The News (Lagos)
Lanre Olaleye
26 February 2002
Once the courted bride of the Super Eagles, Coach Amodu Shuaibu may have booked his exit before the Korea/Japan World Cup
He who rides on the tiger's back, will surely end up in the tiger's belly". This aphorism aptly describes the current travails of Super Eagles Chief Coach, Shuaibu Amodu following the unimpressive performance of the Nigerian national soccer team at the just concluded Mali 2002 African Nations Cup championship.
For a coach with an impeccable club record, the former Orlando Pirates sweat merchant was considered an obvious choice for the sacked Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere, whose stint as technical adviser of the Super Eagles brought retrogression to Nigerian football. Amodu's ascension into the hot seat of Nigerian football was at a very critical time and he surprisingly acquitted himself with a crucial World Cup away victory against Sudan in Omdurman.
The 4-0 drubbing of the Sudanese rekindled a possible World Cup hope as Amodu led the Eagles to a 2-0 victory against the Lone Star of Liberia in Port Harcourt. Another 2-0 spanking of the Black Stars of Ghana ensured Nigeria, a third consecutive qualification for the biggest soccer fiesta in the world.
The World Cup feat elated Nigerians and indeed the Nigeria Football Association, NFA. Much commended was that Amodu used a fusion of dedicated foreign-based players and unheralded local stars to make history as the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria to the World Cup.
Encomiums poured in from all corners as his employers gave him the green light for the World Cup. He reeled in self adulation while the celebration of the World Cup qualification lasted. For the former BCC Lions coach, it was time to take the advantage. He demanded for a raise and the right to preside over the affairs of the team without interference from any quarters. Amodu got all he wanted.
That he gave preference to local boys and untested young foreign-based pros, sustained hope of a better future for Nigeria football. The development, which was a sharp departure from what prevailed during Bonfrere's era perhaps marked the gradual alienation of some tired-legs in the Super Eagles.
But no sooner had preparations for the Mali 2002 Nations Cup began than it became obvious that the days of Bonfrere Jo were not over in the national team. Despite the hope of a new order, the preparation of the team, its composition and build-up were reminiscent of the Bonfrere era. When he was at the helms of Nigerian soccer, the Dutchman based his game plans on the legion of old players who made history at the Atlanta '96 Olympics. The strategy often flopped as it was too glaring to every discerning mind that most of the players paraded were tired. And because they earn mega bucks from their European clubs, they are less motivated for the challenges in playing for the nation.
Why Amodu slipped back to the old ways is still inscrutable. But it was the biggest gamble of his career. He inadvertently resurrected the spirit of Bonfrere by trading off the new order for the chaotic past where players were lords over the coach. Amodu, rather than listen to voice of reason to stick with younger players burning with enthusiasm and dedication, called up spent forces bequeathed by the Dutchman. It soon became obvious that the erstwhile BCC Lions coach did not have the tact to shake off the Bonfrere spirit and character in these players.
In the past, players agitation for allowances and bonuses was the norm. But Amodu shocked even his admirers when he kept mute as the players boycotted an international friendly against Egypt because of the non-payment of the World Cup largesse given to the team by state governments and corporate bodies. That Amodu remained unperturbed at the boycott of the friendly even on the eve of the Nations Cup aptly demonstrated his inability to instill discipline in the team.
However, an NFA source pinned Amodu's indifference on the fact that he needed these players to push his own interest. That proved suicidal as his silence increased the tempo of distractions around Nigeria's preparations and participation in the Nations Cup.
After the payment of the World Cup largesse, it became obvious that the Chief Coach had lost control of the team. Players arrived the camp in trickles while the Mafia brought their influence to bear on the final selection of players for the Nations Cup. Many questioned the rationale behind the exclusion of an in-form Benedict Akwuegbu for a floppy Victor Ikpeba who only had 15 minute of club action this season.
In a bid to forestall the impending flop at the Nations Cup, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) instituted a four-man Technical Study Group comprising of veteran coaches Adegboyega Onigbinde, Alabi Aisien, Paul Hamilton and Christo Davies to give technical and moral support for the team. It was believed that being veteran coaches, the study group was in a position to bring its wisdom to bear by giving much needed fatherly advise to some of the strong-willed. (ACONS)
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