Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Friday, 16 October 2015
Thursday, 15 October 2015
FIFA U-17 W/C: Eaglets on the march again
Kick-off: 9pm
The Golden Eaglets will open their 2015 U-17 World Cup defence with a clash against the USA tomorrow.
Osimhen
But coach Emmanuel Amuneke explained to FIFA.com recently, that their best play tends to come out on the biggest stage. “We do well at the World Cup because the pitches help us to play much better. This happened at the 2013 tournament in the United Arab Emirates,” a tournament the Eaglets won by a 3-0 margin over Mexico in the final.
The coach has in the last one year or so engineered a new squad he believes can successfully defend the title their predecessors won in the UAE two years ago. Some of the key players in the present squad include Kelechi Nwakali, Victor Osimhen, Ebere Osinachi and Samuel Chukwueze.
But Amuneke said the team operates as a unit. “This team is not based only on Nwakali or Osimhen; we have other good players too. We have some very good players in this team, but what matters to me is to see them function as a team because a team must play collectively.”
He said the Eaglets were ready for the tournament having been together for a long time now. “All we are asking of Nigerians is their support for the team and we promise to make them happy.”
Captain Victor Osimhen has insisted that they were in Chile to bring back the trophy and the USA cannot stand in their way. “I want to assure Nigerians that we will do our best to contain the USA in our opening match. We want to come home with the trophy. The USA cannot stop our dream.”
FIFA U-17 World Cup tomorrow’s Fixtures
England v Guinea 8 pm
Nigeria v USA 9 pm
Brazil v Korea Republic 11 pm
Chile v Croatia 12 am
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Enyeama: Another look at Oliseh’s managerial skills
Certainly the dust raised by the sudden retirement of Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama from Nigerian senior national team will linger for a while.
Already many commentators have been discussing the issue which took place in far away Belgium during the double header international friendlies against Congo and Cameroon.
Enyeama Vincent
One account is that Oliseh got angry with Enyeama for reporting to camp on Tuesday instead of the Monday deadline while another said it was because of the captainship which was taken away from the goalkeeper and handed over to CSKA Moscow striker, Ahmed Musa that sparked off the saga.
However it must be stated that it takes an extra ability to manage human beings especially young footballers who are rich and also exposed.
What has happened may have forced some analysts to begin to take a second look at the managerial skills of Coach Sunday Oliseh. This is because a coach is supposed to know when to convey certain messages to his players and when not to.
Looking at the circumstances that led to Enyeama’s late arrival to camp, one would have expected Oliseh to have shown maturity by respecting the fact that the former Enyimba International of Aba goalkeeper just buried his mother the previous Saturday.
In my opinion, I believe that for Enyeama to have arrived Belgium on Tuesday demonstrates enough patriotism because it means that after the usual outing service on Sunday, he must have left Uyo on Monday to board a flight to Belgium.
Secondly, we must not forget that as Africans we pay enough respect to the dead. I am not interested whether or not Oliseh has the right to appoint his captain but doing that immediately after Enyeama buried his mother was ill-timed; which means he ought to have acted on the side of caution.
Again even if he had wanted to change his captain, Oliseh should have informed Enyeama before hand of his intention of changing him as the team captain because respect they say begets respect.
In as much as we all agree that Enyeama has the record of having issues with past Super Eagles coaches like Samson Siasia and Stephen Keshi, the manner Oliseh handled the issue is now earning him some sympathy.
Again considering the precarious situation of the Super Eagles in the qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Oliseh should be careful on how he courts trouble for himself and the national team.
A lot of commentators have queried the wisdom behind handing the captainship of the team to Ahmed Musa instead of Chelsea of England midfielder, Mikel Obi who used to be Vincent Enyeama’s assistant. That action inadvertently suggests that the likes of Mikel and other senior players are free to dump the team if they can’t subject themselves to Musa’s leadership.
I don’t want to believe that Oliseh settled for Musa because he does not want any player who is outspoken like Obi. Well there is an adage in my village which says that a head-hunter is never comfortable when another person goes behind him with a machete.
We still remember how Oliseh gave the authorities sleepless nights during his playing days, so it is a bit confusing why he now wants somebody who is very gentle as against somebody as outspoken as himself.
His bungling of the Enyeama saga must have put the NFF on the edge hence the speed at which the federation waded into the matter which resulted in the meeting where Enyeama said for him to rescind his decision to retire, he must have to talk to his wife and family.
Of course the NFF in this case has its hands tied because having just engaged Oliseh, they must be seen to be giving him all the support he requires. Therefore, they had no other option than to seem to have sided the coach on his decision.
But beyond the fact that Enyeama has been talking of his possible retirement from the national team, I believe that what the goalkeeper was hinting is that Nigeria should begin to groom other young goalkeepers that can take over from him, to me that does not mean that he must be so discarded at the slightest excuse.
If the coach knew he could as well do without Enyeama, then there was no need inviting him in the first place. In my opinion the rebuilding of the national team should not necessarily begin with the nomination of a new team captain especially where the so called old players are still very relevant.
Finally, since nothing lasts forever and the fact that once confidence is compromised, it will be difficult to build it again. What I will suggest therefore is that Enyeama should go ahead and retire from the national team because if he returns, any day he has a bad day and the team loses a game, many people will say he wanted to sabotage the coach.
