HOME > NEWS > OKORO ON FIRE FOR EAGLETS

Okoro on fire for Eaglets

Okoro on fire for Eaglets

Posted: 2009-10-09 10:23

Nigeria's Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, defeated Qatari club Luqiyya FC 4-1 in a warm-up match ahead of the Under-17 World Cup, with Heartland star Stanley Okoro netting a hat-trick.

Okoro got his three goals in the second half, while the other Nigerian goal was scored in the first half by Olarewaju Kayode.
 
Mighty Jets striker Terry Envoh was also in fine fettle as he spearheaded the attack, while the other Heartland star in the team, full-back Orji Kalu, started from the bench.
 
"This was a remarkable improvement from the team I travelled with to Dubai a few months ago. It is really a team to be proud of," top team official, Garba Lawal, told Goal.com.
 
The Eaglets are on a training stint in Qatar prior to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which they will host starting on October 24.
 
Nigeria, who are also the defending champions, are drawn against Germany, Argentina and Honduras in the first round of the tournament.
 
The team are expected back in Nigeria on October 16.



Have you discussed this topic on Team KICK OFF? Click Here...

Comment on this article:

TERMS OF USE: The comments posted below do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist or inflammatory comments will be deleted and the user banned. Please report abusive posts to editor@kickoff.com

Billion: 2009-10-09 10:57

The same Stanley Okoro that is said to be 30yrs old? Well, let the Golden Eaglets come and do their own assessment next month. I wish 9ja all the best. By the way, where are those siasiamaniac? A German team that had a less than 2wks to train together as a team defeated a Nigerian team with 3 months preparation even with 10 men! It's just bizarre!!

Garvey: 2009-10-09 11:16

@Billion - Please always try to get your facts right before you make any comment. I live in Germany and the Germany team has been in camp for more than three months.

Garvey: 2009-10-09 11:16

** German team

Primus: 2009-10-09 11:31

Billion-u no dey serious. Dis man don pass 40 years,im don dey almost reach 50 sef! Hypocrite,next time remove the beam from your eyes first before making irresponsible and atrocious comments about others. He who lives in a glass house does not throw stones,huh?

T,jay: 2009-10-09 11:35

wonders shall never end,,,we saw flying chickens defeating Egyptian clubs, what happen to them at the end?? disaster!!!
lets wait and see, what the golden chicken will offer.
as for the age of okoro playing for golden eaglet, the guy want to still achieve his dreams like my grand father who after many years in farm still hope to achieve his dreams.
the conditions in this country make us to achieve our dreams maybe when we an old man.

Olatunbosun: 2009-10-09 11:38

@Garvey, Thank you for your short response. Some will still claim that Fashola of Lagos has not done anything even with the transformation in Lagos. Some are waiting for him to make just one mistake (as if A man could be equal to God) before they say on the mountaing top that he is the worst Governor ever. Just giving a simple ****ogy. Yet we will say the country is bad. Men, where is our conscience.

We still have a long wasy to go in this country but if God be 4 us...

Garvey: 2009-10-09 11:46

@Stilo - your little brain will never get it. All the discussion and comments about the FE is not about Siasia or any of the players. It's about Nigeria. Nigeria lost to Germany and not Siasia or Ighalo, Osanga etc. It's on record that Nigeria was eliminated by Germany at the U-20 Footbal World championship Egypt 2009. The Match was not played between Germany and Siasia.

jayhillkanne@yahoo.com: 2009-10-09 12:00

THEY ONLY DEFEATED GROUP OF ABOKIS; ABOKI CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF COWS ; NOT PLAYIN SOCCER

jayhillkanne@yahoo.com: 2009-10-09 12:03

HOW CAN YAR DUWA ; ABACHA ; BABAGIDA LAWAL PLAY SOCCER; HOW CAN OUR PRESIDENT INFULENCE OUR COACH

Festus: 2009-10-09 12:14

Garvey
U r right, the german tean had been preparing for more than 3 months, but those players were not released by thier clubs, about 26 of them. This team that came to egypt was put together in just 3 weeks. U r not the only one living in germany.

Garvey: 2009-10-09 12:20

I can just laugh at your comment Stilo or Emeka or whatever you decide to call yourself. Sukuta Pasu plays for Bayer Leverkusen but he is not in their first team and he has never played a single match for Leverkusen this season and that is why he has been released for world cup. I am sure living in Germany as asylum seeker like you can not be a bed of roses.

James: 2009-10-09 12:23

Its time we examine our comments. Lets be constructive in our criticism we should try and be almost accurate if not perfect. Billion, even if u are not a die hand of siasia u should try & get ur facts right before exposing ur myopic view in public.
We can start from the scratch to build a new national team both male and female teams. With such youth program from 12 we can have a good youth team that even the weakest coach in the world can handle.
@stilo, pls try and check ur facts too. U earlier said england, now germany tomorrow its holland. As u earlier said u met siasia in Amsterdam. Its people like u that takes the country backwards with their ill timely views

James: 2009-10-09 12:25

sorry, typo error. "die hard'"
Garvey, thanx for ur view

Billion: 2009-10-09 12:26

@Garvey, I'm dissappointed you're hussling in Germany without knowing what is going on there. For your information, the German team dat came to the competition is the B team cos' 26 of their regular players were turned back cos' their FA thought they were established already and needed to expose much younger players!

Birikiti: 2009-10-09 12:27

@ Billion,
I appreciate your point really but I want to disagree with your insinuation that Siasia is no better than the average coaches we have in Nigeria.

