Enyeama Will Return To Eagles, Says NFF
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), confirmed yesterday that goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will return to the Super Eagles fold ‘very soon’.
Enyeama quit the Nigeria national team in controversial circumstances three days ago following a row with Coach Sunday Oliseh, whom he (Enyeama) accused of insulting his late mother and also ordering security operatives to throw him out of the team’s camp in Belgium. The coach has however denied the allegations.
Speaking with The Guardian from the team’s camp in Belgium yesterday, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, said that Enyeama would return to the team saying: “For now, he is still mourning his late mother and we want to allow him have enough rest. But he will surely return.”
There were reports early yesterday morning suggesting that Enyeama was on his way back to the team’s camp in Belgium ahead of today’s friendly game against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.
Pinnick said there was no iota of truth in that story. “Enyeama won’t be in the team for the game against Cameroun, but like I said, he will return to the Super Eagles later.”
On today’s friendly match against Cameroun, the NFF boss said that the Eagles are in high spirit to give their best so as to make up for the not-too-impressive performance against Congo last Thursday.
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6 Comments
so, he is coming out from retirement right? lol
If he returns and retains his captain-ship, and we see both embrace each other in public, then the fans may forgive Oliseh, but we must get a firm assurance that this ugly incident will not rear its head again. We want a coach that is in-charge, but who is mature enough to respect his players, listen to their concerns and worries, and a coach who is empathetic and mature in dealing with different issues and able to handle problems with wisdom, that is what we are asking for. If Oliseh can deliver on this, then we will support him, but he cannot guarantee that, we need to start looking outside for help. Enyeama is a hero, and must be accorded the respect of a hero. Ahmed Musa must step aside till Enyeama exits the stage nothing short of this is acceptable to the Nigerian fans world-wide.
I believe Oliseh didn’t handle this situation wisely. Vincent has just lost his mother and is going through a lot of stress, Mr Oliseh decides to compound issues for the man who has been Nigeria’s best player in recent years . He said he was retiring but has not yet retired. Why would you want to change him when he is still there. There are many examples of people remaining club captains until they actually leave. It is called honor. You can place his successor as a vice captain and groom him that way. Oliseh, your hot headedness is still following you even in coaching.
Oliseh has demonstrated a lack of human relational skill in this principal issue…..Again echoes of his arrogance and pride are rearing their heads….Mr Oliseh needs be humble.
Blame NFF for this. When will fail to develop our so called professional league. Any player can take us for granted Can he do that in Europe. Once a coach is appointed , he becomes the boss but in Nigeria foreign players are the king for locally appointed coaches. NFF is weak a product of a weak system from a very weak country whose only interest is what am I going to steal for my tomorrow . Right from the first day I knew oliseh will have problem from the many Pull Him Down (PHD ) we have in Nigeria. Who is the coach that can handle the team when will don’t respect our own. Some people want foreign coach who will come an rubbish us ,make his money and dissappear. Nigeria let us support oliseh and keep sentiment aside
A Team Captain is NOT a Coach in a Different Name!
A team captain is not another name for a coach or necessarily a coach-in-waiting, unless Nigeria’s Pinnick and his team are attempting to redefine the term. Whatever the merit of the case he is trying to make, Enyeama has no basis for tussling with his coach and expecting to use non-professional, political appointees to muscle his coach into submission. There is no self-respecting coach that will put up with that.
This is not Enyeama’s first threatened retirement from Nigerian soccer. He should go: Heaven will not fall. He should return ONLY because his coach, Oliseh, VOLUNTARILY pardons him and writes off his latest temper tantrum as the last window of opportunity to showcase such arrant nonsense.
If NFF is NOT ready for a professional coach, it should go back and pick one from its universe of ‘Yes’ men. Oliseh is not a YES man. At least, I do not know him as one. Pinnick should confine his administrative powers to non-soccer related issues. On operational issues, including managing his team members, Oliseh should not have to defer to Pinnick and the NFF. If he does not deliver after being allowed to manage his assignment, he should be fired, per his contract. Otherwise, no respectable and self-respecting soccer coach will settle for needless dictation on matters purely operational.
Here are the minimum terms and conditions under which Enyeama could return to wearing Nigeria’s colours.
1) Oliseh, his coach, MUST be willing to VOLUNTARILY pardon him;
2) Before then, Enyeama MUST put into writing his remorse, regret and apology for his needless show of shame; and
3) Pinnick should steer clear of all appearances of dictating to the coach on the latter’s management of his team.
Pinnick and his people should undergo overseas refresher courses on soccer administration and coach relationship. For once, the Eagles camp should show some semblance of discipline indispensable to team success.
For good measure, the coach should also be further exposed to updating his skills; technical and managerial. Oliseh understands the technical issues (no doubt); he has come through the trenches and paid his dues. However, from time to time, he can always use further finetuning of managing the human side.
The message is clear; there should be return of discipline to the Eagles camp. And, such soccer discipline rennaisance in Nigeria should start with Enyeama’s antics and the apparent recurring decimal of an enfant terrible.
If, under any pretext, Pinnick’s NFF forces Enyeama’s return on the coach, Oliseh must do the honourable thing; resign his commission immediately. Such a bold move will send a clear signal that Nigerian soccer cannot improve until administrators know their bounds of authority.
We will review and take appropriate action.