By Patrick Omorodion
With three more games standing between the Super Eagles and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, renowned sports journalist and CEO/Chairman of the first sports radio, Brila FM, Larry Izamoje has urged the team to DIE (emphasis his) playing the games.
Izamoje who, incidentally, is a member of the Presidential Task Force on the Eagles World Cup campaign said the team should play as a team especially “with the psychological advantage now gained over Tunisia following the 0-0 draw in Rades. They must be positive and know there is no place for the historical misadventure of 1977 on the way to South Africa 2010.”
Going biblical, he said “ In fact, I commend unto them I Corinthians 15:31 of the Christian Holy Book where the hard working Apostle Paul said ‘I die daily’.The Eagles must DIE on the three days they face Tunisia, Mozambique and Kenya because NOT powering on all cylinders is to adulterate seriousness. They must delete the word ‘caution’ from their dictionary and function in all areas.
Like most critics who said the Eagles could have won the Tunis match, Izamoje posited that the team’s midfield was not adventurous but that it was “understandable because we needed a positive result from that game and the whole team was too cautious not to concede an away goal that would have been difficult to cancel in that crowded stadium of flag carrying, national colours wearing supporters.
Continuing, he aid “While we cherish the ‘golden point’ from Rades, the defenders must now initiate attacks with the midfielders and drop the mentality of being stoppers of opposing attackers ONLY. The modern game demands much more from defenders and midfielders. than staying back and wait for loose balls.
He also advised Nigerian fans to behave like their Tunisian counterparts who don their national colours and fly their flags, thus turning the whole arena red. “Our fans should get their flags and green-white-green shirts as well as rehearse songs we all can sing together and that way, un-nerve our visitors- to -be.”
Calling okocha is going backwards, all we need is a coach that can use what he has to achieve what he want. a coach that can discover new okocha or new pattern to utilize the qualities & talents in his disposal. we need a player that can play free role and motivate others, who can take ball from defence and deliver it to attack. And OSAZE can do it if we have 2 strong defensive midfielders, in a case we need to be more offensive we can play 1 defensive midfielder(AYILA) and 2 attacking midfielders(osaze &kanu) if AMODU can try it, am sure he can save his job, but if not SIASIA can do it better.