Expect so much from Super Eagles, at your own peril. Former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu highlighted this Thursday as he cautioned compatriots against building castles in the air.
Kalu explained that the Golden Years of Nigerian soccer when a Segun Odegbami could be hero worshiped in Accra or a Petit Sory would salute Emma Okalla from Conakry were gone.
He said, “You cannot give what you do not have. The present Eagles are not in any way Super. I cannot find even the shadow of Nwankwo Kanu, or the cleats of Rashidi Yekini in the squad. It is so bad that an Austin Okocha will not make any difference. Green may have defined the Eagles of Christian Chukwu, Odegbami and Okalla. The present bunch cannot do better than greenhorns.”
The ex-governor refused to blame Coach Stephen Keshi for the drab results so far recorded by the senior national team in the South Africa 2013 Nations’ Cup qualifiers.
“Those who want to crucify Keshi are not followers of the team. Maybe, they are Liberians. Fact is, the players do not have what it takes to rule Africa. Clemens Westerhof did well here because we had boys willing to die. Jo Bonfrere’s success came through the quality of stars. When they left Nigeria, the Dutchmen never won anything,” Kalu added.
Kalu advised Nigerians to shift support to the women and Special sports instead of concentrating on the Eagles.
“Eagles are on Ground Zero today. Tomorrow may bring a change. We need not worry. I can go watch the Falconets or wine and dine with the paralympians. Afterall, they are Nigerians. Let us switch our support until the Eagles begin to fly again, “he summed up.
