By Jacob Ajom

Peter Rufai

Former Super Eagles captain and first choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has dismissed the perceived danger posed by Vincent Enyeama’s sudden withdrawal from the squad that will take on Tanzania this weekend, saying that it should rather motivate the second choice goalkeeper to greater performance.

In a telephone chat with Sports Vanguard yesterday, Rufai, a member of the 1994 and 1998 World Cup squads said in modern football, one player’s absence should not be of much concern to the technical crew and the team in general.

“Whenever one player is not available it gives another player the chance to showcase his capability because any of those players called upon to fill in the position should be capable to do so excellently,” said Rufai.

He opined that there should be no panic in the team because the technical crew should have anticipated such an occurrence. “I listened to Alloy Agu, the team’s goalkeeper trainer speak the other day and he said there were up to four goalkeepers ready to succeed Enyeama if anything goes wrong. This is that type of situation.”

He was confident Wolverhampton Wanderers goal tender, Carl Ikeme would not disappoint if called to duty. “As a goalkeeper, one always prays for an opportunity like this.

He will rise up to the responsibility. He should know that in the national team, one must deliver. You may not have another chance, so I expect he will have this at the back of his mind,” Rufai concluded.