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edi287:
MANU GARBA: IHEANACHO DOESN’T EVEN CALL TO SAY HI

2 Comments / COLUMN, INTERVIEWS / By Solace Chukwu / June 10, 2019 / Africa Cup of Nations, Kelechi Iheanacho, Manu Garba, nigeria

There is a good argument to be made that, over the last decade, there is no more influential Nigerian coach than Manu Garba.

His name entered the mainstream consciousness in 2013 when he led the national under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, to victory at the Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Before that, he was a part of the coaching crew for the previous success at that level, as an assistant to the late Yemi Tella back in 2007.

That is not, however, an achievement that is particularly unique. Nigeria is historically the most successful country in the world at that age group, and the likes of Fanny Amun and the late Paul Hamilton have also led sides with considerable talent but questionable eligibility to success.

What sets Garba apart, besides recency bias, is the style with which his side beguiled the world, and the sheer output of his group of youngsters. A free-scoring, counter-attacking style saw the team plunder 3.25 goals per game over the course of the competition, a staggering number considering football’s fundamentally low-scoring nature.

Understandably, Garba evinces a great degree of pride at having defied one of football’s fundamental truisms, and in his discussion he gravitates time and again to that 2013 side. So what made them so special, so cohesive, so irresistible as an attacking force?

“That team had an abundance of talent, but not only was the squad talented, we had ample time to stay with the players,” he says.

“Honestly, we had the opportunity to teach them all that you need to teach a player in terms of playing and performing at the highest level. To be fit technically, tactically, physically, psychologically and mentally.

“So we knew what every player could do at any moment. In fact, even in that team, you could close your eyes, pick a starting 11, and everybody would function very well, because there was a synergy. They were used to each other. The team was just like a family.”

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“…just like a family.”

The base though, the platform on which it was all built, was talent. The ubiquity of natural footballing ability in Nigeria is now almost anecdotal, but it is easy enough to understand when one considers the mostly unrivalled popularity that the sport enjoys in a country of over 100 million people.

That fact has not always translated perfectly though, as the recent outing of the national under-20 team at the World Cup in Poland attests. However, in terms of identifying and harnessing the talent pool, Garba stands out: both in terms of quality and quantity.

This eye for talent in its primal state, along with his emphasis on creating the right mental and physical environment for his players – for instance, he talks up the underrated benefit of a proper night’s rest both as a key part of player performance and as an excuse to restrict the use of mobile devices – is what has defined a successful coaching career to date.

A midfielder in his playing days, he captained El Kanemi Football Club for over half a decade, winning back-to-back FA Cup (then known as the Challenge Cup) titles in 1991 and 1992, and losing out to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the semi-final of the old CAF Cup Winners Cup with the Maiduguri side. He describes himself as having been “naturally gifted with an abundance of technique”, and while it is not beyond the realm of possibility that this assessment is slightly massaged, it has certainly informed his preference when it comes to talent identification.

“What I look for in a player is technical ability: if the player is able to control the ball very well, can pass very well. Technique for me is paramount.

“After technique, a little bit of awareness of what to do in particular situations. That too is very important, because they say a good player is oriented all over, including his movement with or without the ball. Even at such young ages, I try to find such players.”

It is that technical excellence, as well as lucidity in decision-making, that so defined his 2013 team, and made them lethal on the break. Set up in a 4-3-3 shape, and with Garba encouraging expressionism and near-total positional freedom, that Nigeria side tore through opponents, scoring 15 goals over four matches against Mexico and Sweden, the competition’s next best teams.

The front three comprised, first, Isaac Success and then Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi, lightning-quick forward Musa Yahaya – Garba insists he was the best player in that entire tournament, and is “surprised” at the lack of progression of a player with potential to be “one of the best players all over the world” – and a certain Kelechi Iheanacho, whose exclusion from Nigeria’s final squad to this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has cause a stir.

The Leicester City forward has struggled to find his feet in the Premier League after an initial promising start at Manchester City. In the season just concluded, Iheanacho played barely over a thousand minutes in all competitions for the Foxes, scoring twice; in March, he was dropped from the national team after coach Gernot Rohr expressed concern over his focus and mentality. His inclusion in the provisional AFCON squad was widely considered a last chance to win back his place in the team.