One thing is certain, you can't compare teams raised by Siasia to that of any other Nigerian coach! Why? Simple, you can obviously see that passion, fighting spirit, enthusiasm, are hallmarks of Siaone's teams & most importantly, you can see changes by a Technical team that impacts positively on the team's performance in a match, almost instantly.

Same can't be said of most other coaches! Amodu's SE have not changed much from what they played against Austria (in his 1st game in charge) not to talk of him make changes that have a positive bearing during a match.

Truth be told, Siasia must have learnt a whole lot from this present debacle. I personally think that players like Macauley, Akinsola, Oseni, Udoh, Nkume, could have helped stabilise this team. But what's a coach supposed to do when while some players were in camp others were going for trials all over Europe? Should he then ditch the ones that have been committed to his camping when these trialists come back & what about the attendant visa issues that was the coach's fault ? Or should he decamp those that have been there for those that were trying to stay one extra week in their clubs? Coaches dilema!
However, that you lost out in a tournament were you controlled virtually all your games but could not get the goals to give you the results is not failure to me. Failure will be if we don't learn from this experiment & appoint coaches for the next U-20 world cup & London 2012 NOW!

Billion: 2009-10-09 12:32

@Festus, thanks...I didn't read ur comments b4 posting this!
@James...I can't join issues with u...never!

SANCHEZ: 2009-10-09 12:33

What a joke, this okoro guy is far older than Ibok Edet whose parents used to be our neighbour.he looks older than most of the guys in siasia's team. I just dont understand why we keep doing this, dont get why the players are not ashamed of what they are doing, i mean there are so may people they grew up with who will be watching them bach home.what is the point of beating brazil, argentina, france, italy at the U17 level then fail to beat mozambique, tunisia, angola and others when it comes to the main world cup qualifiers.To make things worse, this shameless players and officials will be taken to aso rock and rewarded for cheating. what a joke!

maark: 2009-10-09 12:48

I reside in Germany. The germans trained more than 3months. Even if they were not released on time they still had more than 20 players training. They had more time than the 3weeks speculated. The german coach have been their coach more than 3months unlike siasia that was a coach for only 3months

Festus: 2009-10-09 12:50

@ birikiti
Andre ayew, the captain of ghana joined the team, just 2 days to the begining of this tournament in egypt, Nkume was in spain throught out the camping period, Udoh could still have made it to spain at least for a week's camping. Sia1 was just too arogant. He registered midfielders (N****wo, Abe, Orelesi, Shagari) as defenders beliving it was in his powers to convert them to defenders just bcos he converted okonkwo from being a rightsided DEFENDER to a left sided DEFENDER. That was why our defence was so porous throughout the tournament

collins: 2009-10-09 12:54

@gravey,though not in support of emeka_stilo comments,but the german teams does not stay in camp for more than 3 months.

Adeshina : 2009-10-09 13:01

@stilo,pls leave garvey alone.The reason why our FE failed had nothing to do with how long the germans prepared.Ok,can we compare our administrative set up(as done by the NFF)with that of the germans?Abeg leave story for chinua achebe.

We should also be aware that whatever we say in this fora,is read world wide.the issue of wether okoro is under or over age should be treated with care and not blown in the open as some of you forumites have done.remember you do not wash all your dirty linen in the public.

Na we dey kill ourselves.I can never have another home and country like naija,for better for worse.
best of luck to the GE.

Festus: 2009-10-09 13:01

see, the truth remains that sia1 messed up this time around an is not yet right for the senior team. Nobody should blame the NFF bcos we have neva had good soccer administration since the late 80's. All d coaches that have worked with our teams have succeeded or failed on thier own voilition. Some say 3 months was not enough to prepare 4 Egypt, Bonfrere jo joined the Atlanta 96 squad less than a month to the olympics. If 3 months was not enough, 2 build a new team, why discard the team that went to rwanda.
We overrate sia1 as if he is a magician. AS if he is so good that He can will anymatch, so far he is on the bench. He is still learning. He cant handle SE yet. If he cannot control the likes of haruna and these small boys, how can he control yobo, Mikel, Olofin, Kanu and the big and more established players.

He lost simply due to pride
He tought he had arrived, simply bcos people hail im too much
Even wen he was making a mistake, people were hailing him. It was only @Mike 1 that spoke out

Imagine he left Udoh, Nkume, Edile, for no reson and went with just 2 defenders, edet and adejo. The rest were midfielders he converted 2 defence.

I am not anti siasia, infact I am an advocate of former players taking over as coaches, but he is still too young to be SE coach. He is still inexperienced
People think he is a magician. Some were even saying he should take us to nations cup. Nations cup is in 3 months. if FE failed with 3 months preparation, SE can also fail.

The coach of Ghana team has been coaching since 4 years ago, starting with the U17. he wins a medal in every tournament, in african and world level, till now, and i am sure he will still win in this one too, yet, nobody in ghana is calling him the best,nobody is saying that he sholud take over the national team.


This whole thing is paining me seriously bcos,those boys were very anoying through out the tournament, from defence to attack.

If udoh, Nkume, Edile, Oseni, Akinsola,and Uchebo had been in this tournament, we would not have performed this badly

We palyed aginst 9men, strikers could not score

we played against 10 men, they still could not score and the defence conceded 2 goals.

