Time to recall Vincent Enyeama

Published December 19, 2017
Orji Ogbonnaya Orji



The need to recall Vincent Enyeama to join the Super Eagles squad to the 2018 World Cup in Russia has become important and urgent. The team needs a strong, experienced goalkeeper to prosecute the tournament. I have followed the debate over the need for Enyeama to stage a comeback from retirement with keen interest. But one has difficulty connecting logic with reason on the varied opinions so far expressed. For instance, those afraid of Enyeama’s recall have argued that his inclusion will bring rivalry, acrimony and disaffection in the team over the issue of leadership. But they hardly explained how. Those with this opinion neither realised that Enyeama has since moved on; nor appreciated that the train has since left the station because a lot of water has passed under the bridge.


There is also the argument that because he was not involved in the qualification stages of the World Cup, his inclusion would amount to reaping where he did not sow. In their opinion, the other goalkeepers would feel short-changed and their aspiration to showcase their talents at the world stage would have been jeopardised. Some even went further to demand that if Enyeama wants a place in the national team, he should gather his kinsmen to go and tender an apology to the Nigerian Football Federation officials and others that he might have “stepped on their toes”. A close examination of these views point to nothing that serves either national interest or public good. All the arguments against the recall of Enyeama are largely narrow, driven by ego, pride, selfish and flimsy considerations.

The only valid argument, that one could relate to, remains the concern by the Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr over the fitness of the Lille of France goalkeeper. This remains a genuine reason especially with reports that he just came out from a nagging injury. Even at that, the optimism of the coach that Nigeria’s current quagmire over who mans the post during World Cup would be laid to rest if Enyeama is fit, able and willing to return to the Super Eagles. The confidence of the coach from his pronouncements is not only valid but professional. It also conveys a strong message of a coach with sincerity of purpose and focus to deliver results by using the best we have to get the best we want. Rohr should follow this path now that Enyeama has fully recovered, has rejoined his team in France and has resumed training. Besides, the coach should please move closer to the player with some authority of ownership. This will help push the boundaries of pride over who blinks first which we do not need at this time. Every good coach knows that the World Cup tournament is where experience, character, courage and track record count a great deal. And success is what matters. Besides, football is no longer just a game but has assumed a strategic position in the world economy. It has also become an emerging big business and an element of state power. That is why big economies like China and the USA have become big investors with huge interests in the game of football.



For Russia 2018, all Nigerians around the world look forward to results not reasons. Enyeama is not finished. Something points to his direction that in the 2018 World Cup, he has a date with history in favour of Nigeria. Enyeama has virtues that we currently lack among the aspiring goalkeepers in the team. It requires more than two eyes to see why Enyeama is needed in Russia. The coach should develop more eyes to see the opportunities in Enyeama’s return to fortify the team he has worked so hard to assemble within so short a time.

The young goalkeepers that we have seen so far – Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi, Dele Ajiboye, Francis Uzoho and Dele Alampasu lack the required World Cup confidence. They are better as reserves on the bench. They need time to get there. And their time will surely come. Enyeama’s ability to take full control, marshal instructions to his teammates, read the movement of players easily on the pitch, decode very quickly the character and structure of a game are experiences that one cannot easily pick on the shelf. Besides, his presence on the post sends very powerful signals to strikers because of his ability to calculate with precision. His presence in the goalpost equally exhumes confidence, trust and reduces the chances of hypertension for the rest of us watching on television. And he never allowed that to enter into his head. Why then are some people afraid of his return?

It is worthy of note that when Enyeama left the national team, he did not do so with fanfare and great memories as expected. He left under painful, controversial circumstances that could have been avoided. From public information, Enyeama was said to have been stripped off his captain’s band while he was away for the burial of his dear mother in his native Akwa Ibom State by former coach Sunday Oliseh. The dust raised by the decision and chain of reactions that followed complicated the crisis. And he was ignored by those who should have immediately intervened.



