joseph1013:
[b][size=14pt]The Time Is Near By Ademetan Abayomi[/size]



With the Nigeria Football Federation yet to name a coach for the Super Eagles, I will urge them to hand the job to whoever they want on a short-term basis.

I am one of the many Nigerian football enthusiasts who toasted to the success of Coach Stephen Keshi and also asked questions when the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

As to whether he was successful or not, I leave that to my cherished readers to judge.

The NFF are dragging their feet on handing a new contract to Stephen Keshi and with the Nations Cup Qualifiers around the corner it calls for concern.

The nation must move on; the Super Eagles must move on. The team has to be assembled in time to start the qualification to the next African Cup of Nations to be staged in Gabon.

Time is of great essence. We have no luxury of toiling with decisions surrounding the Super Eagles now.

My advice to the NFF is to still leave Daniel Amokachi as the interim coach for now until after the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.

I believe Manu Garba, the Gold Winning Coach of the Flying Eagles at the 2015 Orange African Youth Championship, is the best man for the Super Eagles now.

Across the length and breadth of the nation, there is no better groomed Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles now.

Coach Manu has gone through the mill, coached teams, understudied a lot of coaches, and he is surely ready to serve the nation as the next Super Eagles Coach.

Garba is credited with the nurturing of players like Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Chigozie Obasi, Musa Muhammed, Samuel Okon, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Obinna Nwobodo, Mustapha Abdullahi, Aliyu Abubakar, Bello Zaharadeen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, Izuchukwu Omego, Bernard Bulbwa, Dele Alampasu and a host of others.

In 2007, Manu assisted late Yemi Tella to a title winning run at the FIFA U17 World Cup.

Six years later he was given full responsibility of the team. This time he won the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup title as his team danced passed all opponents in the UAE.

He was then promoted as the head coach of the National Under 20 Team. The coach wrote his name in Gold! He led the team to win gold at the 2015 LMC Super Six tournament and gold at the 2015 AYC.

If the Flying Eagles go on to win the U20 World Cup in New Zealand, calls for him to be the next Super Eagles gaffer will increase.

The time to give him the chance to prove what he can do as the coach of the Super Eagles is near. It is indeed Manu Garba's time!
[/b]

daveP:
Wait, how old is Awo-striking Taiwo? 17? Or was that a mistake?

Even if Manu Garba wins@ New Zealand, i wont like the idea of a call up to SE. See what they did to Sia1.

Lets not forget that the Positivism most coaches express in the world of football is directly proportional to the player's attitude, provided his tactics is well executed.

Bad attitude by SE players ruined sia1. I dont want a repeat with GM. Let them call Westerhof if they are desperate. There's a good reason why.

safarigirl:
Awoniyi is 17, he'll be 18 by August.

daveP:
il say a loud "hmmm" to this. He is however very cool on the ball. Wonder how well Brazilian defence is preparing for his "knife thru the butter" abilities.

How you doing?

safarigirl:
no 'hmm' necessary. He was 16 at the 2013 World Cup and was quite lanky then, no more than 5ft 10". He should be around 6ft 2" by now and he's bulkier. Me thinks the age tallies with the growth.

The only thing I'm looking forward to in the Brazilian team is Mosquito , I was kinda sad Sweden was unable to qualify for the U-20's cuz I was looking forward to seeing Uncle Berisha.

Anyway I'm doing fine, you?

zoboizee:
NO. Not true. They are not as talented. Just better teamwork ratio. 2005 were better individually. more matured, experienced, compact and professionals. its being awhile. Dig up the names.

zoboizee:
NO. Not true. They are not as talented. Just better teamwork ratio. 2005 were better individually. more matured, experienced, compact and professionals. its being awhile. Dig up the names.

Epaul:
and more 'over-aged' you forgot to add.

I don't quite read from the same hymn with you. If the 2005 set had more talents individually, why was it that there was not even a single player who took the world of football by storm? Messi did and still doing. Ditto for some players from other countries. Taiwo and mikel who were apparently the best cut of the 2015 slice have both come short since and are such a squirm to watch. Only Satan knows where Taiwo is. He has since gone missing in active football that one is impelled to wonder if dude was among the chibok girls that were abducted. Mikel, you know, is no best thing since slice bread(not even 'agege bread'). Thank heaven he wasn't gifted 'African best player' last year. It would have been such a shame to have the African best player almost reduced to a ball-boy(who picks gone-out ball) in chelsea. You said we should dig up their names. By that you mean from the grave? 'Cause i'm having a hard time doing so. Where is promise isaac? Where is oyekachi Apam? Where is chinedu obasi? Are you still looking for them? Should i help you with our street-light so you could see well?

Comparatively, let's take a look at the present players that constitute our current U-20. I'll pick just 6 to drive home the point. Even though there are more talents.
1). Iheanacho: He's proven time and time again to be a huge talent. Won the best player in the U-17 world cup, bought by machestercity, proved his mettle in their pre-season outing and named among the best young talents in the world. I wondered apart from Mikel in his hey-days any of those of U-20 set had more talent that this machestercity dude. Name just one! I'm even tempted to say Mikel never had it that more nifty than this iheanacho dude. But that would be a lofty one.