I was really ashamed.
The simple truth is that Siasia should now humble himself and begin to thread softly and stop boasting and thinking he has arrived, he still has a whole lot to learn, like not discarding a whole team with few weeks to a competition and bringing in new ones.

soccabros: 2009-10-09 13:06

German Forumites, grow up....just look at what mess u r doing to yourselves here.....pls concentrate on the issue at hand not diverting to ur live/ways in Germany....nawaaah 4 una oooh

Freeman: 2009-10-09 13:13

From the game I saw, the defence was suspect. They needed someone like Udoh to marshall the defence, and obvoiusly Obiora can't do that. The strikers failed to perform because they never get into scoring position or give the other defence tough time. They seemed wary of Referees after the first two games. They attack in numbers but they don't defend in numbers. Siasia isn't the problem, the lad probably failed to play according to instructions. look at the manner of the German third goal and see how a defender rather than sending a long ball to the strikers decided to dribble his way thereby loosing the ball. Though naturally, I expected a defensive play after Rabiu's second goal. but anyway, lets leave story. Tomorrow is another day. Siasia is not to blame. Neither is the space of preparation.

Please leave Stanley Okoro alone you bad belle mongers. Didn't the guy pass the MRI scan in flying colours? so whats your headache? Stop running our football down with your mouths. Its too filthy and honestly some deserves to be smacked on the mouth......HARD!

Amata : 2009-10-09 13:23

I WONDER WHAT SOME OF YOU GUYS GAIN BY BEING PESSIMISTIC AND SARCASTIC TOWARD EVERYTHING NIGERIA. I JUST WONDER. DO NOT FORGET THAT WHATEVER YOU WISH OTHERS IS WHAT YOU WISH YOURSELF. IT IS VERY EASY FOR A FELLOW FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE IT IN OTHER FAILURES. THEY ARE USED TO IT. IT IS A WAY OF LIFE. IF YOU ARE TIRED OF BEING NIGERIAN, PLEASE CHANGE NATIONALITY. GOD BLESS NIGERIA, SUPER EAGLES, FLYING EAGLES, GOLDEN EAGLETS AND EVERY RIGHT THINKING AND WELL MEANING POSITIVE NIGERIAN WORLD OVER. AMEN!!!!!

Adekunle: 2009-10-09 13:28

This german team won the Europe under 20 tournament. I believe that the mistake has been noted by sissia. For me Siasia is a very gd coach and being an Human being we are bound to make mistake. Our ability to pick ourself up and correct our mistake shows the desire to move up... So for me its high time we start preparing for the future.

shola: 2009-10-09 13:38

Someone talked about technicality in Sia 1 team, please show me. He lack technicality in this u20. I live where science and technics is used in every sport.Siasia did not have one this time, sorry. He's got 4 games to show but naaaaaa.

Emeka: 2009-10-09 13:51

We need to age test these individuals and if over age they should be sentenced to death.
That happens and age cheating would disappear.

Chris: 2009-10-09 14:00

I live in Nigeria, Breath Nigeria, eat Nigeria and sleep in Nigeria. I contribute my own quota to see to it that Nigeria becomes a better country for you and me.

I also monitor the happenings in other country through, 1. Internet 2. TV. 3. Phone. So people coming to this site to make issue with were they reside is simply childish.

To the topic at hand, if Okoro has played for rangers for two seasons and heartland same number of season and still under 17, hmmm.... he must be an avarter. lol

Garvey: 2009-10-09 14:01

Thank you Birikiti for your good comment. @Billion- so you know what is going on in Germany. If you know so much then you will know that most European countries in the U-20 World championship were not happy with Fifa for the timing of this tournament because they knew it will be difficult to get most of their players released by their resective clubs at this time of the year. The Germans were aware of this fact and did not wait until the last minute to assemble a second team and started training long before we in Nigeria started any preparation. That is the difference between our NFF and the DFB. So, Billion get your facts right before you make comments. For your information, not all Nigerians living in Germany are husslers (get to me at garvey_im@yahoo.de and I will prove this to you). I know you are a much more reasonable guy compare to "small brain" Stilo. And to you Stilo: were you not the one that started posting comments in german language on this forum when you know that not everyone in here speaks german? You are also one of those who started using abusive words in this forum.

Onye-isi: 2009-10-09 14:06

lol....lol...forumites na wa oh...everybody now resides in germany bcos of d german team's preparation wahala....abeg make una 4get all those things its now in d past. lets face who next - d U "17" : stanley baba your face looks young but definitely does not look under 17 abeg. u'd probably be around 20/21...lol @NFF una no go everly learn. make una de win U17, U21, U23 de go with oold men so that by d team d players go don finish d last U (i.e. U23), dem 4 don old. let us ask ourselves why Nigerian junior players never make it 2 top top clubs why!!! okoro and co go de deceive themselves and their nation...dem no know say na theirself dem do harm. look d U17 defending champions; how many don go top club and de make impact 4 d club? for instance chrisantus played in d same tourney with bojan, merida, etc. 2day these guys have played a handful of matches 4 their clubs but where is chrisantus? untill we start considering d long term improvement of our junior ranks instead of short term, we will not make headway...dis is why i am sure coaches are pressured to integrate old men bcos they know that failure would lead 2 their sacking...how sad!!! SOLUTION:1. disband current NFF and elect competent people (preferebly past players). 2. employ good coaches and give them say 4/5 year contracts to enable them relax and develop+nurture young talents 4 real....all this rubbish (including for e.g winning d U17 W.C and not being able to beat Angola 6/7 years later as a result of tired legs and so on) will lead us nowhere!!!

Chris: 2009-10-09 14:06

@Mike I love the way you use pigin english to express yourself, i really love it. But what i find annoying in your comments are the abusive language you use on you fellow forumites, please try and apply caution.