Before the ugly development, followers of the Super Eagles believed in Enyeama as a loyal, patient, dedicated, humble, creative and dependable goalkeeper ready and willing to sacrifice for his country. He was also the presiding pastor and spiritual leader of the Super Eagles before, during and after every match. The ‘ambush” of Enyeama’s and his apparent “humiliation” while away at his mum’s graveside was crude, insensitive, lacking in sympathy, empathy, support and compassion. It was an unfair and an ill-timed decision with huge moral burden. His anger, feeling of betrayal, and disappointment which led to his hurried exit could be justified, when one puts in context the deep loving relationship between him and his late mum. Those who plotted Enyeama’s exit during a most trying moment of his life actually hit him below the belt. But Enyeama must put all that behind him now as history. He must move on.



While Nigeria has yet to recover from the moral crisis of rewarding Enyeama with a bad coin in spite of his valuable, exceptional service to his country, the time to let go has come. While one notes and in fact applauds the amazing job so far done by Rohr with stoic support of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick, the recall of Enyeama is one more hurdle they must cross. And the time is now. This bold decision will simply nail the coffin on Eagles’ preparation. Let the request be formally made publicly for Enyeama to have a soft landing. I have no doubt that Enyeama will not let his country and his numerous supporters down especially at this time. No matter how it is presented, a half -fit Enyeama is better in Russia than the current plot to “gamble” with those eager to learn on the job. Pinnick’s NFF, Rohr must note that since the 1994 squad, at no other time in the history of Nigerian football, is our country ready to take the world head-on than now with the squad they have laboured to assemble. We therefore need to seize the moment. Examples are common of many footballing nations that put pride aside and recalled their stars from retirement to fortify their teams when it mattered most. It happened in Chile, neighbouring Cameroon with Roger Milla and recently in Egypt. The triumph of the Pharaohs of Egypt in the last African Cup of Nations lay on the experience of their national goalkeeper recalled from retirement. Enyeama’s recall with every encouragement extended to him to strengthen the Super Eagles squad to Russia will be in the overriding public interest. His country needs him as much as he needs his country in Russia.



Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji wrote from Abuja

OPINION SPORTS


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/915952410?-21310:11479:1

I have said it times without numbers that Onyekuru can't play the Striker role but some people : wants to make us believe otherwise just to squeeze him into the team.

Onyekuru must fight for the LW position but I don't think he is the best or inform in that position currently in Europe even in Belgium.




Everton Loanee Henry Criticized By Anderlecht Coach For The Umpteenth Time

Published: December 18, 2017

Henry Onyekuru is still in the bad books of Anderlecht manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck following his side's disgraceful 5-0 loss to Club Brugge in the Belgian First Division A on Sunday.

Despite the Everton loanee spending approximately half an hour on the Jan Breydelstadion (Brugge) turf, he came under fire from the coach yet again.

''It does not make much sense to put Onyekuru at the center, but when he is standing there, he does not move, and he just moves to the left..., he always lets himself down,'' Vanhaezebrouck was quoted as saying by voetbalkrant.com.

Henry Onyekuru is one of the best players in Belgium and Anderlecht's top scorer in the league, but Vanhaezebrouck is not impressed.

He added : ''He does score now and then, but the last few weeks have not been as good either, his contribution went down.''

This season, Onyekuru has written his name on the score-sheet ten times from 27 appearances in all competitions for the Belgian champions.

Igho Kinsgley

Photo Credit : Instagram.com


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/915905483?-21310:11479:1

I blame previous coaches for our goalkeeping issue.

When we were carrying Agbim up and down, We could have been grooming a viable replacement for Enyeama and Ejide. Now where is Agbim??

forgiveness:
I have said it times without numbers that Onyekuru can't play the Striker role but some people : wants to make us believe otherwise just to squeeze him into the team.

Onyekuru must fight for the LW position but I don't think he is the best or inform in that position currently in Europe even in Belgium.




Everton Loanee Henry Criticized By Anderlecht Coach For The Umpteenth Time

Published: December 18, 2017

Henry Onyekuru is still in the bad books of Anderlecht manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck following his side's disgraceful 5-0 loss to Club Brugge in the Belgian First Division A on Sunday.

Despite the Everton loanee spending approximately half an hour on the Jan Breydelstadion (Brugge) turf, he came under fire from the coach yet again.

''It does not make much sense to put Onyekuru at the center, but when he is standing there, he does not move, and he just moves to the left..., he always lets himself down,'' Vanhaezebrouck was quoted as saying by voetbalkrant.com.

