Commissioners Appointment Committee, member, NFF technical Committee, member CAF technical and development committee, the Niger State born administrator is not quick to grant media interview. But in this brief chat with Snr. Correspondent, Tony Ezimakor, in Abuja, Fresh bared his mind on the exclusion of Ike Uche from the World Cup, stating that the player deserves a place in Keshi's squad. Excerpts;
The provisional World Cup list is out and many Nigerians have been making their views known. Many have expressed fears that we may not be going to Brazil with our best players. It is the decision of the coach, we must admit, but as a member of the technical committee, how do you respond to such Comments? Do you think we have the best of Nigerian players in that provisional list released by Keshi?
Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts on the provisional list. As a member of the NFF technical committee, I took time to examine the list very critically from the goal keeping area to the defence, midfield and attack. Nigerians must have their own feelings because they watch these players day in day out, since they are used to watching all these European Leagues. And at home they also know which player is doing well. To be candid, there are certain players which I thought should be on that list. Players like Ikechukwu Uche. Of course as a member of that committee, when Coach Stephen Keshi forwarded the list, my contribution to him was, what about Ike Uche. But you see he has been speaking about issue which I don't want to go into. But I feel, he is the coach and it is his duty to give the final list and no one of us can influenced any player to be part of the team because he is the one to do the job and the players he has chosen are the
ones that will play. I okayed it as a person, but my only worry about the list is the exclusion of Ike Uche who has been performing wonderfully well. If you look at African strikers now in Europe, even if you are drawing list of Africa 11 based on performance as far as 2013/2014 football season is concerned, you must pick Ike Uche. Somebody that scored 13 goals in the season and this is despite injuries, I feel he deserved a place in the list.
But looking at the squad, there has been a lot of target setting, the minster is talking of the finals of the World Cup. But do you think we have got all it takes to achieve these targets? Do you think we have all takes to tackle the big nation?
I will say yes. And going by record, Nigeria is playing fantastic football now. The friendly matches we played during the FIFA windows were good test for the team. We played some countries that are going to the World Cup and the results definitely favoured us as a team. As a member of the federation and to be candid, my own target is the semi final. We should be in the last four. If we get to the last four, hopefully we may get to the finals and hopefully we may play the third place match which is a great achievement. If we find our selves in the finals we may also win. So the target for me is to get to the final four. If we reach the final four, definitely it is either we play in the final or the third place. Definitely I have confidence that we will achieve that target.
It is good to aim high but let's look at our group. Argentina is a familiar foe. Iran, yes everybody believes that we can get something out that pairing. But Bosnia-Herzegovina is largely unknown. Their coach has even come out with his final list for the World Cup to underscore the confidence of the team. But here we are searching. Looking at that group, do you entertain any concerns, especially with regard to Bosnia?
I do not have any worries. We have to respect all the 32 teams going to Brazil but not fear them. But to say that Nigeria should be afraid of Argentina, Bosnia or Iran, I don't have that fear. The fact that the coach has come out with his 23 man list, may be he doesn't have much in terms of players to chose from. As a coach, I don't think it is proper for you to release your list that early considering that FIFA has set timelines when these names are to be submitted. Probably they don't have much players to camp but as for Nigeria, we are a country of 170 million people. And we have talented footballers both at home and abroad. So what Keshi did is in the right direction, releasing the 30-man list and on June 2nd the final list. I respect our group opponents but I don't fear them. It is going to be 11 players against 11 players and I don't think Argentina should be a source of worry. We have been playing them before and playing them in the last game of
the group, I can assure you we are going to overcome them for the maximum nine points.
The concern that the size of the technical is small has not been addressed by the NFF. Just four crew members. And we are going to face teams like Brazil, Argentina that have several experienced coaches working with the Chief coach?
This is the same crew that prosecuted the Nations Cup. Keshi has some good assistance in Daniel Amokachi, Ike Shorunmnu and Valerie. I am convinced that we do not need any addition at this point in time. Throughout 2013 when he was given the job till this time that we are just days to the World Cup, we need not bring in a new person since it will be a distraction to the coach. Keshi should be allowed to handle this task with his assistants.
You are also saddled with other responsibilities, including the appointment of match officials of the league. What is your assessment of the referees so far this season?
It is excellent because Nigerians that are appointed as referees and Match Commissioners are up to the task. Look at week 13 of the premier league, you will see that there were two good away results; Kano Pillars going away to Gombe to beat Gombe United 4-3 and Abia Warriors going to Benin City to beat Bayesa United 3-1, it is a good omen. And we also have two away draws. If you look at the 2013/2014 season you will agree that the performance of match commissioners have improved. I hear speculation that South Africa is rank best in Africa but I can assure you that with the trend now in the league Nigeria will mount that position soon.
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