Onye-isi: 2009-10-09 14:12

lol....lol...forumites na wa oh...everybody now resides in germany bcos of d german team's preparation wahala....abeg make una 4get all those things its now in d past. lets face who next - d U "17" : stanley baba your face looks young but definitely does not look under 17 abeg. u'd probably be around 20/21...lol @NFF una no go everly learn. make una de win U17, U21, U23 de go with oold men so that by d team d players go don finish d last U (i.e. U23), dem 4 don old. let us ask ourselves why Nigerian junior players never make it 2 top top clubs why!!! okoro and co go de deceive themselves and their nation...dem no know say na theirself dem do harm. look d U17 defending champions; how many don go top club and de make impact 4 d club? for instance chrisantus played in d same tourney with bojan, merida, etc. 2day these guys have played a handful of matches 4 their clubs but where is chrisantus? untill we start considering d long term improvement of our junior ranks instead of short term, we will not make headway...dis is why i am sure coaches are pressured to integrate old men bcos they know that failure would lead 2 their sacking...how sad!!! SOLUTION:1. disband current NFF and elect competent people (preferebly past players). 2. employ good coaches and give them say 4/5 year contracts to enable them relax and develop+nurture young talents 4 real....all this rubbish (including for e.g winning d U17 W.C and not being able to beat Angola 6/7 years later as a result of tired legs and so on) will lead us nowhere!!!

Chris: 2009-10-09 14:17

Despite flying eagles being knocked out of the competition, we all should agree on one thing, their brand of football is simply amazing. Its been a while since i saw a Nigerian team play such lovely kind of football. Come to think of it, they only stayed together for two wks, if not for ill luck those boys would have brought the cup home.

speechless: 2009-10-09 14:50

hahaha..all this 419 boys..una no get work again..abi una whitie mugu dem no dey answer again...so na for KON una come base now...Please make una pack una load and **** out..we dont want u jobless men here...we seek and sought out for inteligient people who can constructively discus the ills burdening our under performing football teams...u people will never contribute anything good here aside from your normal abuses and arguements...please keep off from this forum...

Olatunbosun: 2009-10-09 15:11

On June 29, 2009 Germany won Euro U21. Where was Nigeria? If a country build on this and win a world cup, would you say that they have not prepared? England that came second, where are they?

Please let us anaylyse before making our submision on this forum. This is the only way we can learn.

It unimaginable for someone to say that Germany trained for only one week when they are not disorganised like NFF. Do we have input that can help Nigeria move forward in this forum....

gerry: 2009-10-09 15:32

wow, Germany is now in fashion, US and UK has taken the backstage.

Maybe they is somewhere where in Nigeria called Germany, it most be where these guys are refering to as where they leave.

Please any more news from our German guys, keep them coming.

thanks

gerry: 2009-10-09 15:34

wow, Germany is now in fashion, US and UK has taken the backstage.

Maybe there is somewhere in Nigeria called Germany, it must be where these guys are refering to as where they are residing.

Please any more news from our German guys, keep them coming.

thanks

Garvey: 2009-10-09 15:52

@Olatunbosun - those who want us to believe that Germany trained only for one week before the tournament are those enemy of progress who saw nothing good in the FE. They are those who will never see anything good in whatever Siasia does because they have personal grudge against him. They are so blind not see anything good in those set of FE. They are clamouring for players who have proved their mettle in U-17 tournament but are nowhere to be found today in any top club in Europe or at home. A coach can only select his team from players who report to camp and not from players who were called to camp and did not turn up. A question for those who are of the opinion that players like Oseni, Akinsola and the rest of those former U-17 players who never made it to the U-20 team should have been in Egypt: Where are these players playing today and are you all sure they are under 20?

Ozidi: 2009-10-09 16:00

I wonder why some ppl always talk about football age...man no body i repeat no player on earth use his normal age to play football...even John Terry is still 27/28 then tell me how Stanley will be 30 years when John Terry is 27...Siasia have done well and need to be courage to do even better then he did..can you imagine that Argentina is still proud of Maradona after all the loses.. ppl lets learn to appreciate our own...

odiichelsea : 2009-10-09 16:25

@olatunbosun..just to correct an impression.i was just going through the comments here because i dont find it worthwhile to comments anymore.
however,you talked about England coming second in euro under 21. the team that came second is not the same that came for the tournament. just check the records pls

Olatunde : 2009-10-09 16:40

Beating qartar is not enough.i beliv they need more matches to play.so as to know how realy gud they are.i whish dem best of luck.

Festus: 2009-10-09 16:50

@ Garvey
Mind u, apart from the players weve known b4 this tournament, the likes of rabiu, osanga, haruna and maybe N****wo- who was the only revelation in the tournament, i can boldly tell u that none of the rest can make it to the SE in the next 7-9 years.
As for the clubs were others play 4:
Oseni plays in CSKA Moscow
Akinsola plays in the Allsvelskan ligue in sweeden. And as 4 age, Not even brazil can boast of all thier players being U17. Every country does age cheating. or u say ROONEY, John TERRY, Frank Ribery are the true ages they claim. Stop being decieved bro.
Sia1 lost due to arrogance. if he knew his team was not good enough, why was he boasting to every pressman b4 the tournament that he would win the trophy. He sure must have learnt his lessons

Olatunbosun: 2009-10-09 16:51

@Odili Chelsea, I know cos i have the records at my finger tips. England understand very well that the major thing is their national team and thet should be the basis on which a countrys football is to be judged. This is why though late, they dealth with their former national coach and brough in Capello. My brother Odili chelsea, you can tell what the result was. ONE THING

Olatunbosun: 2009-10-09 16:51

... IS NEEDFUL

Festus: 2009-10-09 16:52

ssorry.... U20 I mean

Garvey: 2009-10-09 17:05

@Festus - Should we continue to cheat at under age tournament or should we give our youth the opportunity to develop and become SE material?

ken gadaffi: 2009-10-09 17:13

na wa o oo, the debate has changed from who is better between siasia and Amodu now to who is in germany or not in germany.....Self aggrandizement is one the problems among Nigerians.

