An Old Wound Reopens!

As the Super Eagles prepare for their next match, the world cup qualifier against Sierra Leone, a problem that we have been lucky to deal with over the years has come up for discussion, a lack of competition for our full backs, especially at left back.


Lucky because,since Celestine Babayaro departed the international scene, we've quite had suitable candidates for that position- Ifeanyi Udeze,Taye Taiwo and even Garba Lawal(whenever he deputised). Before him, we had Ben Iroha who was right footed and converted from midfield by Westerhof and of course Michael Emenalo who was recalled from a nine year international wilderness as back up for Iroha at USA '94.

It was so bad that at Senegal 92 ANC we had no proper left back since Iroha was injured.Emeka Ezeugo,Nduka Ugbade and Augustine Eguavone all right footed took turns to fill that position.


The Solution?

I suggest Amodu takes a cue from Westerhof and Siasia and convert someone to that position.This will mean that he will have to apply all the coaching and man management skills he has acquired over the years to get the job done.

The Candidates?

Obvious one is Chibuzo Okonkwo.We all saw him at the Olympics. I think he not international class yet, but he has potential and will surely improve with good coaching. He can also get a look in at right back.Monday James(to my surprise, I must confess) did quite well too when he played there in China, but he will have to work really hard to join the Eagles set up.

The best(and maybe long-term) candidate could be Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé of RC Rennes.He was called up to Amodu first squad, but hasn't returned since.He also missed the cut for the Olympics.Maybe the fact he's not a regular at Rennes didn't help,but I thought he was solid at the WYC in Canada. I think he might benefit(in terms of his confidence) from being in the national team set up now(Samuel Eto'o made his debut for Cameroun while paying in the Real Madrid academy, see where he is today).

If none these guys will suffice then we have to work really hard to solve the problem.

Do you know?

That Finidi George started his career as a central midfielder for Calabar Rovers?
He was converted to a winger by Clemens Westerhof. He reverted to central midfield in the later part of career.