By Onochie Anibeze
While many countries are fixing friendly matches to help their preparation for the next World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria is canceling theirs.
Amodu
Uruguay was initially scheduled to play Nigeria in London before the September tie with Tunisia. The possibility of another friendly was being explored before the technical crew even advised against the match with Uruguay.
A member of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Association revealed why Amodu Shuaibu and his team spoke against a tough friendly before the next World Cup qualifier and got a backing from the football authorities.
“Amodu does not want any friendly before the next match so that he and the players will not lose focus on the Abuja match.
Any match before the Abuja tie could be a distraction,” the member said and defended Amodu this way: “In other countries, friendly matches are used to prepare for major assignments. Coaches use them to find out things about their games and the players so that they can make corrections. But in Nigeria, friendly matches create confusion for the coaches.
Everybody starts criticizing the teams, making comments that confuse the coaches rather than encourage them. And Amodu feels that some of the criticisms are so harsh that they affect the players too.
He feels that the media and many Nigerians are always antagonistic especially after every game. Even the drawn game in Tunisia is an example. Many still called the team names after an away draw with a team leading the group. So, Amodu feels that any friendly before the crucial tie with Tunisia will expose them to all manner of criticisms and ideas that may distract them from remaining absolutely focused.
That’s why he doesn’t want a friendly match before that match. Another point he noted was that he already knew the players he would invite for the game.”
These were the reasons given by this inside and authentic source. But officially, the football house said that it was calling off the tie against Uruguay after considering the fact that the season in Europe would just be starting and calling players off from their teams may make them lose their first team shirts and they took a decision they felt would favour the players in their club duties.
We feel this is an interesting development in our football and would appreciate comments on this matter. Write your brief comments to anibeze@yahoo.com, tonyubani@yahoo.com or SMS (no abbreviations, please) to 08050498547
Oh, so the players’ individual club futures are now more important than the national team. So why should we blame the players who put club before country? The officials have just given them the go-ahead to shun national call-ups.
How can a team that needs to improve in so many areas ignore the chance for correction?
If our officials had correctly observed our last game, they would have noticed that so many of our passes went astray. The reason for this lack of cohesion is simply due to little or no familiarisation among the players. Therefore I would have thought that a friendly would have been the best chance to create better team understanding. And more importantly trying untested players.
Even if you wanted our regular players to concentrate on their club duties, why don’t you simply have a friendly using previously uncapped players, or perhaps those who ply their trade in our domestic league, who are dying to prove themselves.
If a player is really good, or is in form, a friendly game for his national team (during the FIFA friendly weekend) would have no effects what-so-ever on a player’s club status. I’m sure Drogba will be featuring for the Ivory coast when they take on Tunisia, but it would not stop Chelsea from selecting him.
If we are so concerned about the first team appearances of our players, then perhaps it would be wise to drop them and try the ones who feature more regularly for their clubs.
If Amodu and players alike feel that they cannot handle the public pressure, then its best the quit and give others achance.
Just one more point. On the contrary players who get regular invitations from their national sides actually achieve higher standing from their respective clubs. How many people remember that Yakubu almost failed to secure a work permit when joining Everton, because according to premiership rules, he had not played the minimum amount of games for his national team.
nigerian why are you people like dis?. stop distracting dis man ,he is a good coach and he’s performing well , better than your governors. he has good record. tell your governors to produced theirs. tomorrow lucky will also tell amodu is not a good coach imagine. don;t let tthem use dis to destract you, talk about your governors than amodu . people wise up
Amodu is not d messiah and can never be,all wil need is a foreign coach dat knws much abt african football,not the type offerd to berti vogt by people who dnt have us at their heart called N.f.f
Under Amodu Nigeria is the only Team probably in the whole world that the opponents have not put ball in its net!!!
The only goal scored against the team in 8 matches is that scored by Yobo in Abuja.
That does not make Amodu fantastic; but that means he can’t deserve all these cruxifications either!!
All he needs is a true leader in the midfield, and Nigerians will smile.
I think Eagles deserves better. Amodu, is good but not at the level nigeria has attained in football. his credentials is short for Eagles job and thats why he is always afraid. because he is afraid he, is very nervious to critisms. critisms makes a good coach sronger and better.
Joseph O.
If this is true, then Amodu is not a coach. I know that it is late to start changing the coach therefore we have to live with that and face the prospect of watching other nations at the world cup. I used to see myself as lucky, when it comes to football, coming from nigeria and living in sweden. sadly, now it looks like none of these nations is going to qualify for the world cup in south africa. Too annoying! It was our win over france that boosted our boys’ morale and led to the trashing of kenya, and the much talked about draw in tunisia. So amodu, do not back out. Go for it! Unless this report is not true. You have play tose friendlies, amen!
I have always said that Amodu, is not technically sound enough to carry the Super Eagles as a coach. I have watch him for years to prove this. besides, he got the job through money bags Nigerians( those who never wish us well, but self gains)
the earlier we seek for a coach, the better for us.
the worst is his inability to read matches and make correction.
It’s only those who are afriad of correction and refused to accept fact, run away from the truth.
Funny Nation.
Amodu has displayed mediocrity if this report is true. I will not be surprised if Tunisia come to Abuja and beat Super Eagles. South Africa we watched in the confederation cup were mediocre before the competition but the coach organised very tough friendlies for them during their preparation. They lost some and won some. That was the result we saw. Even Samba boys were frustrated by these mediocre courtesy the friendlies. Mr Amodu, it is a man who is doomed for failure that is afraid of challenges and criticisms! You have displayed that you are not fit for that position you occupy!
As far as i am concerned Amodu is one of the best coaches Nigeria has produced but because he is an indigenous coach, his views and tactics have been taken for granted.It is time for Nigerians to stop casting aspersions on this great coach who has not lost a match. Amodu is building a team but Nigerians love the short-cut or a ready made team led by a dead weight expartriate coach.