Back to the issue of age cheats, i think its universally accepted that their is a football age, however its still not clear how that so called football age is calculated.
For a 17 year old to be playing in the first team of his club is possible but rare.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Harrison: 2009-10-09 17:24

Its important that we Forumites have constructive criticism then we can move forward, ie if am follower of Siasia i will not be a coward not to point out where he made mistake thereby encouraging him, we all know that 3months is not enough to perfect strategy for a Tournamnet of this magnitude, i also know that NFF did not help matters by not going ahead immediatly to hand over this team to Siasia when Bosso came back from African Youth Championship, there was delay in doing this cos Bosso was inlaw to the minister of Sports, but lets be frank to ourselves, Siasia knows he has a short period of time to prepare these boys, he should have tried all he can to include Nkume, Udoh, Akinsola, i still believe there are a lot of good players from Yemi Tella's team to Korea where droped, ie, Udoh requested permission from him Siasia to trials abroad, why deny him when he came back? though we have blunt attack yet we all see that we can still score against Germany, am sure if Nkume and Udoh where included in that team we culd have beaten Germany hands down, NFF officails cannot get Visa for Udoh, what a shame and confidence betrayed from those managing our football, Siasia culd have forgiving both players no matter their offence, he suppose to act like a father to them, now we are weeping and wailing, we cant keep crying over a spilt milk, which way forward should be our priority now. Harrison, California USA.

nelson: 2009-10-09 17:29

i can't stop laughing here today,@festus,citing ribery,rooney and terry with age cheats is really disgusting.this is western world fellow,quite different from where me or you came from,say something else to convince others.

Olatunbosun: 2009-10-09 17:57

Why I Have Not Delivered In Eagles Shirt
Friday, October 9, 2009, 11:30
News242 views
2 comments

Super Eagles attacker Chinedu Obasi says the chief reason he has not delivered in the Eagles line up has been that he has been wrongly played by coach Shuaibu Amodu.
The German-based player who is in camp with other members of the Eagles ahead this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against the Mambas of Mozambique told our correspondent after one of the team’s work out.

“Not many people know that I’m being played wrongly in the Eagles team, especially in the last game against Tunisia. I had to fall back most times to win ***** for myself, thus making things difficult for me.”

The former Lyn Oslo striker said in his club he is given a free role in the attack which has made him a better striker.
“In my club, I operate freely and can do almost anything on the pitch with the ball, though with a level of discipline.”

The Olympic silver medalist noted that he is not unmindful of the fact that most Nigerians judge him with his exploits in the 2005 U-20 World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I know most Nigerians expect much from me if you consider those two outings…and it has been a burden that I have to carry on this weekend’s encounter against Mozambique.” The Hoffenheim forward however promised to deliver on Sunday.

musa : 2009-10-09 17:59

i wan inform everybody now... if i ever hear say somebody insult hausa mostly some igbo boys i go tell dem their life.. hausa no good most igbo business partner na hausa men dem no good why the trust go dey there i don tell una @mike na u be the most foolish thing dat has ever happened to this nation if u still continue with tribal setiment meaning na old school blood dey ur bdoy is like u lost all your parents for biafra war drop i don tell u finish ur next abuse word against hausa or muslim i go tell your generation e life
musa jabar i no run

uzochi: 2009-10-09 18:10

@HARRISON.
as always, you have spoken sense.

Tolu: 2009-10-09 18:18

On a lighter note: Cos I got a '17' jersey does not make me 17, right?

Obi: 2009-10-09 19:20

Is Siasia a bad coach? Certainly not! Is he a good coach? Obviously he is. Is he the best coach in Nigeria? Who knows......but he is certainly among the best. Is he a fantastic coach? Not yet, but his development is pushing him in that direction.

Just like every other profession, you learn as you acquire experience in coaching. After practicing Electrical Engineering for the past 18 years, I'm certainly a better Engineer today than when I graduated in 1991. Some of my key learning points have even come from the errors that I made in my career! So also it is with coaching!

Luis Caesar Menotti won the World Cup for Argentina in 1998, and yet was knocked out in the second round in 1982 (Played 5, Won 2, Drew none and lost 3). Should we say that he was a bad coach? Certainly not! His Argentine team of 78 was a better team than Maradona's team of 86! Zagalo won the World Cup for Brazil in 1970, but was destroyed by an exceptional Dutch team in 1974 in the semi finals, only to come back as assistant in 94 to win the cup. Yet in 98 he came second, having also been dumped by Nigeria at the Atlanta 96 Olympics. Is he a bad coach? Most certainly not....he is one of the best ever! Coming closer home, Sebastian Brodericks won the U-17 World Cup in 85 (after 3 weeks of preparation), came second in 87, and was knocked out in the Quater Finals in 89 and 95. Was he a bad coach? Certainly not! The point I'm making is that I know of no coach that wins continuously in this lovely game. Not even Guus Hiddink, who is so highly regarded presently. In fact, Hiddink has won nothing in recent times, but yet is so highly regarded.

