Recently, there were talks that the 1994 set of Eagles were behaving as if they are the owners of Nigerian Football.
Unconfirmed reports had it that ex- Internationals worked against one another’s interests in the search for who was to head the National team few months ago. Thus, those in the Glass House, Abuja had no option than to settle for a Malian, Eric Sekou Chelle as the head Coach of the Suoer Eagles.
The appointment of Chelle, who had his first baptism of fire yesterday in far away Kigali as Super Eagles Coach did not go down well with many Ex -Super Eagles players expressing divergent views. While, Austin Jay Jay Okocha condemned it, Victor Ikpeba, a member of NFF Technical Committee defended it. In one of my off record conversation with Victor Ikpeba here in Asaba, he said no Coach presently in Nigeria can handle the Super Eagles players because of their ego. That the best since they cannot afford one from Europe is to settle for the Malian.
A critical look at the football scene presently in the country shows that the 1994 set seems to be everywhere with the rest not being heard. It is as if they are not existing. One can only point at mercurial Segun Odegbami as the only one before this set still visible while after this set, nobody.
The 1994 set led by the “Big Boss” Stephen Keshi was handled by Clemence Westerholf and won the African Cup of Nations in a foreign land and from there, made waves in their career before calling it quits.
The 23 man squad of the 1994 set are Peter Rufai, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Alloy Agu, Stephen Keshi and Austin Eguavon.
The rest are Uche Okafor, Uche Okechukwu, Isaac Semitoje, Ben Iroha, Nduka Ugbade, Sunday Oliseh.
Others are Mutiu Adepoju, Edema Fuludu, Thompson Oliha, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Evan Ekoku.
The remaining ones are Rashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Finidi George. Many of them did not waste the opportunity football gave to them to excell. Infact, 80% of them are still very much relevant to the envy of others who have found it difficult to breakthrough.
Peter Rufai who jettisoned the chance to become a crowned king of Onidimu of Idimu Kingdom is in Lagos managing an academy while Wilfred Agbonavbare died many years ago after his retirement Alloy Agu was once in charge of goalkeeping department in the Super Eagles team.
Austin Eguavon ofter called “ Cecero” has been in and out of the Super Eagles as Coach. He is presently the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and Ben Iroha, who retired from football in 2000 lives in the United State of America.
The “Big Boss”, Stephen Keshi could be described as the most successful among them before he died of cardiac arrest on June, 6th, 2016 in Benin. He was the only Nigerian who won the African Cup of Nations as a player and a Coach. He equally led the team to the knock out stage of the World Cup. He was credited as the man that opened the eyes of Nigerian footballers by pursuing greener pastures outside the shore.
While Semitoje Isaac is based in Benin managing his personal business, his compatriot, Thompson Oliha passed on in 2013 after working briefly with Kwara Football Academy.
As for Nduka Ugbade, he was given an opportunity to handle the junior National team but failed to make any meaningful impact. He is presently handling a team in Enugu.
Austin Okocha went into business after retirement and had an unsuccessful stint as Chairman of Delta Football Association. Evan Ekoku is based in the U.K and works as a soccer pundit while Mutiu Adepoju” the headmaster” manages his business in Ibadan. He is also the current La Liga ambassador in Nigeria.
Edema Fuludu shuttles between Warri and Benin. He is involved in politics while the” Bull” Daniel Amokachi has been in politics too and was appointed as the special Adviser to President Buhari on Sports. He recently resigned as Coach of Lobi Stars of Makurdi when the going became too much for him. Lobi Stars presently occupy the bottom of the league table battling relegation. Emmanuel Amunike, one of the bright stars of that set has been the opportunity to handle the Super Eagles several times due to unknown reasons. He is presently in charge of Heartland Foitball Club, Owerri.
Finidi George too failed as Coach of the Super Eagles after doing well with Enyimba. He is presently handling Rivers United in the Nigerian Profesdional League. Gargling Rashidi Yekini has since gone to meet his creator due to depression.
Samson Siasia would have been one of the best thing to come out of this country but had a serious set back when FIFA banned him for five years for alleged match fixing. Effort to get back into Coaching has not been successful and is presently nurturing the young ones in his academy in Abuja.
The remaining duo of Victor Ikpeba and Sunday Oliseh have heard the opportunity to get closer to the national team recently. Sunday Oliseh was appointed as the Coach of the Suoer Eagles but left when he heat was too much while Ikpeba is presently a member of the NFF Technical Committee. The last of that set, Uche Okafor was living in Texas after retirement but died suddenly few years ago.
In a nutshell, the challenges before the rest set is to come out of their shelves and do the needful. Acquire the necessary papers and chest out rather than hiding somewhere and be complaining. It is also a lesson to the up coming ones that there is life after retirement. As you lay your bed so you lie on it.
