dry.

    “I sincerely want to sheer in the opinion of Nigerians that Ethiopia should not be treated with kid gloves. I was in South Africa for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and I watched live the Eagles versus Ethiopia. They are not a bad side at all. We (Nigeria) were able to beat them courtesy sheer bravery of Victor Moses who single handedly committed the Ethiopians to two penalty kicks which he also converted. But the overall input of the Ethiopians was not bad at all”, Iroha disclosed.

  • NFF chief: Media can’t give Iroha top post

    NFF chief: Media can’t give Iroha top post

    An official of the nigerian football federation (nff) has said media hype will not get ex-international, Ben Iroha, the Nigeria U20 team top coaching post.

    Ben Iroha on Thursday officially dropped his application indicating interest for the position vacated by John Sam Obuh.

    “We know his antecedents as assistant coach in some of the national teams,” said the top official of the NFF who is also a member of the NFF technical committee.

    “We know he is trying to use the media to get the job but go and tell him we know him better than the media.”

    Iroha has worked as assistant coach with both the Nigeria U17 and U23 teams.

    MTNFootball.com investigations reveal that the football house after being impressed with the work been done by the Manu Garba-led Golden Eaglets are nursing the idea of graduating one of the coaches from the team to the Flying Eagles.

    Obuh stepped down as Flying Eagles coach after he failed to get the team past the Round of 16 at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey recently.

  • Keshi must convince Anichebe – Iroha

    Keshi must convince Anichebe – Iroha

    Former Super Eagles left-back, Ben Iroha has told SportingLife that he is confident Everton of England striker, Victor Anichebe will rescind his decision to concentrate on club football at the expense of playing for the Super Eagles.

    Anichebe last week disclosed on his club’s website that lacing his boots for Nigeria should wait for now, as he would like to focus on club football.

    But Iroha, a former teammate of Keshi who was with the Big Boss in the United States of America, disclosed that Keshi is still interested in Anichebe and he could convince him to rescind his decision.

    “We still need that force and power play at the front of the team. You could see that Emenike and Brown Ideye did well at the last Africa Cup of Nations. I was at the Nations Cup and watched all Nigeria’s matches live so I know what I am saying. Emenike and Ideye’s force helped Nigeria a lot in South Africa. So, Ideye’s presence in the Eagles’ attack won’t be enough to get us the desired result in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the FIFA Confederation Cup too.

    “I can reveal to you that Keshi is working on this area and that is why he is taking his time to (sic) Ederstion (United States of America) before I returned to Nigeria on Saturday.

    “Keshi is not on vacation; he is working there. He just needs to be alone there so that he can concentrate and work on his team.

    “He (Keshi) is monitoring a lot of players right now. I remember we still have a player in America, Bright Dike that scored in Eagles’ friendly match in Spain before the Africa Cup of Nations. He is a force to be reckoned with too.

    “But I believe strongly that if Keshi has a heart-to-heart talk with Anichebe, the boy will change his mind and play for the Super Eagles.

    “One thing that is sure is that every player wants to play for his national team, so I believe that Anichebe will love to come back and reclaim his shirt in the Eagles. We still have hope in Anichebe. Shola Ameobi too is a good alternative but I prefer Anichebe because of his force. I believe he will play for the Eagles if Keshi talks to him”, Iroha told SportingLife.

    He also disclosed that throughout the time he stayed with Keshi, the Eagles handler did not inform him of any misunderstanding between him and his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation.

    “I can tell whoever cares to listen that all is well between Keshi and the NFF. If there is friction he would have hinted me when I visited him.

    “I sincerely believe that the leadership of the NFF knows that Keshi has done well and they are ready to support him to get the 2014 World Cup qualification ticket.

    “They know that failure to get the ticket will rubbish whatever they made by winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    “I sincerely believe that there is no friction between Stephen Keshi and his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation”, Iroha disclosed.