Nigerian coaches and ex-players react to Super Eagles' decision to take their wives and kids to the World Cup.

Mixed reactions have continued to trail Super Eagles players’ decision to take their wives and kids to the forthcoming World Cup. While some Nigerian coaches and ex-players believe it is uncalled for as it would make them lose concentration easily, others see no big deal in it, as having their families around them would boost their confidence on pitch. Personally, I don’t see any wrong in it, especially if they would bear the financial burden. Below are some of the reactions
Fatai Amaoo: To me it is a welcome development in the history of Nigeria football. In developed countries, it is done and people there do not see it as any big deal. It is very good for the players and even the officers. I think it will make the players to be focused and not think of their family. If  a player’s wife and kids are there to watch him, it will boost his morale, thereby making him know that  he must put in his best because he would not want a situation where his wife and kid would say, Dad you were not at your best today. All the current world best players, I mean those who are already married, do it. So I think the NFF should allow the players choose a course of happiness for themselves, provided it does not affect them. It is not as if they are going to be in the same hotel, but they should be given access to see their loved ones at least during trainings and after matches. More so, as long as they have the financial power to carry their loved ones to Brazil, there is no harm in it. That should not pose any problem, rather we should be more serious with the level of preparations for the games, and they should be total support  from all Nigerians.
Friday Ekpo: First and foremost, I’m happy that Nigerian  football is gradually regaining its lost glory in the continent, and I must give kudos to those behind this huge successes that we have recorded in the past three years. For the Super Eagles and their wives going to the World Cup, I do not know whether the plan is from the FA or between the players and their managers, but which ever way it goes, I do not think it is the best for us. This is our 5th appearance at the World Cup, it has never happened where  players carry their loved ones to a world class event like the World Cup. Yes it is good for you to have your wife around you, but not in a situation like this. You can not be thinking of your wife at the war front, it will only make the team to lose direction of their aim and objective. I personally do not subscribe to such thing, it is not the best for us.
Yes we may want to emulate other countries, the structures those people have on ground we do not have it. It is wrong for anyone  to support such a thing. On the other hand, the players’ wives can go to Brazil to enjoy themselves, but not to the detriment of the entire nation. If  they go, they should not be allowed to come near the camp of the players, they can reach their husbands through phone calls. Eagles are not going to the World Cup for jamboree, the World Cup is like a battle field, the only difference is that at the end, both the winners and losers come together to embrace themselves. So we must be very careful to do things that will not make other people mock us at the Mundial.
Dominic Nwobodo: This is a very sensitive issue, it all depends on the coaches and the NFF. It has never been in the interest of Nigeria seeing players take their wives to the World Cup. It is a thing the NFF and the coaches must seat together to iron out so that they will not start trading blames when eventually things do not go as expected. The NFF are the decision makers in football, so they should be able to say Yes or No.  When things go wrong, Nigerians will hold them accountable for it. If the players do not take their wives to the World Cup in Brazil, the Heavens will not fall. In our playing days, you dare not talk about a woman let alone having them around you when serious competition is going on. I remember that many Nigerian  players have had issues with their coaches over leaving the camp in the night to club. So Keshi should not do things that will bring problems to him, because at the end of it all, it is him and members of his team that will carry the blame.
Christian Chukwu: If the head of the coaching crew has giving his blessing to his boys to come to Brazil with their wives and kids then what else do you expect anybody to say about it. As long as they have the financial muscle to do it and it will not affect their performance and training , I do not have problem with it. And if at all they decide to take their wives there, as a member of the technical committee, I do not think we would allow them to come to the players camp, because the players need absolute concentration in camp. In fact during our days we do not even have money to take care of our immediate needs let alone carrying wives and loved ones to trips. Today Nigerian  players can decide to sponsor a whole community to Brazil because the money is there. Well, if women give present day players morale boosting, I’m yet to see it. What we want is result, but I know that NFF will never agree to it and they do not have money for such things.
Godwin Izilien: There is no need deceiving ourselves, Nigeria is not ripe for such things now. In future, I can say yes but now it is uncalled for. No matter the level of professionalism of our players, they are not mature for it. We do not need any distraction now, we have to tell ourselves the truth. If the idea is from the coaches, then they do not know what they want for themselves. Keshi should realise that there are people out there waiting for him to fail, and if such thing should happen, he would be the one to take the blame, not me, so he must get his priority right. This is not the time to gamble. Also I want to appeal to the FA to allow Keshi do his job. We   should be talking about our preparations. I’m not too satisfied with the level of our build-up for the competition. We have forgotten World Cup competition is for those that have proven themselves, so we must not go there to disgrace the country or continent.
Tony Emeduofu: Look there is nothing wrong if players want to take their wives to Brazil for the World Cup. Every Nigerian  player is sex crazy and like having beautiful girls around them. In my days as a player, girls give me motivational spirit, I used to take my girl friends and loves to the pitch, it made me fly high. So the NFF should allow the players to have their wives around them to avoid players leaving the camp in the night to clubs. These players have the money to throw around, nobody should pity them, they can spend their money the way they wish to, that does not stop them from doing their best. Why are they saying no to it. Majority of the NFF members sleep with more than three girls a night. So why the noise about this. They are not even ashamed that we have the worst preparations so far. If we fail at this World Cup, we will call on the Federal government to disband the entire NFF. Again they should allow Stephen Keshi to pick his players and stop interfering with his job.