Let's not kill Siasia for one bad tournament, because he has shown in the past what he can do. In addition to the input of the coach, the quality of the players at his disposal is equally important. Carlos Alberto Torres won USA 94 with Brazil, but what did he achieve with Saudi Arabia or Fernhebace? Bonfrere Jo won both Atlanta 96 and silver at CAN 2000 with us, but what did he achieve in the Middle East? The truth is that on the average, the quality of the players that we took to this WYC was lower than the team of 2005 and also of the 2008 Olympics. You cannot squeeze water from stone (unless you are Moses).

Those who are castigating Siasia miss the point. We have inherent anomalies with Nigerian football presently that need to be addressed. Do we have a playing system recognizable as Nigerian? Every German team plays the same way. Every Brazilian team is immediately recognizable. Even in Africa, every Ghanaian or Cameroonian team is immediately recognizable on the field. The good thing about this is that building a team will become easier and less traumatic, as every player understands clearly what is required of him (or her for that matter....even the Cameroonian or Brazilian women play like their men!). In one sentence, we need to develop a clearly discernable football culture. Only NFF can lead this effort.

During Brazil's barren World Cup years (1970 to 1994), it became obvious to the Brazilian Federation that there was need for them to move away from their football culture of the Pele era.....an arrogant approach to the game, where the team was top-heavy with attack-minded potential, and where the philosophy was more interested in scoring rather than defending. One reason why Brazil survived during the Pele era was the availability of unbelievable talent....Pele, Garrincha (who is rated higher than Pele in certain quarters), Didi, Vava,....and much later Tostao, Rivellino, Jairzinho, Gerson etc, coupled with the non-existence of present-day mass defensive techniques. By 1982 when they had an almost similarly gifted squad, the rest of the world had caught on! Brazil could not overcome their defensive frailties against Italy by unbridled attacking as was usually the case. Their coach, Tele Santana, was later to say in 1986 that he still could not understand how that great team lost (3-2) to a team of relatively average players like Italy. From 1986 onwards, there was a steady movement by Brazil towards greater balance in the team, culminating in the unspectacular but successful USA 94 team. The Brazilian Federation made a conscious effort to develop a new approach to the game. Sebastiao Lazaroni, who was a self professed admirer of the cagey and physical European style was appointed for the 1990 event, and ultimately failed. In the mean time, emphasis was placed on using bigger, stronger players in the youth teams, as well as developing defensive talent. The scouting system was improved, with scouts specifically requested to look for a certain type of player: big and strong, and with skill if possible. The result today is there for all to see. The present Brazilian team plays with 2 holding midfielders (sacrilege in Pele’s era), and guess who was sacrificed in order to make room for the extra midfielder…….Ronaldinho!

We may not necessarily follow the Brazilian model, but the NFF should find ways of bringing out local talent at a genuinely young age! They should support the revival of school football, and mandate Premier league teams (at least) to have youth teams. They should support with logistics, and let the advertizing proceeds of the Glo Premiership trickle down to the clubs. At the same time, they should form a think-tank of good senior coaches and former players (including Westerhof especially, whom I now consider to be Nigerian), to help develop a training system for Nigerian coaches with emphasis on maximizing the usual attributes of Nigerian players (strength, skill, athletic qualities…), and developing a standardized system of playing/coaching. Nobody should be allowed to coach a professional side in Nigeria or any of the national teams without a Nigerian coaching certificate/license. The results will not come quickly, but they will certainly come, and they will be lasting.

Our present football problems may have to do with coaching to some extent, but they mostly have to do with the lack of a deliberate effort at organizing our football! This is the NFF's department!

Obi: 2009-10-09 19:25

Sorry....Mennotti won with Argentina in 1978, not 1998....

olatunde: 2009-10-09 21:52

i dont know why we will not learn. How can you say a player that plays for heartland in nigerian proffesional league is under 17. Oh my God! what a super under 17. you all knew were you can find true under 17. plssssssssssssssss

olatunde: 2009-10-09 22:22

so its now the work of the coach to go and score for the strikers. or what are people saying. Idont know why nigerian will always want to make the coach a skape goat when there is a failure. Can you compare this team with the one ladan bosso took to canada or the team siasia inherited from him.We need to pls encourage Siasia. He did his best for this team.If only he had not come to that competition with the stupid and arrogant Haruna may be just may be we will still be in there.Haruna is good but too proud of what he has achieve for himself which makes him to puff up and this he carried to the field of play. If the "super chicken sorry eagles" can play with the same passion,im sure the the result will have been different.And to people who are abusing the FA , i think they tried there best though it might not be good enough. I dont think Amodu has anything to complain about.except for the fact that he is just not competent.We cant blame the FA for his hiring also because nigerians ask for it.And is siasia not also a good choice?. They may not be perfect due to nigerian syndrome but they perfomed better than some of the past administration weve had in this country ala 'MR NOT BARTH RIGHT'.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 22:24

@festus, you are either daft or just bn mischievious to make dat comparism between jo bonfrere's era and sia1's present dilemma. I believe any true supporter of nigerian football and not those who only know football because of drogba and co will never make dat silly comparism. due to your stupidity i will not even waste my time explaining the differences in both situations but you can exercise ur atrophied brain cells with proper research and d right questions. @stilo, u're just a "comrade in ignorance", you thot your ignorant friend, festus had written sumtin very special and you were applauding his stupidity. You guys can reside in Kazakhstan, the moon or even mars for all I care but as they say, "You can take a man out of the village, but you cannot take the village out of him." Ignorant yesterday, ignorant today, ignorant tomorrow.
@obi, what can i say? beautiful write up.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 22:27

