AWKA,Anam. - ENYIMBA of Aba have so much going for them, and although they are leading in the Nigerian domestic Globalcom Premier League, the African Champion are not far behind leaders, Dolphin of Port Harcourt. Okey Emordi, a former Nigerian International, who also played for Enugu Rangers in the 1970s believes “mother luck” would see them through the rest of the reason on a comfortable stead. Since he took over management of the side following the sudden departure of the Serb-Australia Miroslav Urukalo, the club has recorded some outstanding results.
In this interview with nigeriasports.com’s Chigozie Chukwuleta, in Aba, Abia state, Emordi adds that Nigeria also does not need another ‘foreign technical adviser’ or manager for the national side, the Super Eagles.
Q. Do you still think Enyimba will win the league?
A. Yes. I will try my possible best, with the cooperation of the boys, the management and God seeing us through. My main objective is to ensure that Enyimba retain all trophies they won last season and I believe with the way we are going now, God will crown our efforts and see us through.
Q. How do you intend to achieve that considering the result of your match against Dolphin (they played 1-1 in Kaduna last Wednesday) and your position on the table?
A. As far as I am concerned, at this moment we are doing just fine whether anybody likes it or not. If we had started this way from the beginning of the season I don't think any other club would have come near us. You see, that's the only problem we had. But now I believe the plan of everybody in the club is geared towards achieving that goal of recovering the ‘lost grounds.’ About Dolphin, I don't see anything stopping us from meeting them or even overtaking them. You see, it is not over until it is over. The line may seem to have been drawn but the league is not yet over. There could be surprises still and nobody should be excited so soon yet.
Q. Since the league is almost slipping away from you , what plans do you have for the continental?
A. You seem to have drawn you conclusion on who wins the league. All the same in our zone in the continental I can assure you that we would top the Group. You see we still have two home matches and one away and they have two away matches and one home. So I don't see anything that will stop us. When they come here we definitely will beat them.
Q. How would you describe your loss in Tunis and the narrow victory against lowly rated Niger Tornados at home in the Globalcom Premier League.
A. It is not always like that. You win sometimes and other times otherwise. You see, when we started, we had a system that we passed through. In Tunis, we could have won the match right from the beginning but I believe luck was against us hence the loss. But that not withstanding, seeing the Tornadoes match, the journey to Tunisia and back and for the match was not easy with a lot of stress. And because it is a local competition my boys took it very lightly. To my mind, I believe they underrated the Minna team, because if we had started early to get goals we would have scored about three goals at the end. All the same the most important thing at this stage is the three vital points and we got them in that match. The team did not surprise me, they are at the bottom of the table. It is not wise for them to come here and just lose without making any effort to see if they could secure an away point. Any team at the bottom of the table fights very hard and I commend them for it.
Q-- How would you explain the skeletal appearance of Vincent Enyema, (the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper) in your league matches so far.
A. It is not a surprise to me. If you watched carefully from the beginning of the season he had featured only about four times for us. He has his personal problem, which is not a matter for public discussion; and I believe he really wants to get over with before coming out as expected. Remember also that he is the national no.1 goalkeeper, so most times national engagements put him off the league. But he will be around in most of our remaining matches especially against Dolphin and Iwuanyanwu as the league winds to the end.
Q. Some influential management members of your team blame technical deficiencies for your loss in Tunisia, how do react to this
A. Anybody can say whatever he likes but as far as I am concerned, we lost and we lost. You see I don't pass the buck of our loss to any body and I think it will be unfair if the bulk is passed to the bench. We did all we could do but as I said luck was against us
Q. Considering the absence of some of your key players to trials in clubs abroad and the stake of CAF Champions League and Premier League at home, do you still think you have players that will help you realise your dream of “retaining all trophies.”
A. Yes I do. This is a big club and we do not tie our hopes on any particular player. Moreover every player must not feature in all the team's matches be it Premier league or continental.
