Richard Animam
27 November 2004
interview
Ex-International, Henry Nwosu, no doubt is disturbed by the on-going trend in the football circles. The possibility of a ban by FIFA following the interference by the Sports ministry in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Association, saw Nwosu go spiritual when asked if Nigeria can escape the impending sanction from FIFA.
He believes that Decree 101 can be repealed before December 31 but would not say much on the issue, even as he fought back words.
Nwosu who played alongside Super Eagles' coach, Christian Chukwu, in the 1980 Nations Cup won by Nigeria, praised the efforts of Chukwu and took a swipe at those clamouring for a whiteman.
He also spoke on Steven Keshi's exploits in Togo and Enyimba. He believes Enyimba can lift the trophy again but according to him, that would depend on the second leg final in Nigeria.
Here are excerpts:
Do you see Nigeria escaping FIFA's hammer come December 31 when the deadline given to Nigeria will expire?
God forbid, we will not be banned by FIFA. I do not want to comment on the issue of decree 101 because it is already being addressed by the stakeholders in Otta. I strongly believe that the stakeholders know the implications of a FIFA ban and would not let Nigeria be caught in the web. I am sure we will not be hammered by FIFA, I believe we can repeal Decree 101 before FIFA's deadline and I pray that by God's grace, we will escape the hammer.
Steven Keshi has turned Togolese football around and that was the same man Nigeria threw away...
The fact that Steven Keshi is not recognized in his country is not strange. Afterall it is written in the Bible that a prophet is not honoured in his home country. The Nigeria Football Association believe Keshi is not good enough for the Super Eagles and the same Keshi is doing very well in Togo. Personally, I am very happy with Keshi and his performance in Togo. He is a worthy Nigerian ambassador in Togo. I pray that he continues with the good work. His effort no doubt is making some of us have a second thought about taking our talent to other African countries. We are so many in this country that it is getting increasingly difficult to get a job in the national team without a godfather. And that is why some of us are not in the national team. Keshi is doing a good job and as long as he is happy with what he is doing, let him continue with the job.
Talking about godfather, you were in the national team few years back, did you get there, courtesy of a godfather?
No. I was told to come for the World Cup which was for about two-three months. We were given a mandate for the World Cup. My joining the national team then came to me as a surprise. I was at home when Yomi Opakunle called me and asked if I had heard the news. And I asked what news. He told me that I had been called to the national team and I told him that it was a lie. I later called Fanny Amun and enquired about what Opakunle said and he confirmed it. He went on to tell me that Chief Adegboye Onigbinde was sitting beside him and that I should speak personally with him. It was there that Chief Onigbinde confirmed it to me again. He said he wanted us to come together so that we can bring back that old spirit and at the same time, train the new set of coaches who would take over from him and that was how I got to the national team. There was nothing like godfather in my case. I never knew of it before it happened. I did not lobby or ask for the job, it came on its own.
Chief Onigbinde used some of you as role models for younger players. Since he is no longer there, don't you think the nation is missing the kind of plan Onigbinde wanted?
That is the problem we are having now. During the World Cup, Onigbinde showed it that he wanted to build a team for the future. The team that emerged was not the players alone, the coaches were inclusive. At that point, we were learning so much from him. Personally, I learnt a lot from him apart from football. As a person, he is a role model to us. He is such a person that no matter who you are, he treats you as equals. and that was what he wanted to do but Nigerians being what we are, did not allow him to carry out his plan. It is unfortunate, Nigeria is losing as a result of the action taken by the people in power. There is no way one can do any good if the younger ones do not learn from their elders.
Are you surprised that despite the results recorded by Christian Chukwu, that the FA and the Sports ministry are still talking about bringing a white man to boss him?
Chukwu has done a great deal with the Super Eagles and I do not know what else Nigerians want him to do. My opinion on the issue is this: Chukwu should be encouraged to continue with his good work. At this stage, the ministry and the FA should be behind him and not discourage him with the issue of a foreign coach. What is the technical adviser coming to do in Nigeria that Chukwu has not been doing? Nothing! Apart from Atto Gloria and Father Tiko, every other coach that has been in this country has not done anything meaningful as far as I am concerned. People talk of Clemens Westerhof and I tell them that Westerhof was a businessman.
I have always said and will continue to say that Westerhof was never a coach. If you call him an administrator, I might agree with you but I know he was a businessman not a coach.
What of Johannes Bonfrere?
Bonfrere was technically good but he was not better than the local coaches we have in this country. I keep saying that the gold we won in Atlanta Olympics was not his making. Willy Bazuaye moulded that team that won the gold in 1996 not Bonfrere. He only took the credit for the job. Now we are about witnessing the same scenario. Chukwu is doing the work now, latter one technical adviser will claim the glory.
Why do we find it difficult to appreciate the local coaches?
