I WROTE THIS SOME TIME IN THE PAST.
I WONDER THE LEVEL OF RELEVANCE IT HAS TODAY.
BUT I WHOLE LOT HAS OBVIOUSLY CHANGED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
ENJOY!
Reigning Cup of Nations champions Nigeria are currently struggling in their quest to defend the trophy won back in 2013 against popular expectations and odds.
A lot has been said and written about the performances of the team after since their glorious Afcon 2013 campaign, especially after their round-of-16 match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where the team were dumped out by a bland French side.
The subsequent managerial upheaval and out-of-sorts performances have been well-documented and recognised by all.
The qualifying days of destiny are soon to be upon us though, and rather than Shaibu Amodu, it will be the Big Boss Stephen Keshi who negotiates the team through these final, crucial fixtures.
It remains to be seen whether the manager can take the team to Morocco (or wherever else the tournament is held) but no one could argue that he has taken the Super Eagles to the next level since winning the 2013 Afcon.
The side need an inspiration and the fans are beginning to clamour for a fresh start.
Interestingly, the subject of this write up happens to be an important area where a large number of fans and pundits alike have expressed displeasure and strong reservations about the choices of the coach; team selection.
This piece is not written to query the decision of the coach to invite some unknown names while he continues to omit some of the fans favourites and better performing player.
Since the World Cup, and following his impressive summer showings for Manchester City, there have been calls for wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho to be promoted to the senior side. Keshi continues to promote unknowns ahead of a youngster who could well go on to become the future of the national side.
I WONDER THE LEVEL OF RELEVANCE IT HAS TODAY.
BUT I WHOLE LOT HAS OBVIOUSLY CHANGED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
ENJOY!
Reigning Cup of Nations champions Nigeria are currently struggling in their quest to defend the trophy won back in 2013 against popular expectations and odds.
A lot has been said and written about the performances of the team after since their glorious Afcon 2013 campaign, especially after their round-of-16 match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where the team were dumped out by a bland French side.
The subsequent managerial upheaval and out-of-sorts performances have been well-documented and recognised by all.
The qualifying days of destiny are soon to be upon us though, and rather than Shaibu Amodu, it will be the Big Boss Stephen Keshi who negotiates the team through these final, crucial fixtures.
It remains to be seen whether the manager can take the team to Morocco (or wherever else the tournament is held) but no one could argue that he has taken the Super Eagles to the next level since winning the 2013 Afcon.
The side need an inspiration and the fans are beginning to clamour for a fresh start.
Interestingly, the subject of this write up happens to be an important area where a large number of fans and pundits alike have expressed displeasure and strong reservations about the choices of the coach; team selection.
This piece is not written to query the decision of the coach to invite some unknown names while he continues to omit some of the fans favourites and better performing player.
Since the World Cup, and following his impressive summer showings for Manchester City, there have been calls for wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho to be promoted to the senior side. Keshi continues to promote unknowns ahead of a youngster who could well go on to become the future of the national side.
In this feature, I contribute my thoughts as to whether Keshi should have called up Iheanacho.
First, it appears that the large section of the crowd demanding the call up of the boy refuse to accept the huge gap of difference between U-17 and the senior team football.
Only a few extremely matured and talented youngsters are able to take that huge leap without a solid experience of professional football at club level. Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Neymar, Bruno Martins Indi, Paul Pogba, Marco Verrati, Mario Goetze, etc. are good examples of youngsters who made their international debuts at an early age.
However, an insightful look at these guys shows that they all got their senior debuts while playing top flight football in different leagues.
Perhaps, if Iheanacho were to be European he would easily have got a work permit to play in the Premier League or walk into the first team of a team in the Eredivisie; an interesting assumption and possibility. But the reality is that he doesn’t have the advantage of the average European youngster and this is the reality.
A handful of games in the pre-season tour for Manchester City is definitely not enough to convince me that he is ready to take the step up to the Super Eagles. He needs to prove it week in-week out.
Next, in calling for the inclusion of someone like Iheanacho—a great talent and a wonderful prospect—we overlook players such as Isaac Success, the young striker who has been a revelation for Granada in La Liga this season.
The boy has started the campaign as an almost sure starter in the first team.