@mike, just tell musa say u no be mike1. no need to dey tear shirt.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 22:32

@billion if you know anything about european football administration, the policy of reserve/youth team development by clubs in europe you will know that the story of germany only having 2weeks to prepare is just a half truth. dat na pure propaganda.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 22:45

@billion, emeka, festus and stilo if u believe dat story then i might as well be a martian. never accept everything these europeans tell you, a team dat just won their european championship in june, a coach who had bn in charge for the past two years, players who play consistently for their clubs' youth/reserve sides if they are not first team players, a federation dat knew the timing of dis tournament and the penchance for german teams to hold back players because they know fifa can't do anything about it and you believe they had two weeks only to prepare? you guys stay in europe but obviously you don't seem to know how the system you live in operates. dats why most of you come back o this country without any tangible achievements and you are even worse than we who have never travelled out.
COME BACK HOME MY IGNORANT FRIENDS AND STOP BN AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THIS NATION OF OURS.
NAIJA 4 LIFE!

Edna: 2009-10-09 22:48

when i talk say na we get naija football dem go say dis one no get sense, see am now, why dem invite Okoro, dem for invite shehu, not even shagari, nde nzuzu!!! umunna ya gazie!!!! Okoro iwu somebody, nwa afor

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 23:02

@Harrison good talk my broda, I believe Siasia will learn from dis and hopefully will be better experienced at handling precocious stars in his team, but remember it was him dat bungled Udoh's visa issue, it was the NFF. Udoh and Nkume will also learn to be patient and focused. It is a lesson for everybody. I know something positive will come out of this disaster, afterall life experiences are gained from our lows and not the high moments.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 23:04

@Harrison good talk my broda, I believe Siasia will learn from dis and hopefully will be better experienced at handling precocious stars in his team, but remember it was not him dat bungled Udoh's visa issue, it was the NFF. Udoh and Nkume will also learn to be patient and focused. It is a lesson for everybody. I know something positive will come out of this disaster, afterall life experiences are gained from our lows and not the high moments.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 23:06

@Harrison good talk my broda, I believe Siasia will learn from dis and hopefully will be better experienced at handling precocious stars in his team, but remember it was him dat bungled Udoh's visa issue, it was the NFF. Udoh and Nkume will also learn to be patient and focused. It is a lesson for everybody. I know something positive will come out of this disaster, afterall life experiences are gained from our lows and not the high moments.

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 23:07

@billion, emeka, festus and stilo if u believe dat story then i might as well be a martian. never accept everything these europeans tell you, a team dat just won their european championship in june, a coach who had bn in charge for the past two years, players who play consistently for their clubs' youth/reserve sides if they are not first team players, a federation dat knew the timing of dis tournament and the penchance for german teams to hold back players because they know fifa can't do anything about it and you believe they had two weeks only to prepare? you guys stay in europe but obviously you don't seem to know how the system you live in operates. dats why most of you come back o this country without any tangible achievements and you are even worse than we who have never travelled out.
COME BACK HOME MY IGNORANT FRIENDS AND STOP BN AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THIS NATION OF OURS.
NAIJA 4 LIFE!

Ebimobowei: 2009-10-09 23:07

@billion if you know anything about european football administration, the policy of reserve/youth team development by clubs in europe you will know that the story of germany only having 2weeks to prepare is just a half truth. dat na pure propaganda.

Edna: 2009-10-09 23:10

@speechless u are the worst fool on earth, infact u are a disgrace to human race, ur presido na 419, even OBASANJO ur bros na 419, how many fake contracts did he award to non existing companys running into millions of dollars, i beg, go and ask for the full explanation of 419, EWU like u

Edna: 2009-10-09 23:13

ok my suggestion is that age ofcourse does not matter on issues like this the fact that it is not commony dictated, what matters is winning, even if it means going there with people with brutal face like one of our former goal keepers, na u sabi!!!

Edna: 2009-10-09 23:14

ok my suggestion is that age ofcourse does not matter on issues like this the fact that it is not commonly or easily dictateable, what matters is winning, even if it means going there with people with brutal face like one of our former goal keepers, na u sabi!!!

Edna: 2009-10-09 23:14

ok my suggestion is that age ofcourse does not matter on issues like this the fact that it is not commonly or easily dictateable, what matters is winning, even if it means going there with people with brutal face like one of our former goal keepers, na u sabi!!!

