Former Nigerian international, Emmanuel Tetteh has urged Nigerians to forget the Super Eagles absence at the just concluded Africa Nations Cup co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon and think ahead.
Tetteh, ex handler of the defunct ACB Football Club of Lagos in an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard Sports said thinking of the country’s absence at the concluded Nations Cup brings sad memories but the only way out was to strategise on how to qualify for the next edition in South Africa.
Ahead of the next Nations Cup qualifying match against the Amavubu of Rwanda in Kigali, Tetteh hinted that the match will not be an easy match because there are no more pushovers in football.
“The more one is asked the question of the Eagles’ non qualification for the 2012 Nations Cup, the more it brings sad memories on the instability in Nigerian football. I think we should forget about that. What we should do now is to formulate ways to qualify for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in South Africa.
I have to say this and let people know. Keshi, as I saw him, he has a good programme and good intention to revive the national team but it is not a license because there is no team in Africa that is a push over.
Keshi is going to win some matches and may likely lose one or two matches, there is no guarantee that Keshi is our messiah and will start winning all his matches till five years time. It is not possible because African teams have come of age.
For example, at the just concluded Nations Cup, it was even better that Nigeria did not qualify, because if Nigeria had qualified, it would have been the worse outing for the Super Eagles. All the countries are doing well in football and I pray that his (Keshi’s) rebuilding plans for the national team will come to reality,” Tetteh said.
The one time defunct NPA of Lagos coach stressed that another way Keshi can achieve his desire for the Eagles was for the Nigeria Football Federation to organise as many friendly matches as possible for the team, stating that there is no way training without friendly matches will create any impact.
“Friendly matches matter a lot in building a new team, even if it is playing against another country or club side. It is when you groom a team and try to match it with another that you know whether your team is doing well,” Tetteh affirmed.
Tetteh, ex handler of the defunct ACB Football Club of Lagos in an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard Sports said thinking of the country’s absence at the concluded Nations Cup brings sad memories but the only way out was to strategise on how to qualify for the next edition in South Africa.
Ahead of the next Nations Cup qualifying match against the Amavubu of Rwanda in Kigali, Tetteh hinted that the match will not be an easy match because there are no more pushovers in football.
“The more one is asked the question of the Eagles’ non qualification for the 2012 Nations Cup, the more it brings sad memories on the instability in Nigerian football. I think we should forget about that. What we should do now is to formulate ways to qualify for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in South Africa.
I have to say this and let people know. Keshi, as I saw him, he has a good programme and good intention to revive the national team but it is not a license because there is no team in Africa that is a push over.
Keshi is going to win some matches and may likely lose one or two matches, there is no guarantee that Keshi is our messiah and will start winning all his matches till five years time. It is not possible because African teams have come of age.
For example, at the just concluded Nations Cup, it was even better that Nigeria did not qualify, because if Nigeria had qualified, it would have been the worse outing for the Super Eagles. All the countries are doing well in football and I pray that his (Keshi’s) rebuilding plans for the national team will come to reality,” Tetteh said.
The one time defunct NPA of Lagos coach stressed that another way Keshi can achieve his desire for the Eagles was for the Nigeria Football Federation to organise as many friendly matches as possible for the team, stating that there is no way training without friendly matches will create any impact.
“Friendly matches matter a lot in building a new team, even if it is playing against another country or club side. It is when you groom a team and try to match it with another that you know whether your team is doing well,” Tetteh affirmed.
No comments:
Post a Comment