Felix Owolabi, a member of Nigeria’s 1980 Nations Cup winning team, has called on Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi to recall striker Osaze Odewingie for the South Africa 2013 soccer fiesta.
Owolabi made this call in Ibadan on Sunday. According to him, it was not too late for the Super Eagles handler to recall the West Brom goal poacher, if Nigeria must make a mark at the event.
“Much as the issue of player’s selection is the exclusive right of the coach, I think Keshi should bend backward to include Osaze in his team for the South Africa Nations Cup. At the same time it will be counterproductive to keep a quality, exposed and seasoned player who could make a turn around,’’ he said.
Osaze and Coach Stephen Keshi
It would be recalled that Keshi had dropped the trio of Osaze Odewingie, Obafemi Martins and Taye Taiwo from the NationsCup squad.
Meanwhile, the exclusion of the ace striker had continued to generate controversy. The erstwhile Shooting Stars left winger, who urged Keshi to give every player equal opportunity, called on the coach to play a fatherly role by reconciling with Osaze.
“I am not saying with Osaze, Eagles will win the cup, neither am I saying without him Nigeria will not win, but that the two of them should dialogue in the interest of the nation.’’ he said.
The Physical Education graduate lambasted Osaze for over flogging the issue on the pages of papers.
On the Super Eagles chances of winning the Nations Cup, Owolabi said that although Nigeria started building a team toolate into the competition, the Nigerian factor was there to keep the squad going.
He, therefore, implored the Eagles not to underrate any team,stating that Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Zambia qualified on their own merit.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/recall-osaze-now-owo-blow-tells-keshi/