Segun: 2009-10-09 23:17

@Obi, very incisive remark, how long research did it take you to come up with those statistics. I doubt if anything good can happen to Nigerian football in the coming years because we Nigerians are not just ready to do the right thing. Presently, sports in Nigeria is down totally and it requires careful plan to bring us back to our past glory but can we all allow the plan?
When Amodu was appointed as the SE coach, I was disappointed but had to wish his success since there is nothing one can do. Obviously, Siasia was my choice. He may have failed in the last competition but even in the disappointing showing, the boys still played their best out beating Spain to the possession of the game, only few countries can do this to Spain.
If we must move forward, we must be able to identify the ability in players and coaches and allow them to develop. The best coaches even make fundamental mistakes. There can be only one winner at a time. Some people will argue to high heavens that Sia1 is too young to coach the SE but what is happening in Barca negates that. I thought Barca will have their worst season ever this past season for appointing a young inexperienced coach but alas Guardiola was to prove otherwise. When Eto'o left, a lot of people thought that Barca may be on the downfall but the team has moved on without him. Inter, with Eto'o and a supposedly world class coach in Mourinho, has not got it right this season. There is more to coaching. Mourinho, Ferguson, Hiddink may not even do the necessary transformation needed in our football if they are not given enough time to do their work.
It is on record that the best football that has been played by any national team in recent years has been from Siasia's team in the Olympics (only second to the world cup), a competition that even the mighty Brazilians have not won. Can we encourage him so that he can turn out to be a world beater one day even if he cannot be given the SE coach right now. I know a good number of coaches, FA members, Forumites were even praying for his failure in this last tourney. How can we get to the top when we keep on pulling down ourselves.
Until our economy improves, moving forward in any sector will be difficult. Before you know it, the N****wo, Edet will be off to Europe where a sudden turnaround can occur in their lives but it seems this European teams have contributed so much to our present state. They only go there to warm the bench of the clubsides and they gradually lose their form while the bright prospects of these nations are carefully tutored to become stars. Our league has to improve to an extent that our players can stay back until they are ripe enough to prove themselves in whatever clubs they go to. The Egyptian players are based in Egypt and the country is stronger for it. Even the ones that have tried to find their luck in the foreign land have met their waterloo. A lot of things have to be done before we can arrive at our desired destination.

Obi: 2009-10-10 01:19

@Ebimobowei/@Segun......thanks for the compliments. I didn't have to research the write-up at all.....just typed it. My earliest recollections of football date back to 1976 (Rangers Vs. IICC Cup Winners Cup and Argentina 78 Qualifiers). Strangely once I watch a match, I almost never forget the details! I say strange, because I've always struggled to remember what I read in my books throughout my academic career.....must be that I love football excessively then!

@Edna.....so you think that you are Igbo, and that people of other ethnic groups are beneath you? It's people like you that bring the anger of our other brothers (and sisters) against us! And what do you have that makes you proud? Nothing! Everybody else has overtaken you in everything....education, good governance, even the much vaunted wealth! What do you have? A few pennies made from swindling your fellow brothers at Onitsha Main Market (I grew up in Onitsha) or Ariaria market Aba, while other people are making billions in corporate? Your children either have to leave their states to find work in other parts of the country or leave the country for obscure places, often living like animals and taking to prostitution and crime in foreign lands!

Make no mistake, I'm Igbo and love my ethnic group! But I also know that arrogance and insensitive talk will only make more enemies for us. And it is fools like Edna that cause trouble for their innocent brothers and sisters in diaspora! Edna is probably eking out a meagre existence in Yorubaland or Hausaland! Or perhaps s/he is earning a few Euros washing plates in some forlorn location in Eaurope, saving through two years to come back home! How can s/he make progress when s/he's so insensitive towards other Nigerians, and perhaps people of other races?

Pookie: 2009-10-10 01:59

Billion and his group of FOOLS. You have started talking negative against this country football team again. whatever you say may the Lord return them all into your future and destinies. You leave your ghanaiah forum but you are a fool just like your late father. Your mother lives in Tema and sick, you are here castigating your elder in sport. name internationally where Ghana has edge over Nigeria. YOu black fanti goat. I dont blame you but the canoe that brought you to Nigeria by lagos. Your death will be heard very soon, just wait.

Emmanuel : 2009-10-10 19:57

Glad to hear this from the eaglets camp but mind you that flying eagles did more than this at the training camp but later fumble,just for eaglets to learn from this, dont underate any team and with team work and determination they can make it.

danarchy -is- back: 2009-10-11 13:29

IF IT IS TRUE THAT OKORO HAS PLAYED IN THE LEAGUE IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, SOMEONE SHOULD HINT NFF SO WE ARE NOT DISGRACED BY FIFA AT HOME AFTER THE MRI ....

ON SISIA'S ISSUE WHETHER SIAIAMANIA OR WHATEVER ... ALL I KNOW IS SIASIA'S TEAM NORMALLY PLAY AS A TEAM NO MATTER THE RESULT.... CHECK OUT HOW HE USED OSAZE AND NSOFOR COMPARED TO THE RUBBISH AMODU IS MAKING OUT OF THEM TODAY...

THAT TEAM LOST DUE TO HIS STUBBORNESS OF NOT GOING WITH ANY MEANIFUL STRIKER.. IN ALL MATCHES PLAYED HIS TEAM HAD THE BEST BALL POSSESSION YET COULD NOT SCORE. HARUNA AND IBRAHIM SHOULD MOVE STRAIGT TO S/E ... WE HAD THE BEST MIDFIELD IN THAT TURNAMENT WITH THE EASE THEY WERE LOCATING THEIR LAME STRIKERS. THE LAST GOAL CAME AS A RESULT OF DEFENDERS GOING FORWARD TO SCORE IN PLACE OF OUR LAME STRIKERS. IT WAS AN OUTRIGHT FOUL ON HARUNA THOUGH HE WAS A BIT SLOPPY... MEN THOSE MIDFILDERS ARE SOLID..

Festus: 2009-10-12 14:27

@Ebimobowei
Nice Try Boy! Nice Try!
From all u wrote, you just showed you are a man of low intelligence and hard comprehension. Its like u read with the back of ur head or from right to left. You have just simply disgraced yourself QED

Dayo Odeyemi, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. : 2009-10-13 07:26

I am not impressed by this result unless the tournament starts and issue MRI Scan is cleared.

Dayo Odeyemi, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. : 2009-10-13 07:27

I am not impressed by this result until the tournament starts and issue of MRI Scan is cleared.