Henry Onyekuru is one of the best players in Belgium and Anderlecht's top scorer in the league, but Vanhaezebrouck is not impressed.

He added : ''He does score now and then, but the last few weeks have not been as good either, his contribution went down.''

This season, Onyekuru has written his name on the score-sheet ten times from 27 appearances in all competitions for the Belgian champions.

Igho Kinsgley

Photo Credit : Instagram.com


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/915905483?-21310:11479:1

The Anderlecht coach is ridiculous.. The man is the highest scorer in the league, highest scorer in your team and you leave him on the bench for your biggest game.

If he can't play as a striker, then play him in his best position.. Too much talk..

goldfish80:

The award is not about trophies won for a European team. What if no African won the league for a top 5 European league club , will the award be cancelled for the year under review?
Did Mustafa Hadji, Kanoute, Adebayo, Aubameyang, Yaya Toure( 2012), Victor Ikpeba win any league at their crowning moment?
Please let's educate ourselves before over analysing.

It's even laughable that some analyst believe there's an anti Nigerian sentiment from within the continent. How delusional can one be? This is an event a Nigerian company have sponsored for the past 10 years and counting. An event which have been held in Abuja back to back since globacom took title sponsorship.

How there can be anti Nigerian sentiment for an event we own, host and sponsored is just laughable.

Moses neither made the BBC top 3 shortlist nor the CAF top 3. How can these two bodies be wrong at the same time? Isn't it time we look at the thing critically and find answers we seek?

Moses wasn't even the best right back in London for a guy who changed football.

I don't need any lectures on the past, pls let us not use history to stand in the way of common sense. BBC does not have a 3 man shortlist and even if they did who cares? Moses was not the best right back in London? maybe, but he was the best RWB in the world and I can say this in front of any oracle.

tbaba1234:


The Anderlecht coach is ridiculous.. The man is the highest scorer in the league, highest scorer in your team and you leave him on the bench for your biggest game.

If he can't play as a striker, then play him in his best position.. Too much talk..

This is what I tried to explain to u guys. This was Moses Simon's coach and he is not an offensive coach. He want Henry to play a more tactical game.

BascoVanVeli:


I don't need any lectures on the past, pls let us not use history to stand in the way of common sense. BBC does not have a 3 man shortlist and even if they did who cares? Moses was not the best right back in London? maybe, but he was the best RWB in the world and I can say this in front of any oracle.

The past set's a precedent for the future. If he was the best right back in the world, he wouldn't have had problems making the Epl team of the season.

BascoVanVeli:


This is what I tried to explain to u guys. This was Moses Simon's coach and he is not an offensive coach. He want Henry to play a more tactical game.

Same reason why Rohr almost never fancies or play him but loves Simon. Simon tracks back a lot and helps the defence.

BascoVanVeli:


This is what I tried to explain to u guys. This was Moses Simon's coach and he is not an offensive coach. He want Henry to play a more tactical game.

The same coach that did not give Ekong a chance, shipped him off and bought a worse defender...

You talk to your player on the training pitch not in the press.

tbaba1234:
I blame previous coaches for our goalkeeping issue.

When we were carrying Agbim up and down, We could have been grooming a viable replacement for Enyeama and Ejide. Now where is Agbim??

Honestly you are right on our coaches who are too sentimental in their decision making.

Pls is Dele Aiyenugba not a Nigerian for God sake cos sometimes it baffled me that despite goalkeeping crisis we have a keeper doing it in Isreali league that has the likes of Nwakaeme and Ogu in the national team.

If Enyeama is saying No,let's gives Aiyenugba another chance cos i know Ejide is clubless for now.If am in Alloy shoe i will put Uzoho, Ezenwa, Akpeyi, Alampasu Ajiboye,Maduka,Aiyenugba in case Enyeama declined into frame,give them fair treatment and get the best.

goldfish80:

The past set's a precedent for the future. If he was the best right back in the world, he wouldn't have had problems making the Epl team of the season.

