₦airaland Forum

tbaba1234:
Calm now.. i am just saying that i know him..

komekn:
If we can show interest in a Bundesliga 2 player we then should also be looking at Nigerian origin players in League 1 as well.

After all the teenagers Gomez, Dele, Ademola, Calverton Lewin, left league one straight to the EPL.

Finally, please explain more what do you like, because I really don't get your view here.

tbaba1234:
Actually, i know about him.. i have been hearing about him for about a year or more.

Decent, nothing spectacular. I think he has some youtube highlights.

BascoVanVeli:
LMC Should Provide Ambulances At Match Venues – Olatunbosun

By Chibuike Chukwu -
October 21, 2017

Sikiru Olatunbosun, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Football Club of Lagos forward, in this interview with Chibuike Chukwu, highlighted the importance of the just ended season to him and the Odukoya Boys, saying that it was a fulfilled one. He also talked of what it meant playing in the domestic league, the MFM’s CAF Champions League ticket, Super Eagles qualification for the World Cup, the choice of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, a home-base goalkeeper, in the national team’s last three qualifiers and his plans to play abroad, among other issues. Excerpts;

How will you rate the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last season?

It was a very good season for me and the rest of the team. Placing second was not easy so I will say that it was a successful one for the MFM family. You know that the season was a very tough one and so many clubs fought endlessly to outdo one another either at the top or down the table and it was the same with us. Is it in terms of winning and getting good results, especially in away matches? Honestly, last season was a good one for me. On a general level, last season was far better than the other ones because officiating was quite better compared to before. I know that no two seasons are the same but I think we still have to thank LMC for improving on the other seasons. I am not saying that there were no issues but it was an improvement.


Generally, can you say that MFM are fulfilled and achieved their target after placing second and earning the CAF Champions League slot?

Like I said earlier, it was a fulfilled season for all of us at the MFM. We drew a lot of motivations from the coaching crew and the management. We fought for the league title till the end of the season so I think we did a lot to finish second and I have to thank the management of the club as well as the coach for their motivations and encouragements which lifted the team. It was an exciting season for the club and we thank God for that. We will now continue to prepare for the next season and also the continental football.

I recently had a chat with a player of Nasarawa United, who said that it takes the Grace of God to succeed in the Nigerian league. Do you agree?

Playing in the Nigerian league? Yes I agree because truly it takes God’s grace to succeed here. But then, it is now left for every player to adapt to the condition of the league. This is because when you are playing here you don’t know where it will take you and the next step you may make. Playing here may be stressful but it can be an avenue to greater things in one’s career; as difficult as it might be, we have to adapt to it. Every player has a plan for greater things and we must start from somewhere. That is why I am saying that we must adapt to the conditions of the league and see where it takes us. We have to make success of every place that we go and I think that should be the mindset of players in the league.

But there are instances where some players have prematurely retired from the game over minor injuries; are you in any way not bothered over none insurance policy for players?

If I say I am not bothered, then I am lying because that is the standard everywhere. There is no league in the whole world without insurance for players. But like I answered you before, we have to try so much to adapt to the league and pray to remain injury-free. We have to thank God for keeping us and protecting us in the league. That is why I will
always say that in every match, there should be an ambulance in the cases of emergencies because until a match ends, nobody knows what is really going to happen in terms of injuries. Insurance is very necessary for the players to know that they are safe in the event of injuries that can threaten their career. So I am bothered just like many other league players will admit but as I said earlier, we just have to be giving thanks to God for His protection over us.

What then do you think is the way forward for the domestic league that has thrown up so many stars?

It is left for the authorities and the league organisers to look at areas of improvement and do something about it. You know I play in the league and may not say so much in this regard.

MFM will be making their debut in the CAF Champions League; is there any kind of target set to the team by the management?

Such target will definitely not be made now because we have not even started the preparation. I don’t yet know the plans so it is too early to set a target for the club. That is not saying that we are not hoping to do well; we will try our best but for now, no target of any kind until we start preparations fully and I don’t even know the training schedule of the coach.

In the course of last season, you scored a goal that won a CNN award. What does the award mean to your career and did you expect that it will win the award?