2014 World Cup: Bosnia coach also writes off Super Eagles

Now what exactly is happening? Are we that bad? No we are not bad. Bosnia coach, Safet Susic just like Argentina’s Alejandro Sabella has asked Nigeria and Iran, to forget qualifying for the second round of the 2014 World Cup which kicks off on June 12 in Brazil. He stated that Argentina and Bosnia-Hezergovina will pick the two Group F tickets after the first round matches.
He wrote on a sports website,
“We will continue attacking like we always do, I think our chances are very realistic, because at this moment, both Nigeria and Iran are not better teams than us. I fully expect that we pass into the second round. It would be unfair to the game and above all to the fans if we were to constrain such talents. After all, we are playing to score more goals than our opponents and so far it has paid off. Argentina is by far the best team in our group and they should finish first. Our target is to join them in the next round.”
Nigeria can shock the world. Yes we can and will!!!

Keshi kick off right! Ladies, would you rock this football-themed hairstyle?

 
 
Olaboludele Simoyan, writer and author of 2- in-one book ‘8th wonder of the world Made in Nigeria’ rocked this football-themed hairstyle to support Nigeria for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil. According to her, the hairstyle which is called ‘Keshi kick off right’ is “to inspire the Super Eagles to do the extraordinary at the World Cup and bring the world cup back home.”

Photos: Between Joseph Yobo and his former Landlord

Ray Smith, the former Landlord of former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo is angered at the moment. According to him, the Liverpool flat which he leased out to the Nigerian international is not only in a state of disrepair but the estimate of the damages is about 5,000 pounds.

“The state it’s been left in is just unbelievable. There’s bond money of 1,500 pounds but by the look of it, it will need 5,000 pounds to put all the damage right and I will have to call in industrial cleaners. There are iron marks on the floor, as if left by ironing, and holes in the wall left by flat-screen TVs.

I’ve never come across anything like this before and I’m just so shocked. The place looks as if it’s been burgled.”

The former Everton player while speaking with reporters maintained that although the apartment was rented by his brother Gideon and leased in his name, he never lived there. The 33 year-old who is currently on loan in Norwich from Fenerbahce is also willing to pay for all the damages.

“It’s my name on the lease, but I never lived at the flat and I’ve never even been there. The landlord doesn’t know me and he hasn’t spoken to Gideon about this. I have property too and the landlord should have gone to the letting agents if he was unhappy. If he puts in a full inventory, Gideon is ready to pay for anything that is damaged.”

Osaze Odemwingie likely to make Eagles comeback after apologising to Stephen Keshi

 
So Osaze Odemwingie finally got off his high horse. Good for him! Wise decision! Sure Super Eagles would be glad to welcome him back. There are strong indications that the Stoke City striker would make a comeback to Eagles after he apologised to the national team coach, Stephen Keshi.
It would be recalled that the England-based forward was dropped out of the squad after he threw tantrums at Keshi on twitter for substituting him during a Nations Cup match in Rwanda in 2012. A reliable source revealed that Keshi has accepted his apologies.
“Keshi is human and was touched by the change of heart of Osaze in asking for forgiveness. He(Keshi) wants the best for the Super Eagles. Since Osaze is doing well in his club and has shown remorse, he will soon open the doors for the ”prodigal son”.

2014 World Cup: NFF earmarks N2billion for Super Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have earmarked the sum of N2 billion for the World Cup budget. And here’s a breakdown of the bonus structure as presented at the House of Representatives on Monday, 10th March, 2014.