Therefore, it is my submission and prayer that anything that will jeopardise the quest of the country to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon must be avoided because Nigerians will not entertain any excuse if the unexpected happens.
Monday, 12 October 2015
Victory over Cameroon saved Oliseh – Senator
Ogba who is also the proprietor of Ebonyi Angels told journalists in Abuja that Super Eagles 2-0 defeat by Congo in the first match was due largely to the disagreement between Oliseh and former team captain, Vincent Enyeama. He observed that the fracas affected the Super Eagles.
WINNERS. . . Super Eagles squad before the friendly match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in Belgium.
According to him, the outcome of the two friendlies has shown that Enyeama is still relevant in the senior national team.
“We appreciate that Oliseh has said he is building a new team but he should also remember that he must not destroy what he met on ground.
Both the coach and the NFF must remember that we still need Enyeama, there are no two ways about it. Afterall, most of his mates are still playing.
“Enyeama is very much relevant in the national team, and I want to state that I don’t support Oliseh for that decision.
Anything that should be done to bring back the first choice goalkeeper must be done because we cannot afford to miss out of the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).”
However, the lawmaker expressed his confidence that given the zeal with which the Super Eagles approached the game against arch rivals, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon which resulted in an emphatic 3-0 victory, that the next AFCON qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt will be a victory for Nigeria.
Saturday, 3 October 2015
The Dutchman is ruling Old Trafford with an iron fist, with players and staff alike subject to his authoritarian approach on the training ground and in the staff dining area
United may head to Arsenal on Sunday proudly sat at the summit, but Van Gaal has yet to win the friends and plaudits which would normally be considered commensurate with such a feat. Seven games in, United are leading the way in England, but the Dutchman’s own style of leadership is still causing a number of worries amongst players, fans and superiors alike.
Van Gaal’s side have a number of question marks hanging over them despite the run of form in September, which saw them charge past neighbours City to the top of the table. Three straight wins in the league have added to recent cup wins over Ipswich and Wolfsburg to cover up what really has been an unconvincing start to United’s season.
Their opening day win over Tottenham set the tone, with a first-half own goal giving them something to hold onto amid a Spurs barrage late on. Further victories over the likes of Aston Villa, Club Brugge, Liverpool, Southampton, Wolfsburg and even Sunderland have been gained despite similarly slow starts, with stealth rather than style being the order of the day.
The success of Van Gaal’s tactics so far have belied much of the feeling around the club. Yet at the same time the far more drilled approach of United’s football has been very much in keeping with the man at the helm.
Van Gaal admitted earlier this season that captain Wayne Rooney and his understudy Michael Carrick had approached him with concerns from the rest of the squad. While the particulars of their conversation were not divulged, some players are known to be occasionally left feeling uncomfortable by his sergeant major style on the training ground which can include him coming almost nose-to-nose with stars when delivering instruction. He is also a stickler for training routines, constantly repeating the same small number of drills rather than mixing up his schedules to keep things fresh.
The 64-year-old has made it known regularly throughout his United career that he will do things his own way, living or dying by the sword as a result. As recently as Wednesday, after watching his side come from behind to beat Wolfsburg, he was busy underlining his position of power when asked by journalists to explain Juan Mata’s promotion in the pecking-order for penalties.
“I take all the decisions, believe me. I am responsible. Of course, I communicate always with my players, but I make the decisions and everybody knows that except you,” he blasted, and it is not just the media that he has treated with such rigid values.
He also asks that all club staff dine together and do not leave until everyone is finished. It doesn’t matter what your role; as long as you are on site, you are expected to partake. Treating multi-millionaire footballers like schoolchildren is one thing, but significant professional staff members being asked to follow suit is another.
It is the trait of a man who demands complete control. While his desire to have Desso GrassMaster pitches laid at the training ground to match the one used at Old Trafford is completely understandable, and other top-notch facilities have been requested on the playing side, his attempts to have a say in areas of the club that have nothing to do with the football department have left many frustrated.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward admitted over the summer that he sees himself as Van Gaal’s right-hand man rather than his boss, revealing that he told the Dutchman when he arrived at the club: “Technically you report to me, but I work for you.”
That was borne out in the transfer market, where Woodward went about making all the changes Van Gaal asked of him. And whenever something came off, the Dutchman was quick to thank Woodward personally. It came across a little like somebody giving a youngster a pat on the head for good behaviour, and that vibe of superiority is unsettling many behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
His match-up with Arsene Wenger this weekend is a fascinating one and comes at a key time in his Manchester United reign. The Frenchman has earned the right to have a say in multiple areas of the club, with the Arsenal structure considered by many to be an example for the rest to follow. Van Gaal, on the other hand, has demanded rather than won the right. And all this at a club that leads the way in so many aspects off the field.
One thing is for sure: Van Gaal is not going to change. This is how he manages, and he refuses to consider doing it any other way. Conviction in his beliefs will be considered an admirable quality if he continues to lead United forward. A victory at the Emirates would give him further tangible evidence that his approach is completely justified. Yet win, lose or draw, the leader is not for turning.
from goal.com