It means a lot to my career; it means a lot to the club, to the players and to the coaches and the management because that was the first time a Nigerian league goal was so rewarded. We thank God that the match was live on television otherwise how could they have seen it. The award has brought a lot of things to my career and my life, and it has also projected me. This is why everything should be done to always ensure that our league matches are on television because such goals will still be scored; how could they have even known that I scored that goal if the match was not televised? I thank God because I was not expecting that the goal will be that valued because as a striker, I only aimed to do my work and that was just what I did and the rest came thereafter.

What went through your mind the moment you got the pass from your teammates that resulted to that goal?

Nothing special went through my mind other than to finish the move. This is also because we have come to understand ourselves much. Immediately I got the pass because I was well positioned, I target the post in order to score a goal because we have been having so many chances unconverted and it happened. At that moment, a forward will only aim to score and not what will come after the goal. When in a situation where a ball is passed to you as a striker, all that you will think is to score. So nothing special was going through my mind that moment other than to score a goal and thank God I did just that.

In our earlier discussion, you talked of several clubs from abroad making inquiries about you; so how soon are we seeing Olatunbosun leaving Nigerian league for a club overseas?

It may be soon or it may not be but one thing is very sure, I will certainly further my career by God’s grace. I have to wait for my time because everything happens with time. I am not rushing into clubs abroad but I will wait for the right time and the right offer to make a move because it is all about my career and future.

Are you in anyway bothered that despite your form at MFM, especially in the just ended season, Super Eagles handlers have not looked your way?

I am not bothered because everything has to do with time. God set time for everything and in football; anybody can be called up at any time. I am someone that believes so much in time and season and when it is the right time, nobody will stop one’s movement. It is the dream of every player to play for the national team and I know that I can fit into the team, but like I said earlier on, everything has to do with time because even God has time for everything that will happen in a man’s life. I think I am not in any way bothered; besides, I have years ahead of me in this game. The most important thing is for me to keep remaining in form and shape and playing very well. Nobody will stop me from representing my country when the time comes, so I am not bothered.

Super Eagles just qualified for the World Cup even with one match remaining in the qualifiers; what do you have to say about the feat?

It was a very good one for the players and the entire country as a whole. This kind of qualification with one match to go is very strange to us and also very good as well. It shows the kind of commitment the players and the coaches showed in the qualifiers and also showed the true Nigerian spirit. If I tell you that I am not happy, I will be lying because all Nigerians are very happy for the qualification, especially in difficult matches like the ones against Cameroon. They won it for the country and we are all praying for a good outing at the World Cup proper. The Super Eagles did all of us proud and I say congratulations to the entire team.

Coach Gernot Rohr trusted homeboy, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, in the last three qualifiers; what does it mean to you as a player in the domestic league?

I thank the coach for giving the home base goalkeeper the chance. That is one thing I thank him very much and it shows that we still have dependable players in the league. You can just look at the confidence the goalkeeper showed, especially in the matches against Cameroon and the last one. The choice of Ezenwa, to me, justified the local league and showed that we can still make the team. It is just about waiting for one’s time for that to happen. It was not easy seen the goalkeeper manning the post in such high-profile matches, which were watched even beyond Nigeria. Another thing is that Ezenwa justified his inclusion in the squad through his performances in the season.

http://independent.ng/474502-2/

forgiveness:
He didn't play in Regionalliga West competitively even before then. He played there only twice to regain fitness

He majorly competed in the Bundusliga and bundesliga concurrently from 2010 - 2017.

He last played competitively in Regionalliga West 2008 - 2009 when he was btw 20 - 21 years old.

forgiveness:
He was in the Bundusliga a year before.

Mickael2:
I don finish for the matter

Mujtahida:
Nuclear fusion abi

Mujtahida:
Omo, this MRI issue strong ooo. Ain't you guys tired?

komekn:
You are being sarcastic be objective.

The observation is that Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim would struggle with the pace, physicality and intensity of the Championship.

Your reference to the Scottish premier League leaves me baffled what's the relevance.

komekn:
I do not think an official approach has been made. Or when he starts playing for an EPL teams we will then rush in

I intend to see him at the weekend.

I was comparing Uduokhai and Akpoguma to him and in my opinion he is better. It's possible the slow pace and lack of intensity of the Bundesliga doesn't allow you to really see defenders tested to the extreme.

As a result I may not haven't seen them at thier best.

komekn:
My view just going on the performance of Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg both of these teams would struggle in the Championship definitely not on the EPL level.

Some may call it biased sentimental favouritism for all things English.

komekn:
Currently watching Wolfsburg v Hoffenheim noticed we have Uduokhai in left back position for Wolfsburg.