Each player will receive $10 000 for a win in their group games, $12 000 for a round of 16 win and $15 000 for a quarter-final win. For the semi-final each player will get $20 000 for a win and if they win the World Cup, each of them will be $30 000 richer. Their daily camp allowance has also been increased from $100 per day to $200 per day.

Super Eagles' Brown Ideye robbed during dinner

Super Eagles Forward, Brown Ideye has lost his work permit and other documents to robbers. The Ukraine-based 26 year old got robbed while having dinner friends at a restaurant in Ukraine last week Friday.

He narrated the incident on his official instagram page, “I was having dinner at TGI on Friday with his friends after the friendly match. While I was in the restaurant, someone broke into my parked Range Rover Sport Jeep and stole my wallet and bag with documents. The dude also made away with my work permit in Ukraine, credit card and Ipad. If anyone knows who did it, I’d be grateful for any help or information. Burglars can take whatever they want – money, Ipad, all that was in the bag. Let them only return the credit cards, work permits, driver’s license and car documents – these documents are quite difficult to renew or make new ones.”

Sad: Rashidi Yekini's sister dies in fatal accident

Such a tragic news! May God comfort the Yekinis! 21 months after Super Eagles forward and football legend, Rashidi Yekini died after a brief illness, his younger sister, Rofiat Yekini has also passed on; Barrister Mohammed Jubril, the Nigeria’s highest goal-scorer of all time’s lawyer confirmed via a statement.

According to him, the mother of three was heading to Offa after a business trip when an 18-seater vehicle she was in rammed into a lorry, leaving three occupants dead and others injured. The accident occurred along Okuku-Osogbo road on Wednesday 27th February 2013 at about 1pm.

May her soul find repose! Amen

Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down! Read comments on the newly-unveiled Super Eagles jersey

 
Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down! Nigerians have taken to social media platforms to register their approval/disapproval of the newly-designed jersey. Nigeria’s World Cup home and away kits for the Super Eagles were unveiled in Abuja yesterday, 27th February 2014.
COMMENTS
@remi_pimpin: The players that unveiled the Nigerian Jersey made it look awful….Osaze Odemwingie in our Green kit would have been much better.
 
@stayne_: First Adidas produces piss poor jersey for the Nigerian team, then can’t be bothered to properly outdoor it.
@OreFakorede: The Nigerian team jersey for Brazil 2014 looks like it was designed by Sango and Oya. Angrily stupid.
@BiyiKay: just look at that Brazil jersey. no be Nigerian jersey wey go be like night-wear
@macmonate: I think da true Nigerian Jersey is all green and not this two tone one. They should have stuck to the original @mysoccerarica #soccerafrica
@Ay_Shemzy: The new Nigerian jersey is perfect and up to standard, especially the green. Wonderful idea
@ope_akindele: the jersey is fine BUT it doesn’t even evoke the slightest feeling in me that it is Nigerian. It does look like “us”
@Noxxxstar: NO the new Nigerian world cup jersey is not WOW?
@dee_ygroove: Omo dis nigerian jersey for world cup is d best we hv had so faR .. #Swag
@temiokomi: The different faces of a jersey presentation. Nigeria really, really needs professional help. Really… http://pic.twitter.com/ndU4V4cTV4
@MKIbrahimSenior: The “green” in the new Super Eagle jersey is not the official green of the Nigerian flag.
@NSLAWARDS: There’s no Lime Colour on the Nigerian Flag so why Lime Green on the new Super Eagles Jersey?
@Effizzy_: @Haroooon17 mehn the Nigerian jersey for the WC is a beauty.”

Super Eagles' get unique jersey for 2014 World Cup. Take a look!

Super Eagles get a totally unique jersey for the 2014 World Cup tournament. The jersey is a departure from the regular green jersey to an exciting, bold, striking and iconic kit. Designed by sports wear giant, Addidas, the kit which was unveiled on friday, February 14th, 2014 would be launched against Mexico on March 5 in Atlanta. Another unique design on the kit is the addition of a bridge-like band across the shoulders; the name and number parts are also draped in red.
According to NFF President, Aminu Maigari, “We are very proud to once again partner with adidas to produce a home jersey that reflects youth, spontaneity and freshness. It will not only appeal to the Super Eagles but their fans across the globe. We are delighted with the design as it reflects innovation yet incorporating an element of fun. We are happy though that while the jersey has a new look, it’s green side panels tie the new kit to its’ historic darker green tradition.”
Credit: Collins Udoh
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