It’s clear that the call for Iheanacho is deep-rooted in the so called search for a playmaker who can inspire the midfield like Jay-Jay Okocha did in the days back, however, it is appropriate to ask the coach to call up a player who is not only unproven but also almost ‘clubless’ at this point in time while neglecting his peer who has had more success than him.
First, it appears that the large section of the crowd demanding the call up of the boy refuse to accept the huge gap of difference between U-17 and the senior team football.
Only a few extremely matured and talented youngsters are able to take that huge leap without a solid experience of professional football at club level. Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Neymar, Bruno Martins Indi, Paul Pogba, Marco Verrati, Mario Goetze, etc. are good examples of youngsters who made their international debuts at an early age.
However, an insightful look at these guys shows that they all got their senior debuts while playing top flight football in different leagues.
Perhaps, if Iheanacho were to be European he would easily have got a work permit to play in the Premier League or walk into the first team of a team in the Eredivisie; an interesting assumption and possibility. But the reality is that he doesn’t have the advantage of the average European youngster and this is the reality.
A handful of games in the pre-season tour for Manchester City is definitely not enough to convince me that he is ready to take the step up to the Super Eagles. He needs to prove it week in-week out.
Next, in calling for the inclusion of someone like Iheanacho—a great talent and a wonderful prospect—we overlook players such as Isaac Success, the young striker who has been a revelation for Granada in La Liga this season.
The boy has started the campaign as an almost sure starter in the first team.
It’s clear that the call for Iheanacho is deep-rooted in the so called search for a playmaker who can inspire the midfield like Jay-Jay Okocha did in the days back, however, it is appropriate to ask the coach to call up a player who is not only unproven but also almost ‘clubless’ at this point in time while neglecting his peer who has had more success than him.
Finally, apparently, a lot of fans do not realize and appreciate the burden that national assignments place on the shoulders of footballers.
This burden is even more pronounced when you are an African player.
Administrative, organisational and logistics challenges aggravate the challenges for African players.
The best possible explanation for this will be the current monthly double-header qualification series that CAF has adopted for the qualification for Afcon 2015. Teams have to play two games in the space of a seven-day period.
Remember that a large chunk of African players ply their trade in Europe. It is then obvious why the average European player who played for his country in the same FIFA free day gets back to club base well ahead of his African counterpart fresher, because he had less travel time, and fitter, because he consequently gets more time to recuperate and return to training.
Kelechi Iheanacho, in my opinion, is not yet mature enough to handle this pressure and this rhythm.
I believe, strongly too, that Kelechi Iheancaho is a vital part of the future of Nigeria football and as such has to be protected and nurtured in order for him to fulfil his potential.
I personally cannot wait to see Iheanacho in front of a double pivot of Onazi Ogenyi and Mikel Obi in the midfield of the Super Eagles BUT I refuse to live in dream land and realistically hope this will be a reality in two years’ time when the boy, hopefully will have been able to justify the hype around him.
Until then, let the debate be about coach Keshi and his ability to lead the team that he has chosen, and not about young Kelechi Iheanacho.
This burden is even more pronounced when you are an African player.
Administrative, organisational and logistics challenges aggravate the challenges for African players.
The best possible explanation for this will be the current monthly double-header qualification series that CAF has adopted for the qualification for Afcon 2015. Teams have to play two games in the space of a seven-day period.
Remember that a large chunk of African players ply their trade in Europe. It is then obvious why the average European player who played for his country in the same FIFA free day gets back to club base well ahead of his African counterpart fresher, because he had less travel time, and fitter, because he consequently gets more time to recuperate and return to training.
Kelechi Iheanacho, in my opinion, is not yet mature enough to handle this pressure and this rhythm.
I believe, strongly too, that Kelechi Iheancaho is a vital part of the future of Nigeria football and as such has to be protected and nurtured in order for him to fulfil his potential.
I personally cannot wait to see Iheanacho in front of a double pivot of Onazi Ogenyi and Mikel Obi in the midfield of the Super Eagles BUT I refuse to live in dream land and realistically hope this will be a reality in two years’ time when the boy, hopefully will have been able to justify the hype around him.
Until then, let the debate be about coach Keshi and his ability to lead the team that he has chosen, and not about young Kelechi Iheanacho.