2) Simon Moses. Best known as little ronaldo. Scores in almost every game in Genk. Was such a delight to watch when he was called up by super eagles a couple of days ago. He is such a real talent you would agree.

3).Bulwa: he needs no introduction. The stunning-scoring dude at the just concluded African U-20 championship. His staggering profile speaks bunch. And to think it was this dude who previously kept iheanacho on the bench. That convey a whole lot to take in.

4). Awoniyi: blood of God! Dude is the rave of the moment. Consistently having his opponents on the ropes. We saw that in the U-17 world cup when he came on to replace the Injured isaac(another sheer talent you will agree with me). We saw that at the super six where he terrorised the defence of kano pillars, dolphin et al. We saw that the u-20 championship in senegal. And his brace say the U-23 qualified for the All African Game. Please can you confidently point a striker in the 2005 set that was more clinically adroit than this dude. Even success Isaac runs ring over them.

5). Yahaya: the spurs younger star. known as little iniesta. Great vision. Great passing skills laced with proficient ability to score goals. Promise Isaac of 2005 set though over-aged is no match i'm afraid. He can only play catch up with new talents like Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and nwobodo.

6). I'm in quandary who to give this spot . There are ample of them. Will it be Musa the pacy, strong, scoring right back Or Ndidi the solid central back or nwakali the dazzling mid-fieder or alampasu the U-17 world best keeper or the present U-20 keeper who's giving alampasu a nail-biter competition? And the list goes on and on.

Flowing from the foregoing it is visible to the blind and apparent like GEJ's cluelessness that that not only does this Present u-20 set have a bette team-work ratio than the erst-while 2005 U-20 set, but they run ring over them in terms of individual talents. In fact i make bold to say 'the Team B of this Present U-20 is a little better than the Team A of the 2005 U-20 set'(i have the right to hold any opinion. Sue me).

joseph1013:


Dude, your write-up makes me smile. Good stuff.

joseph1013:

What I'll say though is that we wait and see what happens eventually. Too early to say they are DEFINITELY better. They have to win the U-20 World Cup to categorically say that and then they need to have a successful career as a bunch, and in the process become integrated into the Super Eagles' setup.[/b]

joseph1013:

I wholehearted want that to happen.[/b]

joseph1013:


Dude, your write-up makes me smile. Good stuff.

What I'll say though is that we wait and see what happens eventually. Too early to say they are DEFINITELY better. They have to win the U-20 World Cup to categorically say that and then they need to have a successful career as a bunch, and in the process become integrated into the Super Eagles' setup.

I wholehearted want that to happen.

Epaul:
and more 'over-aged' you forgot to add.

I don't quite read from the same hymn with you. If the 2005 set had more talents individually, why was it that there was not even a single player who took the world of football by storm? Messi did and still doing. Ditto for some players from other countries. Taiwo and mikel who were apparently the best cut of the 2015 slice have both come short since and are such a squirm to watch. Only Satan knows where Taiwo is. He has since gone missing in active football that one is impelled to wonder if dude was among the chibok girls that were abducted. Mikel, you know, is no best thing since slice bread(not even 'agege bread'). Thank heaven he wasn't gifted 'African best player' last year. It would have been such a shame to have the African best player almost reduced to a ball-boy(who picks gone-out ball) in chelsea. You said we should dig up their names. By that you mean from the grave? 'Cause i'm having a hard time doing so. Where is promise isaac? Where is oyekachi Apam? Where is chinedu obasi? Are you still looking for them? Should i help you with our street-light so you could see well?

Comparatively, let's take a look at the present players that constitute our current U-20. I'll pick just 6 to drive home the point. Even though there are more talents.
1). Iheanacho: He's proven time and time again to be a huge talent. Won the best player in the U-17 world cup, bought by manchester city, proved his mettle in their pre-season outing and named among the best young talents in the world. I wondered apart from Mikel in his hey-days any of those of U-20 set had more talent that this manchester city dude. Name just one! I'm even tempted to say Mikel never had it that more nifty than this iheanacho dude. But that would be a lofty one.

2) Simon Moses. Best known as little ronaldo. Scores in almost every game in Genk. Was such a delight to watch when he was called up by super eagles a couple of days ago. He is such a real talent you would agree.

3).Bulbwa: he needs no introduction. The stunning-scoring dude at the just concluded African U-20 championship. His staggering profile speaks bunch. And to think it was this dude who previously kept iheanacho on the bench. That convey a whole lot to take in.

4). Awoniyi: blood of God! Dude is the rave of the moment. Consistently having his opponents on the ropes. We saw that in the U-17 world cup when he came on to replace the Injured isaac(another sheer talent you will agree with me). We saw that at the super six where he terrorised the defence of kano pillars, dolphin et al. We saw that the u-20 championship in senegal. And his brace saw the U-23 qualified for the All African Game. Please can you confidently point a striker in the 2005 set that was more clinically adroit than this dude. Even success Isaac runs ring over them.