That makes no sense, if it did we would still be colonized till day because we are living in the past. We have to admit our mistakes of the past not cover them up. I said he was the best right wing back so why are u dragging right back into this? Not every right back can play wing back.

tbaba1234:


The same coach that did not give Ekong a chance, shipped him off and bought a worse defender...

You talk to your player on the training pitch not in the press.

The same coach who had Esiti, Moses and Kalu as regulars in his starting 11. Gent had too many defenders, even Rohr spoke about Ekong leaving the club.

U talk on the training pitch but u also have to answer the media. This should serve as motivation to the young man, at least he is playing unlike others.

Questence:

Same reason why Rohr almost never fancies or play him but loves Simon. Simon tracks back a lot and helps the defence.

Yes I agree

tbaba1234:


The Anderlecht coach is ridiculous.. The man is the highest scorer in the league, highest scorer in your team and you leave him on the bench for your biggest game.

If he can't play as a striker, then play him in his best position.. Too much talk..

The idiot of a coach even started him from the bench after first half . He didn’t blame those that played before him but singled him out. He has been criticizing him for a while now. I wonder how he scored 9 goals despite the zero encouragement from the coach

nelszx:


You are even going in the line of VicMo the entire nomination is flawed. Hugo broos won the AFCON but he's not among the nominee of Coach of the year but Cameroon national team was nominated.
In all honesty, Salah shouldn't make the cut as the award is what the players have achieved in the 2016/2017 calendar year and not based on current season.
Well whatever statistics is been used then we should have the criterion for such nominees

Only a Nigerian will rank Moses ahead of Salah in 2017.

A Salah that got Egypt to AFCON final.

A Salah that got Egypt WC qualification after many years.

A Salah with fantastic performance in Roma, which he has continued in Liverpool.

Nigerians are funny.

BascoVanVeli:


That makes no sense, if it did we would still be colonized till day because we are living in the past. We have to admit our mistakes of the past not cover them up. I said he was the best right wing back so why are u dragging right back into this? Not every right back can play wing back.

Mane, Aubameyang and Salah made the team of the season in their leagues, Moses didn't. Who is living in the past by omitting a player who wasn't considered the best in his league?
Also, make no mistake about this, Right wing back is just a morden way to describe an overlapping full back.

Jarus:


Only a Nigerian will rank Moses ahead of Salah in 2017.

A Salah that got Egypt to AFCON final.

A Salah that got Egypt WC qualification after many years.

A Salah with fantastic performance in Roma, which he has continued in Liverpool.

Nigerians are funny.

No we are not funny but always sentimental.I want Moses to win APOTY but just too glaring he cannot cos we have Sallah in a maverick form,Aubemeyang and Mane are there also doing their things.

BascoVanVeli:


3 man shortlist was the least he deserved. Salah could score 100 goals and still never get his hands on the epl title. Moses changed football.

Moses changed football?

Kog45:
No we are not funny but always sentimental.I want Moses to win APOTY but just too glaring he cannot cos we have Sallah in a maverick form,Aubemeyang and Mane are there also doing their things.

Mane and Aubameyang made the list of FIFA Top 30 in 2017 and some Nigerians are still expecting Moses, who didn't even make EPL 11, to make Africa's Top 3 ahead of them.

Kog45:
Moses changed football?

Nigerians are funny.

Jarus:


Mane and Aubameyang made the list of FIFA Top 30 in 2017 and some Nigerians are still expecting Moses, who didn't even make EPL 11, to make Africa's Top 3 ahead of them.

Agreed but Moses na our own,so expect such comments.

tbaba1234:


The Anderlecht coach is ridiculous.. The man is the highest scorer in the league, highest scorer in your team and you leave him on the bench for your biggest game.

If he can't play as a striker, then play him in his best position.. Too much talk..

the coach don't have sense...
only a senseless man will be accusing a loanee who have even contributed more to his team success than the team owned players.....
everytime the dude is singled out for criticism....nasty coach....

what's the boy offense that he can't call him privately to talk to.....rather than open his mouth in tin air...and speak trash.

forgiveness:
I have said it times without numbers that Onyekuru can't play the Striker role but some people : wants to make us believe otherwise just to squeeze him into the team.

Onyekuru must fight for the LW position but I don't think he is the best or inform in that position currently in Europe even in Belgium.