Q. Does Nigeria really need a foreign technical adviser in right now
A. To my own personal candid opinion, I don't think we need a foreign technical adviser. You see, it is now very late for any foreign technical Adviser to come and take over our national team. One important fact which I don't seem to understand with our people is: Why are the indigenous coaches not recognised? No foreign coach will go to the hinterland and fish out these players. They always want ready made materials. But the home coaches could go to the hinterland and fish out good players and after we have nurtured these players, the management will start to look for foreign managers to handle them. But in doing the job of fishing out the players, nobody appreciates the role of the Nigerian coach. But when the foreigner comes, everything will be made available to ease his job. No encouragement, nothing for the Nigerian who had toiled to spot a talent and nurture him for the international market. I tell you, indigenous coaches can do better here because they know the players and their mentality. All the foreigner will do is to watch the performance of ‘already made’ players abroad and use them when the need arises for international games. That is why when particular set of players are exhausted it becomes difficult to have replacements. Let's look inwards and get what we want. If there is need to give the home coaches extra training let it be done. For goodness sake we have good coaches here. Moreover, the unnecessary craze for a foreign coach shows the level of contempt the NFA has for the Premier League it organizes also.
Q. Are you saying that Christian Chukwu is not well provided for to perform his duty as national team coach by the NFA.
A. I did not say that. You should have known as a journalist if he is well provided for and given a free-hand to perform his job. Besides, what do you expect him to do? Do you want him to reject the National Call to service? He is doing his best and should be encouraged.
Q. Stephen Keshi (former captain of the Super Eagles) is in Togo as a foreign technical adviser, since you are condemning the coming of a Technical Adviser in Nigeria, if you are called outside, would you accept the offer.
A: Why wouldn't I accept it? I will accept it. Stephen Keshi is there as an African and he is in African soil. You see you can't go to Europe and bring in somebody expecting overwhelming success. Of course, a good example is the one that happened with Enyimba. We all saw what happened. Not that the boys were not there but the way and manner he went about it was wrong. I know the players, I know my country people, I Know Africans. Since I took over, things are coming up gradually. I am not saying that I am the best but at least we are forging ahead because I know African mentality and how to go about managing such.
Q. What about the stress and successes of the domestic league. Any options for organization of a very competitive and highly rewarding football league in Nigeria.
A: There are so many things that make me happy here. As far as I am concerned, I can say that the match officials are gradually coming up although the way and manner some of them still officiate leave so much to desired, but I think there is so much progress in that direction. Club management is still a problem, the manner some of these managers go about in the league especially as the second round progresses towards the tail end of the season is horrible. You see, they behave as if it is a do-or-die-affair. It shouldn't be like that. In the case of Enyimba and others, let me give example with Dolphin and Enyimba. Many teams in this country are fighting against Enyimba, I don't know why it should be so. Teams should try their best and not to fight against a particular team through some means other than in the field of play. The NFA should know what to do. They have not started doing what they are surposed to do. Because if NFA is equal to the task, most of the things happening today will not be taking place in this country as regards to football management.
Q: Do you think that boardroom points and banishment of teams are the best approach to sanitize our league?
A: Yes, it is. I think it is the best way to teach violent fans proper lessons if they will learn anyway (that is the banishment of teams to other venues). But that of boardroom points is not encouraging, infact, that is very unfortunate. Because if the boardroom points are given to those that deserve it, I don't give a damn but if they are given to those who don't deserve it but because they have people somewhere they get it, it becomes very unfair.
Q: what are your challenges in Enyimba
A: One of my major challenges in Enyimba is to make sure I keep this team where I met it. So that is to say I must try hard to see that the cups are retained.
Q: Will you leave Enyimba should another offer come even after winning the league?
A: Yes, I looking ahead for greener pasture always. I wouldn't stay back. There is nothing wrong if I should go elsewhere to do the same thing with a better offer, in or outside Nigeria. Nigeriasports.com: Thank you very much for your time.
By Chigozie Chukwuleta
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