5). Yahaya: the spurs young star. known as little iniesta. Great vision. Great passing skills laced with proficient ability to score goals. Promise Isaac of 2005 set though over-aged is no match i'm afraid. He can only play catch up with new talents like Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and nwobodo.

6). I'm in quandary who to give this spot . There are ample of them. Will it be Musa the pacy, strong, scoring right back Or Ndidi the solid central back or nwakali the dazzling mid-fieder or alampasu the U-17 world best keeper or the present U-20 keeper who's giving alampasu a nail-biter competition? And the list goes on and on.

Flowing from the foregoing it is visible to the blind and apparent like GEJ's cluelessness that that not only does this Present u-20 set have a bette team-work ratio than the erst-while 2005 U-20 set, but they run ring over them in terms of individual talents. In fact i make bold to say 'the Team B of this Present U-20 is a little better than the Team A of the 2005 U-20 set'(i have the right to hold any opinion. Sue me).

zoboizee:
NO. Not true. They are not as talented. Just better teamwork ratio. 2005 were better individually. more matured, experienced, compact and professionals. its being awhile. Dig up the names.

Epaul:
thanks.

True that. I'm well aware it's too early for that. Just playing apostle paul to him - being to a Jew, a Jew since dude was pematuredly making his comparative assertion before waiting to see how the boys turn out in the last resort...
At any rate, i'm a staunch believer of the fact that these present boys will go on to do great things. Awoniyi is already proving that. For one they are comparatively younger unlike Taiwo of the 2005 set who was gayly celebrating his 21years old birthday with white kids whereas his twin brother was in the village celebrating his 40years birthday with the elders of their village.

i sure do. I love the team to bits.

TheGoodJoe:

[b]
These lads are special. The present flying eagles team is a team of Super stars. Naturally, Taiwo Awoniyi is not one of the top players of the team but he is a raving star of the Under-23 team. That tells you a lot.

However, I still believe Mikel was an exceptional talent but change in role hampered his chance for greatness.

A good example is Marouane Fellaini of Manchester United. I received abuses when I told Manchester United fans that Fellaini is of World Class quality. I was fortunate to watch Fellaini play for his national team before he joined Everton and Moyes changed his role and his style of play.

Under Van Gaal, Fellaini is showing the kind of form that will have Real Madrid and Barcelona fighting for his signature. That is, if he continues playing the way he does. (Advice to Mourinho, put Mikel on Fellaini and you tame Man U).

That is the same thing that happened to Mikel and that is what we should pray should not happen to our present Flying Eagles stars. A change in role can hinder greatness.

For instance, a coach can hinder Iheanacho by looking at his strength and pace and decide he should play as a box to box midfielder. Meanwhile, Nacho's standout talent is his finishing inside the 18 yard box. Playing as a box to box midfielder will hinder his finishing ability.[/b]

chrisooblog:
funny but good article nice analysis

chrisooblog:
what I can say again about most of these current set of u20s is their technical ability the way they are comfortable on the ball so mature way beyond their years. manu garba deserves a mountain load of commendations for assembling such talented boys and not your typical 'jam body' variant our other national coaches haves been serving us.

joseph1013:
[b][size=14pt]Ugbade: We’re Not Ready For Super Eagles Yet Until After U20 World Cup[/size]



With a section of fans calling for the deployment of the duo of Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade to the Super Eagles, Flying Eagles assistant coach and former Super Eagle, Nduka Ugbade, has stated that they are not thinking of joining the Super Eagles…at least not yet.

The former Nigeria international says the focus on the U20 World Cup is the most important thing for them at the moment, and not a deployment to coach the Super Eagles.

“I wouldn’t say yes at the moment because what we have in front of us is the U20,” he told SL10.ng.

“We have to focus on the task at hand now, which is the U20, and that is what we have,” he said.

But despite saying the step-up doesn’t interest them at the moment; he however added that if they win the U20 World Cup, then they can talk about the Super Eagles.

“Until we win the U20 World Cup, then we can talk about the Super Eagles. But for now, we have the U20.”

There has been a lot of talk from the fans about promoting Ugbade and Manu to coach the Super Eagles, with the bulk of the current U20 boys also promoted to the Super Eagles.

Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi is set to continue as the Super Eagles coach with Salisu Mohammed as his assistant in place of Daniel Amokachi.
[/b]

daveP:
@Antell95, HBD to you. Just saw it now. Cheers and more fluent analysis to your talent

zoboizee:
Good analyses guys. But time will tell.5 years from now. Remember i said individual talent. Mind you truth be told most of these under 20 guys are more than 25 years. And you can argue it MRI scan whatever! Seeing is believing.

zoboizee:
Good analyses guys. But time will tell.5 years from now. Remember i said individual talent. Mind you truth be told most of these under 20 guys are more than 25 years. And you can argue it MRI scan whatever! Seeing is believing.