Posted by By COSMAS OMEGOH on
Nigerian-born Montpellier Sports Club of France midfielder, Egwuatu Oliseh has charged Super Eagles new Head Coach, Shuaibu Amodu to rebuild the team.
•Oliseh tasks Amodu
•Wants more players invited
Nigerian-born Montpellier Sports Club of France midfielder, Egwuatu Oliseh has charged Super Eagles new Head Coach, Shuaibu Amodu to rebuild the team.
While commending Amodu's recent appointment, he said the Edo-born tactician must take a cue from other Africa's indigenous coaches that featured at the last Nations Cup in Ghana, and pull the Eagles out of the woods.
"I wish to commend the NFA for their recent appointment of Shuiabu Amodu as Eagles chief coach," Oliseh who is the younger brother of Azubuike and former Super Eagles' captain, Sunday Oliseh said.
"Amodu is coming at a time there is increasing call for an indigenous coach for the national team. I think his appointment was appropriate. An indigenous coach is sure to do his best to rebuild the team.
"I watched the last Nations Cup in Ghana, and was pleasantly surprised that the Egyptian team that lifted the tournament's trophy had an indigenous coach. Even countries like Sudan and Angola came to the championship with indigenous coaches, and they played excellent football.
In fact, what we all saw at that championship was an eye opener that football in other lands is on the up swing. And we cannot which that away. If that feat could be achieved by indigenous coaches, one only hopes that our own coaches can do better, if they are encouraged.
"And for Amodu, the onus is on him now to rebuild the team. He needs to work hard now so that the Super Eagles can take their rightful place on the continent. If he is able to achieve that within a short time, that will go a long way to show that the Ghana 2008 debacle was indeed a mistake," he said.
He told Saturday Sunsport that sad memories of Super Eagles outing at Ghana 2008 still hunts him. He said he could not see major reasons for Eagles quarter final ouster by Ghana. He noted that the Super Eagles were always a star-studded side, but regretted that the team paraded in Ghana lacked cohesion.
"As a Nigerian, I follow every game involving the Super Eagles. I watched every game played by the team at the last Nations Cup. What can anyone say about a defense that featured Joseph Yobo, Danny Shittu, Taiye Taiwo with Austin Ejide in goal. What about the midfield where Mikel Obi played and the attack involving Obafemi Martins, Nwankwo Kanu and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. All these are tested and talented players. But one thing that let them down was cohesion. This is very important in the success of every team," he noted.
As Amodu steps forward to rebuild confidence in the team, he said team work was a vital aspect he must work on.
"One of the big tasks before Amodu now is to work on team spirit. That is the strength of any team," he said.
Commenting on the recent 27players invited by Amodu to face Austria in an international friendly match, Oliseh said that was good but tasked the coach to look further and see more Nigerians doing well in other leagues across the world.
"Nigeria is a big country with so many talented players within and outside. Such players need to be invited to fight for shirts and prove themselves. They need to show what they can do, and where they impress, they can contribute to the good of the team."
The former Queens Park Rangers of England player further tasked Amodu to investigate why some players refuse to honour national call-up. He said it was the desire of every player to play for his country, but if the contrary was the case, it meant that there was something wrong.
"Every player enjoys playing for his national team. When you are ill-treated in your club, there is always a place to return to and that is your national side. But if we have players refusing national call-up, that means there is something wrong somewhere. Perhaps, they are not treated well. That is what the coach needs to find out," he concluded.