Origi is looking sharp just hit the cross bar.

Is Uduokhai better than Echiejile is the question ❓

It's difficult to assess of he is faster than Echiejile because the game is not fast it's more technical. But I'm watching with biased eyes as some may wish to believe.

daveP:
Once vilified and rejected. Who's loss, gain? Does NFF need lectures on finding out a coach's philosophy before employment?

joseph1013:
I really do see a semblance of Guardiola in him. They both love the attacking play. They both are authoritarian. They both love a compact unit. They both prefer to work with players they can impose their ideologies on, and for which they are not afraid to rock the boat by chasing away the influential players of the team who do not fit their approach to coaching. Which is not necessarily a bad thing since at the end of the day, what matters is the result, especially if gotten in a manner that brings about the most financial rewards to the club.

He will feature in the champions league someday soon.

Kog45:
Pls let stop this age of a thing,is becoming embarrassing and not good for our image.

joseph1013:
Sunday Oliseh bringing excitement back to Fortuna Sittard

https://i1.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/image-61.jpg?resize=696%2C464

Imagine that you are in charge of a club struggling at the foot of the Dutch second division when Sunday Oliseh calls to inform you that he is available for the vacant coaching position. Fortuna Sittard's technical director, Charly Chudik, was surprised to hear the voice of the former Nigerian star late last December. The team seemed to be in a disastrous state in 18th place. Why would such a famous person be interested? And why would he get in touch instead of sending his agent, as it is usually done?

The answer is simple -- Oliseh really wanted the job.

"I received various offers after resigning from the Nigerian national team," he said in an interview with ELF Voetbal magazine. "A top club from South Africa, a club from Portugal and numerous national football federations approached me, but I wasn't interested. Family is the most important thing to me. I wanted to go to a place that would make me happy. Sittard is just 45 minutes by car from my home."

Married to a Belgian, Oliseh lives in Eupen, and that is where he took his first job as a technical director in 2007, but left after six months because he didn't like working in the office. His first coaching experience followed at tiny Verviers in the Belgian third division, but then Oliseh became a pundit, and only came back to the dugout when Nigeria offered him the post in 2015. It was a short and very eventful affair, with Oliseh eventually choosing to quit over allegedly unpaid wages and return to his natural surroundings.
Sittard, situated in Limburg close to the Belgian border, are a proud club of interesting heritage. They may have only won two cup trophies more than half a century ago, but spent long seasons in the Eredivisie and nurtured a number of quality players, including the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel.

However, Fortuna were not fortunate at all following relegation in 2001, and went close to bankruptcy at least three times. Turkish businessman Isitan Gun took over in the summer of 2016 and saved them.
"Without Gun, Fortuna wouldn't have been around these days. He brought stability to the club and appointed new people to the board," De Gelderlander journalist Robert Husken tells ESPN FC.

The 2016-17 season was tough in the extreme, though, and coach Ben van Dael was fired following a terrible run of just one point from nine matches. Oliseh was waiting for that opportunity to offer himself, and the club got a coach they could never have dreamt of.

During his illustrious playing career the Nigerian took part in two World Cup tournaments, scoring a majestic goal against Spain in 1994, won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, won the title in the Netherlands with Ajax, and represented Juventus and Borussia Dortmund as well.

Now, as the first black African coach ever in the Netherlands, he has had to deal with a different situation. Fortuna played in front of empty stands in recent years, but Oliseh changed the atmosphere around the club almost immediately. He got off to a winning start at the magnificently named Achilles'29, and proceeded to get some outstanding results. The 5-2 win over Ajax reserves, having trailed 2-0 at half-time, was especially memorable and fans started to flow back to the stadium. Sittard only lost five times in the second round under the new coach and finished the season well above the relegation zone.

Not all the reports were positive. Oliseh's spell with the national team was marred by conflicts with senior players, most notably the popular goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who was stripped of captaincy and forced into international retirement. Curiously, that was the case at Fortuna, too, as veteran captain Ferry de Regt left the club in the summer, having fallen out with the Nigerian. Assistant coach Tini Ruijs and goalkeeping coach Patrick Creemers left too, unable to work under Oliseh.

In an editorial published in June, De Limburger journalist Patrick Delait accused Oliseh of installing authoritarian regime.