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Iheanacho has struggled to find his feet at Leicester

It is a long way to fall for a player who won the Golden Ball in 2013, and on whom the hopes of a nation had come to rest. It also means that, of the players who passed through Garba’s hands, only Wilfred Ndidi, Francis Uzoho and Moses Simon will be in Egypt.

While the 53-year-old admits it is his “personal joy” to see those players in the final squad, he is rueful about Iheanacho’s promise, which now appears to be ebbing away: he has been “watching from a distance” and directs some of the blame toward the player’s handlers.

“I don’t know whether it has to do with personal problems, psychological problems, or lack of adaptation with the players he plays with.

“We expect their managers to be monitoring their performances and their way of life too, which is very paramount. Even when they’re not at their clubs, even on holidays, they are supposed to be monitoring what their players are doing. But unfortunately most of such managers are just after the money.”

While he is wary of making any definitive judgements on a player who he admits “doesn’t even call to say hi” – the revelation, while devoid of rancour, is tinged with disappointment – he makes some pointed observations about African players in general, and why they fail to fulfil their potential.

“One of the greatest problems is that most African players don’t know how to manage success. The moment a poor boy from a poor family background begins to earn big money, some of them forget the career entirely that brought them into such fame. They lose focus and begin to buy expensive cars, and living expensively instead of concentrating on the game.”

This inability to manage success, in his mind, is down to a deficit in education.

Nigeria has a literacy level under 60 percent, and a lot of its most talented footballers through the years have sprouted in underprivileged areas and the inner cities. With footballers earning increasingly mouth-watering pay packages, that image of success sees a lot of them opt out of school in favour of pursuing a full-time career in football.

Garba, a graduate of the University of Maiduguri who paid his way through school by playing in and earning prize money from sub-regional football tournaments, is acutely aware of his responsibility to steer his young players toward education.

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“Education is a great bane to African players, because most of them lack the educational background to take care of themselves personally. So, (a combination of) education, getting huge money suddenly and then failing to manage that success are some of the causes of why African players cannot make it great.

“I tell some of my players that, for us, even when we were playing, we didn’t leave school.

“Life after football is very important. Even apart from regular school, there are some of these schools that they can employ teachers to come and teach them (privately), or part-time. Earn a certificate somewhere. At least they will be able to communicate very well, to know they dos and don’ts wherever they go. This will help to enhance their life after football.”

His passion in this direction is clear, especially when he speaks of his children’s academic achievements, eyes agleam, and he remains an avid learner himself. He holds a CAF A Licence, and admits he has picked up “one or two things in brainstorming sessions with colleagues”, as well as by using coaching resources available on the internet.

While he acknowledges that talent identification is not an exact science – “Players come in different generations,” he says – his desire to find and groom the best continues to burn brightly, even as he prepares another crop for the 2019 Under-17 World Cup in Brazil.


Source - thesupersub

TheGoodJoe:
Very disappointing work from Solace Chukwu to title an article about Iheanacho not calling to say hi, with no direct reference from the coach. The article is not about the relationship between Iheanacho and Coach Manu Garba. The man from the quotes did not mention it, but that is the headline.

I truly wonder those behind this because the article title was created to tarnish Iheanacho's image, using the credibility of Manu Garba for a negative means.

Solace Chukwu fell my hand big time.

TheGoodJoe:
If there is an advice I will give Iheanacho, it is that he should focus on his club career and forget the Super Eagles for now. Take a break off the team.

I am noticing something dark and sinister going on in the team, NFF and media that do not look okay to me.

Shocking but forgiveness might be right after all.

krattoss:
Esperance Sportive De Tunis have refused to replay the CAF Champions League Final.
.
" We don't want to play. We won the trophy, we took the medals, we were given a go ahead by the officials and we are champions. For the fact that the VAR wasn't there is not our fault.
.
It's CAF's duty to make sure that everything is perfect. They found out that the VAR wasn't available before the match started but nothing was said. We are not going to play another Final. If CAF or FIFA has a problem with our final decision, let them play their own Final with the referees and VAR”.