That is the question every Nigerian should be asking him or herself. Keshi is in Togo now because we do not appreciate our own. Nigerian coaches are as good as most of the foreign coaches we bring to this country. I think the problem is that we do not respect ourselves. We are envious of ourselves and as such, some do not want others to succeed. If we appreciate what we have, Nigerians would come to realize that we have some of the best coaches in the world. But we do not want to agree that we have good coaches in Nigeria.
What is your impression about the Mandela Challenge?
I am not satisfied with what our boys played. I believe that we can pick eleven players from any where in the country and beat South Africa. The players simply did not live up to expectations and that was indeed bad. Although many say it was an international friendly but it is only with friendly matches that we have the privilege of watching some of the new players. The new players failed to utilize the opportunity they had to prove their mettle. Of course, Nigerians know that we have a team, and most of them could not make it to South Africa as a result of injury or club commitment. The problem with having a standing national team is that certain questions like where would these players come from (would they come from abroad or home), if that is settled, who would take care of their indemnities - the NFA is still crying of lack of funds to run their programmes. The last match they executed, they borrowed money from Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State.
Still on the issue of the friendly, there were so many friendlies played that same day and key players of other countries were excused to feature for their countries, so why is ours different?
Most of our players were injured while others were recovering from injuries. For instance, John Utaka was still recovering from injuries and needed to be fully fit before he can play for club. Today ,Isaac Okoronkwo is no longer in the national team because he has no club. If for any reason Utaka is out of his club, Nigerians will forget him quickly. No body will talk about him, that is why sometimes these players tend to work more for their clubs and I do not blame them. That is where they get their daily bread and as such, they should not joke with it.
What is your impression about Enyimba's performance in the CAF Champions League?
I am satisfied with Enyimba's performance at away matches but I am disappointed with their performance at home (in Aba) But thank God they would be playing the final of the competition in Abuja. They should not make the mistake of playing the final in Lagos. Lagos fans are not predictable, they support the better side. Even though Enyimba is playing well and they are not able to score goals, Lagos fans will boo them. Enyimba cannot afford to toy with this final.
I hope Enyimba will take their home match seriously. So far, I think they have put up an unprecedented performance in the history of the competition in Nigeria and in Africa. Since the competition metamorphosed to the CAF Champions League, no team has made it to two final back-to-back. It wold be great if they lift the trophy again. They would be away to Etoile du Sahel and I hope they would seal the victory in Tunisia with a spectacular performance. Enyimba have good away record and they should try and seal all the loopholes in the team.
It would be an easy task but I believe Enyimba have the players to lift the trophy again. Those players who think they are tin gods in the team should be talked to because Enyimba cannot afford to have a divided team in the final. If Enyimba fail, Nigeria has failed in the process not just Enyimba and should they win, they are winning for the country.
Enyimba is fond of conceding goals early in the game or few minutes to the end of the match, what do you think is responsible for this...give an assessment of the team.
Enyimba have a good defence and equally, a good midfield. The problem the team is having is quality finishers. I know they have some good strikers in the team but they have not been able to strike a rhythm. They need to train together and work out some of the problems noticed in the attack. The strikers should be made to know the actual role they should play.
You trained Vincent Enyeama in Ibom Stars and I'm sure you are happy to see him rise to the position of being Nigeria's number one; but of late, his performance has began to dwindle, what do you think is responsible?
As far as I am concerned, Vincent Enyeama has been doing well for club and country. He is a human and like the natural law, every player has a period that his performance will either diminish or improve. Enyeama was my goalkeeper in Ibom Stars in Akwa Ibom and while with the team, I noticed that he saves balls many would consider difficult and fumbles ones that are considered cheap.
As my goalkeeper, I tried to knock that aspect off his game but could not because I had to leave the team. There is no doubt that he is a wonderful goalkeeper but he also has that problem. This problem notwithstanding, I think he needs a lot of encouragement from the media, administrators and fans. Let's not throw him away because he concedes cheap goals, He has done some wonderful things for Nigeria and should not be discarded just like that.
A critical look at Enyeama will reveal that he does not concede many goals. The defenders should assist Enyeama too by ensuring that they do not expose him. When I used to play, my defenders (Sunday Egboigbe, Steven Keshi and others will tell us (strikers) to go all out and score promising that they would not allow the opponents to come near the goal area and most times, they kept their words especially when we score. So Enyimba players should emulate this too.
Why is it that Nigeria football authorities forget player(s) whenever they are injured? Take for instance players like Dosu Joseph, Emmanuel Amunike, etc....
That list also includes me and some other players who have served this country in the past. Before now, nobody remembered me, I was only fortunate that somebody somewhere remembered me. I think Nigeria Football Association (NFA) should have a scheme. There was this sports foundation that was established at a point under the chairmanship of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. But we do not know what has happened to that foundation today. With foundations like that, the NFA should be able to look at players' welfare and assist them during their playing days and after. But it is unfortunate that we do not know what happened to the millions in the coffers of the foundation led by Iwuayanwu.
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