Mikel fights for first team shirt
By Onochie Anibeze
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Mikel Obi may start in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on Saturday.The Chelsea midfielder was one of the key players coach Amodu Shuaibu left out from the tie against Kenya that they eventually won 3-0.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/18/309.html



Joseph Yobo, Taiye Taiwo, and Chidi Odia were also dropped from the team for not showing commitment during the preparation for the Abuja match. For flimsy excuses, they failed to show up for the two friendly matches Nigeria played in Europe before the Abuja match.

The action by Amodu appears to have changed the players, at least, for now. Mikel, always nonchalant about national team calls, was the first to report to camp in Lagos before the team travelled to Malta where they have been training for Saturday’s crucial match that may determine who, between Nigeria and Tunisia, qualifies for the World Cup finals.

It did not end there. Mikel showed hunger in their two training sessions in Lagos before they left.

“Mikel was unbelievable in training in Lagos,” team’s spokesman Idah Peterside said.“We did only fitness training and he was on his toes, even going the extra mile. He said he was ready to run from Lagos to Oturukpo (a town in Benue State) and it speaks volumes of the hunger in him.”

Reports from Malta say Obi has maintained the trend. Taiwo and Odia have also been displaying great strides in training. Yobo has, however, faced the misfortune of not training with the team in Malta due to visa problems. But he was also training in Lagos. Himself, assistant coach Daniel Amokachi, Dele Ayenugba and John Utaka missed the training camp in Malta but left for Tunisia last night. They were expected to arrive the North African country today, about the same time

Nigeria can do without others but not Taiye Taiwo. We need that guy badly and no need doing inyanga here because we know we need him badly.

MIKEL should sit on the bench jare!! he sabi play??

We don't need Mikel and his primary school football.That boy is finished!

Any team where no one fights for a shirt will not make the best.
The world best are only produced through stiff competition.
Let him fight for the shirt, but he must be the best b4 he can take the Jersey.
Our Shirt should be competitive, not to be reserved for any Otondos.

He is part of our defensive Mid-fielders. If he emerged the best in that department,
He should start, if not, let him warm the bench for us.
QED

Let them fight for shirt. its good for the team.

And Amodu better play the guy on the defensive side of the midfield. else?

Olaolufred:

Any team where no one fights for a shirt will not make the best.
The world best  are only produced through stiff competition.
Let him fight for the shirt, but he must be the best b4 he can take the Jersey.
Our Shirt should be competitive, not to be reserved for any Otondos.

He is part of our defensive Mid-fielders. If he emerged the best in that department,
He should start, if not, let him warm the bench for us.
QED

Supported.

Olaolufred:

Any team where no one fights for a shirt will not make the best.
The world best are only produced through stiff competition.
Let him fight for the shirt, but he must be the best b4 he can take the Jersey.
Our Shirt should be competitive, not to be reserved for any Otondos.

He is part of our defensive Mid-fielders. If he emerged the best in that department,
He should start, if not, let him warm the bench for us.
QED

true talk!

He is part of our defensive Mid-fielders. If he emerged the best in that department,
He should start, if not, let him warm the bench for us.

Aloy.Emeka:

Supported.

yeah,  but am sure he will emerged the best because dr is no one with his quality in SE he is still d best mildfielder we have presently TOL

switch47:

MIKEL should sit on the bench jare!! he sabi play??

u don start again with ur sentiment why cant u just give a resonable comment,  he no sabi u sabi?

like i said b4, Mikel should not even be allowed on the bench sef. he is too yeye

@ switch

Wetin Mikel do you?
Free the guy now

since we are all in agreement here, can ask the following,
1. which wing is mikel fighting for in our national team?
2. who is he fighting the position with?

and yobo is the captain while mikel remains the no 10.
can i say the war has been fought and won?
taiwo in his traditional position.
who said yash has changed position?

khanye:

@ switch

Wetin Mikel do you?
Free the guy now

wetin concern me concern mikel?? my man, i am indifferent about mikel,IT IS NOT ABOUT MIKEL. it is mikel's little dog that keeps on barking each time mikel's name is mentioned that am tactically after, chidicris has been very entertaining.

switch47:

wetin concern me concern mikel?? my man, i am indifferent about mikel,IT IS NOT ABOUT MIKEL. it is mikel's little dog that keeps on barking each time mikel's name is mentioned that am tactically after, chidicris has been very entertaining.

LOL!!!