*The last statement can kill someone with laughter*

Skillset11:
same AFCON team? expect nothing more than a whitewash of these girls.

eazyjakes:
Quite a funny and laughable situation....African leaders and dia questionable decision making processes....The CAF president was present in d stadium when the decision to call off d match and award the trophy to Esperance was made but chaired an Executive Committee meeting 3 days later to order a rematch! I expected that the decision to award esperance the trophy would have stood while a serious sanction would have been slapped on the match officials including the match commissioner and all dose in charge of the VAR and knew of its malfuntioning and yet did not communicate to both teams in clear terms. The myopic leaders rada ordered a replay in a neutral venue( as if it was Esperance’s fault) and have left us with a very laughable situation!

andrew444:
You dominated them with how many shorts on target ?

ChrisKels:
U mean a Ukraine that started five new players from the ones that prosecuted their first two matches? Their whole final third were debutants. U dominated them without registering a single short on target? Dude this is delusional

forgiveness:
We also had new players on that day too. No excuse.

We dominated them. No short on target is a pure lie. Nevertheless, it is never the prerequisite for determining domination in a match.

TheGoodJoe:
For instance, that Solace Chukwu's article was clearly done to generate a negative aura about Iheanacho. It is clearly targeted. They are other things I do not want to talk about. I hope he stays clear.

ChrisKels:
U mean a Ukraine that started five new players from the ones that prosecuted their first two matches? Their whole final third were debutants. U dominated them without registering a single short on target? Dude this is delusional

krattoss:
Esperance Sportive De Tunis have refused to replay the CAF Champions League Final.
.
" We don't want to play. We won the trophy, we took the medals, we were given a go ahead by the officials and we are champions. For the fact that the VAR wasn't there is not our fault.
.
It's CAF's duty to make sure that everything is perfect. They found out that the VAR wasn't available before the match started but nothing was said. We are not going to play another Final. If CAF or FIFA has a problem with our final decision, let them play their own Final with the referees and VAR”.

*The last statement can kill someone with laughter*

darkelf:
Because Ndidi has been better than him for two seasons and hasn't been making as much headlines as him

forgiveness:
Is shorts on target the prerequisite for dominant in a football game?

andrew444:
Yes Ndidi is better than him

But why do you call him overhyped ?

I guess you don't know the meaning of overhyped because you used it wrongly

If there is any DM overhyped in the Epl gueye is the least person

So because Ndidi make headline pass am means say the guy no sabi according to you ?i wonder how you dey Judge your own ball ,I guess you have never watch him play self

It's just like saying Mohammed salah makes the headline more than son and because of that son is an overhyped player

Smh

timay:
Yea both Ndidi and Gueye should be getting all the hype though

Funny how Declan Rice is not even half as good as any of the two but that mumu gets hyped as if he's the next Sergio Busquets . No wonder English players always underperform when it matters , cos most of them aren't half as good as good as Brazilian players playing for Native Brazilian clubs of Santos or Corinthians. but their media will not let us hear word about them

mostob:
I have gone through some posts here on how our formation may not suited our 2 best wingers Henry and Samuel.
IMO I think we can accommodate both in the same line up even when playing 3 at the back. Both are not defensively solid so this formation might suit them.
.......Uzoho....

Ekong.....Balogun....Omeruo...

.Simon....Ndidi....Iwobi/mikel....Aina

..Samuel. ..Onuachu.....Henry.

I pick Onuachu because of his fondness to drop deep which will allow Henry and Samuel to drift inside. The question now is who can create goalscoring chances most?Mikel/Iwobi.
this formation can only be effective against teams with blunt attack.
I stand to be corrected though

ChrisKels:
Ur having of new players was borne outta ur desperation to gain at least a point to stand a chance, because, those that were there in ur previous matches were woeful, u didnt field them(the new players) to give them a chance to display their wares but to win u the game, the case was different with Ukraine who had already qualified. It was a dead rubber to Ukraine, but a decider to us. The new players we paraded were upgrades on the players they replaced but the Ukrainians weren't. So bro, it is incomparable. This argument would have worth it, if the match was a mere formality to us, as was the case with the Ukrainians.