"He behaves like a governor, and nobody dares to contradict him," he wrote. "By constantly sharpening internal relationships, the Nigerian is becoming a ticking bomb. He looks sympathetic on TV, but behind the scenes he is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

So far, those pessimistic expectations haven't come true. On the contrary, Oliseh has made a phenomenal start to the season, winning five games out of seven, and only losing once. Following the 6-0 triumph at previously unbeaten Telstar last Friday, the biggest away win in club history, Fortuna are second in the table behind Jong Ajax, and technically lead the race because the Amsterdam side are ineligible for promotion.

That is not the only record broken by Oliseh, either. Taking the previous season into account, Fortuna are on an unprecedented run of eight home wins in a row.
And the first goal at Telstar was scored by 17-year-old sensation Perr Schuurs, the youngest captain in club history. Born in November 1999, he was given the armband in the summer by Oliseh, who explained: "If you are good enough, you are old enough." There is little doubt that Schuurs is a huge talent -- he was invited to train with Liverpool in the summer, while Ajax and PSV Eindhoven reportedly made offers to sign him.

Oliseh certainly enjoys working with youngsters much more. Out went the likes of De Regt and 33-year-old striker Sjoerd Ars; in came exciting prospects like Portuguese duo Andre Vidigal, 19, and 21-year-old Lisandro Semedo. They are ably supported by two more 21-year-olds: Finn Stokkers and Djibril Dianessy.

Having laid solid defensive foundations, Oliseh is letting his team play an attacking brand of football, with 21 goals scored so far. Talking to ESPN FC, Delait now admits: "Oliseh is a good motivator who is very strict with his tactics. Fortuna play as a unit under him."

Husken added: "Sunday is a no-nonsense coach who is very clear on what he expects from his players. Having such a star on the bench makes a massive influence on the team."

Few pundits expect Fortuna to keep running and gain promotion, but the youngsters are starting to dream big.

"The spirit of the squad is truly incredible. I have to calm the players at times, because everyone is so hungry," Oliseh told AD recently.

The turnaround had been phenomenal already and the Nigerian is making a name for himself as a coach. But the club will be wary, lest he be lured away from his home in Eupen after his contract at Sittard ends next summer. If he can gain promotion, though, managing such a tight knit team in the Eredivisie could bring some surprising results.

Source: http://kwese.espn.com/football/club/fortuna-sittard/143/blog/post/3220151/sunday-oliseh-bringing-excitement-back-to-fortuna-sittard/?ex_cid=OlisehFortuna_fb_ng_pd_MH
Oliseh is a good motivator who is very strict with his tactics. Fortuna play as a unit under him.

goldfish80:
Don't make jest of things you're not sure of. There have been cases in the past where MRI results vary at different time of testing.
Anyway, there are things not meant to be discussed on public forum. But as an intelligent person which I presume you are, don't be quick to dismiss any theory no matter how allien it sounds at first.

TheGoodJoe:
There is a cylindrical plate in the wrist of U17 players. How The hell will citrus fruits put that plate when it is not there? Na wa.

I believe some of our players who failed it were within the age bracket but due to the strictness of the scan, where a player younger can fail but a player older can not pass to a high degree accuracy, the young ones who failed might be within the age bracket.

The only reason Maduabuchi Obinwa's case raised dust was because he was American born. If he was Nigerian, no one will care.

goldfish80:
Not in this case. We are discussing pure scientific theory here. Not until you have made your research on the theory of the efficacy of using citrus to cheat MRI age detection scan.

safarigirl:
welcome to the table sir, we also hope that you will be a great addition to this thread as well.

Meet Joebie for your bottle of Udeme

komekn:
From what I can gather he has spent quite a few years in Scotland and would be waiting to get his British passport. That would end all his work permit problems across the EEC. So he cannot go anywhere for now.

komekn:
This is a very straightforward road to us Nigerians but one we deny doesn't exist in public. That is to say every Nigerian player will lie about his age.

The only players that you can truly without any doubt believe thier ages. Are those that were born in places where there is automatic data capture at birth.

In this regard Nigeria is not. However, I must say that although it cannot be stopped the era where people would shade 7/8 even 11/12 years of thier ages has ended. I believe players at most can shave of no more than 5 years currently.


Now we have players with very untraceable names that makes it impossible to ascertain thier heritage and or ages.

Do I believe Efe Ambrose age, no I do not, do I believe Balogun yes I do. If Balogun was born in Nigeria he would be no more than 23.