Former Green Eagles' left winger Adokiye Amiesimeka yesterday in Port Harcourt called on former Super Eagles' skipper Austin Okocha to come out of retirement.

Reacting to Nigeria's 3-0 win over Kenya in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday in Abuja, Amiesimeka said that the former midfield maestro should return to the national team.

He said Okocha would be more useful to Nigeria in the national team than in the Presidential Task Force Committee set up by President Umaru Yar'Adua to ensure the Super Eagles' qualification for South Africa 2010.

Okocha is a member of the 12-man Presidential Task Force headed by Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

He argued that the former skipper should resume his role in the midfield which he said was weak and lacking in creativity in Sunday's game.

"We had a weak midfield, no penetrating passes until Nwankwo Kanu came in and gave us a penalty. I believe Okocha will be more useful in the midfield than on the Presidential Committee," he said.

He said the team played without passion, fire, and enthusiasm, giving the Kenyans much room to operate.

"We should have played them like the Nigeria-Belgium match at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," he said.

Rivers' FA Chairman, Chris Green, called on the team to work harder if they must pick the ticket from the group.

"We need to work extra hard because our team was not that too good.

The Kenyans played well and were better technically," Green said.

"We are walking a tight rope because we still have Tunisia ahead of us. Our next match against Tunisia is a must-win match," he said.

Similarly, Paul Hamilton, a former Super Eagles coach, described the match in Tunis as a 'must-win' for Nigeria to feature in the finals of the mundial.

"The match in Tunis on June 20 is a must-win for the Super Eagles if Nigeria is to be at the World Cup final in 2010.

"As such, the boys must raise the tempo of their game in Tunisia. The Eagles did their best against Kenya in Abuja on Sunday.

"A lot still needs to be done by the coaching crew and the players for Nigeria to pick the Group B ticket for South Africa 2010 World Cup," Hamilton said.


Etim Esin, a former Nigerian international, urged Super Eagles' coach to retain the team which featured against the Harambee Stars of Kenya on Sunday for their next match in Tunisia.

"The boys are okay. No good manager anywhere in the world will want to change a winning team," he said.

But, Patrick Ibeh, a journalist, said the technical crew must work harder on the midfield before the match in Tunisia.

"It is not yet 'uhuru'. Good that we got the three points from the match against Kenya but there was no coordination between the midfield and the defence.

" We do not have a team yet. What we only have is a bunch of players who tried to impress.

"Amodu (the coach) must correct these flaws before our next match in Tunis if we want to go to the World Cup," he said.

If he does that I will welcome it

Zidane did it for France and almost led france to a second world cup glory

I still believe we have a chance of at least Semi Final in South Africa world cup if we get a few things right

No.1. Offload Amodu for Siasia

he should come out of retirement to be the ball boy or water cooler carrier?

move to sports.

And what the hell has this to do with politics?

texazzpete:

And what the hell has this to do with politics?

I wonder o >:

must_a_far:

he should come out of retirement to be the ball boy or water cooler carrier?

move to sports.

U harsh no be small

There is time for everything under the sun. JJ has played his part and played it well. His era of play is over. He can come as a coach or other assignments in football but NOT to play again. Happy retired life to JJ Okocha.

I think Okacha is still useful. We are lacking a combative midfielder. The attack have not score more goals because the midfield is non existent in the super eagers. Mikel, Etuhu. Olafinjana, Ayila are all defensive midfielders. Super eagles need someone in the shoes of Fabragas or Mikel Arteta. By the way where are Obodo and Wilson oruma?

This is wrong mentality sha.

Why not beg Rashidi Yekini to comes out of retirement

walata44:

Why not beg Rashidi Yekini to comes out of retirement

abi + Oliseh

Or Haruna Ilerika to come out of his grave

christian chukwu

Why should he come out of retirement? Do you want him to die on the pitch?
With a population of 150million people, out of which we will have at least 20million who are within the correct age-range to play football, cant we find and train someone else?

@poster,
pls who is jay jay okocha? is he a senator or former governor? i think am lost here. are we still in politics forum?

capital NO!

Lets bring papa Keshi to man the defence alongside christan chukwu and play Segun odegbami in the midfield.

Not forgeting Teslim Balogun in the attack as well and put ogededgbe in goal.

Yeye people dont people realise there is a phase in life!!!!

no

MrCrackles:

Why the fuc.k is this in the politics section?
Poster are you suffering from acute glaucoma or corroded retina problems?

@Poster,
you mean he should come out of retirement and contest for the councillorship election in your ward?

ballboy for okocha.

JAY JAY OKOCHA SHOULD FIND STH DOING,INSTEAD OF THINKING ABT CCOMIN OUT OF RETIREMENT.HE HAS PAID HIS DUES AS FAR AS NIGERIAN FOOTBALL IS CONCERNED.Why should he come out of retirement?ARE U TELLIN ME DT OUT OF AROUND35 MILLION PEOPLE IN D AGE BRACKET OF PLAYING FOOTBALL,WE CAN SEE 1 PERSON DT CAN BE A PLAYMAKER LIKE HIM OR EVEN BETTER,THERE ARE THOUSANDS.OUR FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATORS ARE JUST LAZY,LET THEM GO AND SCOUT 4 QUALITY PLAYERS 4RM OUR LEAGUES AND FOOTBALL ACADEMIES AROUND D COUNTRY.LOOK AT RABIU IBRAHIM,HARUNA IBRAHIM,SONE ALUKO,WILSON ORUMA,CHRISTIAN OBODO AND MANY OHERS.OKOCHA,GO AND RETIRE AT HOME.

sheer waste of space

no!!