The main factor is here is that the Ukrainians took the match as a scrimmage but Nigeria saw it as a cup final

andrew444:
God bless you my brother for reminding me

If there is any overhyped player in the Epl it is Declan rice ,English medi and hyping no be here

andrew444:
As usual you will always try to twist it

Your flying eagles are crap

eazyjakes:
Your love and defense for KC is highly commendable and a reference point for any true friend but a true friend will speak truthfully to his friend dats on d premise that you were close to KC....I was in Uyo in 2017 for d Zambian game and observed most of d players from a close quarter and even had interactions with a few of them during d after party celebrations for d World Cup ticket. Without being judgemental as I personally don’t know KC, d aura around him didn’t suggest a young man surrounding himself wit persons who offer much in guiding a young man to pursue and fulfill his potentials....This is in stark contrast to my personal observations of som other players including Mikel who had such a professional aura around him even in a public space....D title of the article may be misleading but the content I believe is not to tarnish KC’s image but alludes to Manu’s work philosophy and a lil peep into why African players (in general) struggle to manage relative success. The article also mentions That it was Manu that admitted KC doesn’t drop to say hi and you must also understand it from d point of continuos education( the article also talks about it) that the man(KC) could benefit from, as Manu Garba could emphasize on some basic fundamental football education (once in a wile),if KC stays in touch....Your love for KC is commendable but you must also admit d young man’s culpabilities and if you av a chance of meeting him or defending someone in real life as you do for KC here,do give dem a balanced,fair and unbiased analysis of dia strengths and weaknesses with a goal of helping dem to truly fulfill dia potentials!

eazyjakes:
Your love and defense for KC is highly commendable and a reference point for any true friend but a true friend will speak truthfully to his friend dats on d premise that you were close to KC....I was in Uyo in 2017 for d Zambian game and observed most of d players from a close quarter and even had interactions with a few of them during d after party celebrations for d World Cup ticket. Without being judgemental as I personally don’t know KC, d aura around him didn’t suggest a young man surrounding himself wit persons who offer much in guiding a young man to pursue and fulfill his potentials....This is in stark contrast to my personal observations of som other players including Mikel who had such a professional aura around him even in a public space....D title of the article may be misleading but the content I believe is not to tarnish KC’s image but alludes to Manu’s work philosophy and a lil peep into why African players (in general) struggle to manage relative success. The article also mentions That it was Manu that admitted KC doesn’t drop to say hi and you must also understand it from d point of continuos education( the article also talks about it) that the man(KC) could benefit from, as Manu Garba could emphasize on some basic fundamental football education (once in a wile),if KC stays in touch....Your love for KC is commendable but you must also admit d young man’s culpabilities and if you av a chance of meeting him or defending someone in real life as you do for KC here,do give dem a balanced,fair and unbiased analysis of dia strengths and weaknesses with a goal of helping dem to truly fulfill dia potentials!

Bolowolowo:
Na wa ooooo!!! Is anyone watching this onslaught??!?!

forgiveness:
I have asked you reasonable question in regards to what I said but you want to dodge as usual.

It doesn't change the fact that the crap flying Eagles dominated Ukraine. Fact

Now, in regards to shots on goal, see with your eyes.

jihday:
since its about iheanacho something dark might be going on, when Aina was dropped for the clueless Echejile it was Rhor knows best but now that it hit home it is forgiveness might be right

timay:
As in , sometimes I will just sit down and imagine if Chukwueze was English. They will probably be comparing him with Mbappe by now, making the boy that still needs to work hard to think that he has arrived.

That is how the useless media were comparing Rashford with Mbappe. Mbappe that is miles ahead of Rashford o. Now the mumu niwon thinks he's the best striker even that man utd coach is now benching a proven striker like Lukaku for him.

Lukaku that scores minimum of 20goals per season even while at Everton.

I just SMH sometimes for British media people

andrew444:
You dominated but you have been kicked out ,are you trying to praise your team for playing so poorly in the tournament

Can't you take the fact away that the Ukrainians have made it to the final ?

There is no point for you saying you dominated them ,the best teams are in the finals

Finito

andrew444:
Lol ,your formation is not bad ,but you know your 4 front line might not start ,expecially onyekuru and onauchu

If I am to go buy your formation sha I will put osimhen there