Everton Loanee Henry Criticized By Anderlecht Coach For The Umpteenth Time

Published: December 18, 2017

-21310:11479:1

The man is just trying to justify why he didn't start his highest goalscorer and by extension, why he chopped 5.

Humility017:

the coach don't have sense...
only a senseless man will be accusing a loanee who have even contributed more to his team success than the team owned players.....
everytime the dude is singled out for criticism....nasty coach....

what's the boy offense that he can't call him privately to talk to.....rather than open his mouth in tin air...and speak trash.

I think it's time for Oyekwuru to have tete discussion with his coach on his preferred position cos the man always criticising him anytime he played as CF not as a winger.

Yes the coach was a little bit nasty may be that was his style,remember Mourinho does it too by criticising his players openly.

Oyekwuru should not be let down but continue working hard to improve on his shortcomings and i don't think the coach hate him cos we have quite number of Nigerians who have played under the same coach.

Kog45:
Agreed but Moses na our own,so expect such comments.

I just think we should be able to rise above sentiments in some things

Jarus:


Only a Nigerian will rank Moses ahead of Salah in 2017.

A Salah that got Egypt to AFCON final.

A Salah that got Egypt WC qualification after many years.

A Salah with fantastic performance in Roma, which he has continued in Liverpool.

Nigerians are funny.

you said it all

i said it here around April early this year that there was no way that Victor moses will win the award

Jarus:


I just think we should be able to rise above sentiments in some things

Truly but naija blood strong o but have you read comments like how Awaziem rendered Neymar useless, Oyekwuru finished Alves,Moses the best RWB in the world,Moses changed football.Those comments simply mean we need to promote our own but sometimes we don't need it when we want to get true picture of things.

blueto:
If Uzoho was in the post against Argentina in the last world cup edition, I don't think Messi would have fared well against him like he performed against Enyeama. If you watch Messi's first goal in that game, he played the ball up to the roof of the net, why? because he knew fully well that Enyeama's short height wouldn't allow him to do well against up balls, and before Messi played the ball, Enyeama was looking to dive along the ground where he thrives, but Messi did not play to his expectations and strength.

Another player who understood and worked with this Enyeama's weakness was Diego Forlan of Uruguay. I remember how he scored the winning gaol against Enyeama in the Confederations cup. He played the same way Messi played his, by playing it straight to the roof of the net, and that might been how Messi discovered that the short Enyeama can't cope very well with such kind of shots.

Messi's second goal can also be attributed to same weakness. The short Enyeama couldn't see the freekick on time due to his shortness and it caused him a late reaction.

Yes, he may have made some great savings, but those goals he conceded wouldn't have been conceded by a tall Uzoho in goal. And it will unwise to start Enyeama against Argentina again (if he returns) with same Messi and other players who may have taken note of his weaknesses from that previous match.

wow....just wow. So you sat down and thought about this before posting it? Or is it a joke?

Kog45:
I think it's time for Oyekwuru to have tete discussion with his coach on his preferred position cos the man always criticising him anytime he played as CF not as a winger.

Yes the coach was a little bit nasty may be that was his style,remember Mourinho does it too by criticising his players openly.

Oyekwuru should not be let down but continue working hard to improve on his shortcomings and i don't think the coach hate him cos we have quite number of Nigerians who have played under the same coach.

the coach have been doing this repeatedly..

why not talk to him in private...If he have issues wit the young lad.....such attitude end up pull sown players confidence

Kog45:
Truly but naija blood strong o but have you read comments like how Awaziem rendered Neymar useless, Oyekwuru finished Alves,Moses the best RWB in the world,Moses changed football.Those comments simply mean we need to promote our own but sometimes we don't need it when we want to get true picture of things.

this one is a generally known fact...I read other nationals acknowledge this on Twitter, so, it's not a case of Nigerians blowing the horn of our people

Kog45:
Truly but naija blood strong o but have you read comments like how Awaziem rendered Neymar useless, Oyekwuru finished Alves,Moses the best RWB in the world,Moses changed football.Those comments simply mean we need to promote our own but sometimes we don't need it when we want to get true picture of things.

Add Kelechi better than Mbappe.