All hail Sunday Oliseh, the new Super Eagles chief coach, ex-international who Segun Odegbami ‘mathematician’ describes as the intellectual face of the Nigeria’s game in the 21st Century. Oliseh becomes the first Nigerian coach to assume the position with the certificate most European coaches have. So, nobody is talking about a foreign coach when there is a Nigerian, who is eminently qualified.
Oliseh is accepting the world’s most difficult job. Yet he could write his name in gold, if he picks new players for the national team. It won’t be easy. He needs time to clear the mess of the past, including winning the confidence of the home-grown players who would cease to be training materials, if they possess the skills to displace the foreign legion.
The best way to rejuvenate the Eagles is to create competition among the players. Such a setting would come from picking our best at all times, irrespective of what such players did in the past. The Eagles must be an embodiment of our most talented players here, in Europe and the Diaspora. The Eagles should never be a work- in- progress because we have the players to do the job. Those who were perpetually building the Eagles did that to satisfy players’ agents and scouts. This is the only team that we keep rebuilding even after winning trophies and matches.
Traditionally, when a set of players wins trophies and matches, they are allowed to prosecute the next game to gel through matches, although with little additions for those who may have lost form or are nursing injuries. A wholesale dismantling of winning teams is the hallmark of a confused coach. This shouldn’t be Oliseh’s portion.
Competition for places in the Eagles will be best espoused if players who fumbled in the previous game don’t return in the next match. It amounts to fixation on the part of the coaches if such fumbling players return, especially for a country like ours, which filled with talents waiting to grab an opportunity to wear the green-white-green jersey.
In fact, any player dropped for poor performance will work harder to improve on his weak points. Such change of attitude would help him to regain his jersey. Of course, the player who replaces him would strive at all times to keep the shirt, like the other regulars.
Happily, Oliseh said during his unveiling that only those who play in the elite leagues in Nigeria, Europe and the Diaspora would be invited to the camp. Good talk. But I must remind Oliseh that Obafemi Martins was picked from Inter Milan of Italy’s B team, although he had cameo appearances for the senior team. The coach should be flexible to accommodate exceptional talents. I also hope he doesn’t recant on this declaration when European scouts and agents pressurise him.
The players will give their best to ensure that Oliseh succeeds, if he treats everyone equally and makes the right decisions- no matter whose ox is gored. Indiscipline starts when there are double standards. Disputes within the team should be handled internally. The coach will instill discipline in the squad when he obeys his own laws. These players are adults, who expect to be treated with decorum. He mustn’t be influenced by scouts and/or agents in picking his squad.
Nigerians expect to see signs of his technical savvy on September 6 in Dar es Salaam when the Eagles file out against Tanzania. We expect to see changes the way the Eagles play- positively, not the boring first half and half-hearted second half performances that have characterised the team’s outings. Nigerians want to be excited watching the Eagles play. They want to celebrate goals scored from team play, which will be the result of what they practised in training. Nigerians want to see the Eagles score goals from set pieces. They want to leave the stadium or sit back in their homes recounting how the goals scored happened. Nigerians are discerning people and would clap for the Eagles if they play as if something is at stake, not in the lethargic manner in the past.
The Eagles shouldn’t be the platform to teach players the basics of the game. Any player invited to the camp must be ready to fit into the opening which his inclusion is designed to fill. It is for this reason that Oliseh must have benchmarks with which his team can be evaluated.
I giggle when I hear people talk about Oliseh’s conduct. I’ve confronted him many times and we’ve joked over my columns. What Oliseh doesn’t like is falsehood. He would be the first tell me, ”Ade oni jungbon. O mo pe football shoro gba (troublesome Ade; you don’t know football is not easy to play). We want to win not for the fans but even to boost our careers. Sometimes, it happens in football. You win some, you lose some. We don’t go out on the field to deliberately play badly or lose matches. We want to win all the games, if it is possible.”
Who isn’t quick to temper? We all are when in foul moods or when we are taken for a ride. We must understand people and learn how to live with their shortcomings.
I’m pleased that Oliseh has addressed his relationship with his employers creditably. It is the reason why Eagles have problems with the NFF. I have challenged people who allege that NFF chiefs take bribe from the coaches. Till date, no coach has told us what he gave to any NFF member during his tenure. Therefore, Oliseh’s foresight in accepting that a greater percentage of his ability to succeed in this daunting assignment rests on his relationship with his employers. It is disrespectful for any employee to discredit his employer.
Oliseh said during his inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday: “I have come to serve, and the NFF has promised to give me all the support I need to succeed. They are the employers and I am the employee. That distinction has to be appreciated at all times.”
“One thing I will say, dear compatriots, is that I am not a Messiah. I have come to do my very best, give 150%, to take Nigeria football to the next level, with the support of my assistants, the NFF and relevant stakeholders. I am optimistic that we will lift the Nigeria game to a new height.”
Well said Oliseh. It is, however, expected that coaches should ensure that their contract is not a one-way document. If any employer fails to pay his coach, for instance, there should be sanctions.
We don’t expect Oliseh to run to the media over salaries because of the federation’s antecedents on such matters. His contract must contain sanctions against the NFF if they default on his salary.
Remembering Yekini
When you appoint knowledgeable people into any endeavour, you expect changes. And so, when the new League Management Company (LMC) decided to name the gold trophy for the highest goal scorer in the domestic game after Rashidi Yekini, I unwittingly shouted “Eureka!”
I’m sure that Yekini would sneeze, if it is possible, wherever he is. He was the goal merchant for all the teams that he played for.
From Nigeria through Cote d’ Ivoire to Portugal, Yekini was renowned for scoring goals. Little wonder, he was the first to score a World Cup goal for Nigeria. He achieved that feat in 1994 against Greece.
I hope that LMC men would allow Yekini’s kids, not some Agbada-wearing politicians, to do the presentation to the winner. That way, they would know that their dad didn’t die in vain.
Thank you Falconets
When the news broke a few weeks ago that Ebola had returned to Liberia, my heart skipped a beat. I nursed a serious fear for Super Falconets players who were billed to visit Liberia for the first leg of an elimination game.
Would it be worth the effort for the Falconets or will CAF consider a rescheduling of the game to another country? The Falconets soldiered on with their preparations, leaving the logistics for CAF and NFF. The Falconets made the trip to Monrovia, whipped their hostesses 7-1and returned home hale and hearty. Quickly, I tried to guess the scenario if it had been Super Eagles’ turn to play a game in Liberia under the same circumstances?
Where do we start Eagles complaints? Is it from goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama whose voice would be the loudest, even if he has not been to Liberia in two years? Or would it be the noise from football fans crying more than the bereaved? Or is it the vituperations from habitual NFF critics over the propriety of playing against Liberia, in a place where “fresh” outbreak of Ebola has been reported? How about the National Sports Commission (NSC) warning the NFF against honouring the game? What won’t the NSC chieftains do to show that they are in charge when it concerns NFF? Do they really care for other sports? Eye service merchants, if you ask me.
Many questions with no answers. But these questions weren’t applicable to the Falconets? We seem to over-pamper the Eagles, yet they give us more pain. Falconets went to Liberia, won and no one remembers about the Ebola outbreak in Monrovia.
I doff my heart for those brave girls. I hope the Eagles can emulate the girls by playing the game and leaving other jobs for those whose duty it is to do them.
