Amunike in comeback talk

Here are the excerpts of the interview

Nigeriasports.com: Emmanuel, where are you and what’s been happening to you?

Amunike: I am in Spain and I’m fine

Nigeriasports.com: okay are you playing for a club in Spain?

Amunike: no, no I am not playing again, for the moment I am not playing, I live in Spain.

Nigeriasports.com: Has your playing career come to an end?

Amunike: No my playing career has not come to an end.

Nigeriasports.com; precisely, where are you playing now?

Amunike: For the moment am not playing no where, I was supposed to move to England but the deal did not materialise because of international appearance problem, you know in Europe now if you don't have European passport a team is only allowed three foreign players in the team. So already the club I wanted to move to already had the three foreign players they needed. So they were looking at the option for me if it will be possible for their resident card that I have, if it will be allowed for me to use in playing over there but at the end of the day they did not allow it insisting I must have a European passport, so for the moment am just training with a team in Santander here and waiting for another option if there will be next option.

Nigeriasports.com: You want to give us the name of that England team that needed your services?

Amunike: That was Coventry city.

Nigeriasports.com: When you went to china and then the Middle East, you want to tell us how they went?

Amunike: I went to china but I couldn't stay there because of the outbreak of SARS in the country so I had to get out, 2002 and 2003 I went to play in Pulsan
Aikon FC in Korea while last season I was in Jordan.

Nigeriasports.com: Very interesting Emmanuel, many Nigerian soccer fans and your fans across the nation would not forget in a hurry Emmanuel Amunike and your exploits in the national team, what do you think of the Super Eagles  these days?

Amunike: Well, actually I can not really assess the team now since I only saw them play at the last nations cup and I think from that time till now there has been some changes in the team, I can not actually say the position of the team all I know is that they won their last game against Zimbabwe 3-0, the coaches themselves are just trying to build up a new team but it’s not easy. The only thing the players have to realize is that soccer makes a lot of Nigerians happy, so it is a big responsibility for those who are playing now to give their very best, but one thing you people have to know is that there has been a lot of changes in football, a lot of teams have grown up and they have prepared themselves, however I don't see the reason why the Nigerian team will be struggling in Africa since we broke out in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998 and we are known all over the world I don't see the reason why we don't pay more attention and put more money into our football to develop it like other countries in Europe, South America and even Asia are doing.

It is a pity that Nigerian football is facing difficulties but it is also left for them that are in charge soccer of administration of the game to do the right thing, to improve our facilities.

Nigeriasports.com: Since you left the national team, it has been quite difficult for each coach that comes to get a winger to play like Emmanuel Amunike and these days we've not seen much of wing play in the super Eagles, why do you think it’s been like this?

Amunike: Well I don't know, they say when you lose something if it comes back to you then you know it’s yours (laughs), I don't know and I can not say but all
I know is that when I was there I try to give my best for the country despite the fact that am not there now I still pray that maybe one day someone will rise and do it the way I used to but am still playing though, if Nigeria feels they need me, I am not saying that I need automatic jersey but if they feel they need my services I can still do something, let them call me I could still play a few more games and then they can assess, I still believe I can still contribute much to the country as long as am still playing however I can not beg anybody to invite me because the level I have played for the country the things I have gone through for Nigeria during my time with the Nigerian national team, the suffering and everything I think I deserve respect from Nigerians even if they invite me to come and play it will be to compensate me for the things I have gone through with the Super Eagles over the years, but they say when you are at the top everybody wants  to come close to you but when they see that things are difficult for you or you are in moment of difficulty everybody tends to forget about you but all the same being the person I am, I thank God that I can at least fight and overcome my stress all am looking forward to is the remaining days God can bless me to play on.

Nigeriasports.com: Very interesting and touching, so Emmanuel you want to tell us your best moment in the Super eagles?

Amunike: To be quite honest with you, I think all my time in the national team have been great moment to me, I met a lot of nice people in the National team, my team mates we had played together like a family and we had fought together  to make sure we contribute our best to bring Nigeria to the level that we deserve to be in world football and I think on our part we did well, I can not forget the good times and also the bad times but in life when things go wrong you have to give thanks to God and when things turn out fine you also have to give thanks, I really appreciate the moment I spent in the national team, all the people that have been injured but could not come back again, I was injured and I fought and with the grace of God am still playing today though I may not be playing in a big club or whatever as we think in Nigeria but I always appreciative for overcoming the injury and still playing.

Nigeriasports.com: What’s your take on this foreign coach issue, as the NFA is at it again trying to employ one.

Amunike: Nigeria has the right to take the decision but as long as we have a good local coach doing well I thought they should have respected him and also support him as they seek to qualify the country for the world cup.

He is doing a good job and I know it’s not easy assembling Nigerian players for a match. I think the NFA and all who have a stake in soccer should support them, they played the game and they know it so let them be supported and be given all they need towards qualifying for the world cup.

After that if NFA still thinks that they need a foreigner then it’s up to them but for the mean time the local coaches are doing well and they should be supported.

Nigeriasports.com: And do you think we can make it to Germany 2006?

Amunike: We have to be very cautious since football in Africa is evolving, in the last five years there have been lots of small countries coming up having a lot of players outside their shores and challenging the big boys in the game, lets not continue to believe that we are giants of Africa in the game all the time, we have to understand that there are lots of challenges coming from other countries, all we have to do is concentrate and prepare well for each game in the qualifiers, that way we will make it and then when we get there we must try to get past the second round. It is possible.

Nigeriasports.com: Which Nigerian players have impressed you of late?

Amunike: There are lots of them, er! In Europe here there is Obafemi Martins in Inter and lots of others; the only thing that bothers me is that our players don’t play in big teams again except for few of them.

Let them not look at us who are down there now, we have played for big teams before, they have the opportunities and they should take it. I’m disappointed that after 1996 there’s been a downward trend for our players’ movement to big teams and European managers do not seem to bother about our players again, this is not good for the players and it is not good for our country. The NFA have to do things that will create positive image for our young players abroad because in a few years time all the current big boys will fade away and it’s only the young ones now that can carry on and if we don’t make them to be reckoned with we will have a problem in future.

Nigeriasports.com: Okay Emmanuel what is your message your fans back home.

Amunike: Well just to tell them that I’m still playing and I appreciate all their concern and prayers when I was down with the injury that nearly ended my career, I know how much they wanted me to continue playing but then the injury, I appreciate, well Nigeria football will one day get to the height we all want it to and we will all rejoice both the players and the fans. I know God will definitely lead us to that promise land, one thing though, we all have to work together and forget about undoing one another because that has been they major problem, we don’t support each other rather we pray for ones down fall and all that, now is the time to have a change of heart and work together because if the country succeeds we all we’ll be happier for it but if things continue to go bad we will all feel the pinch and the shame.

Let the big players also help the young ones that are coming up, let them not say we have achieved all and it’s me that matters, no.

My greatest joy will be to see young Nigerian players playing in big teams in Europe and going back home to help the National team and contribute to the success of our soccer; it will be my greatest happiness. Nigeria is my country, I may live in America, Europe or Asia but Nigeria will still be on my mind.

Nigeriasports.com: Emmanuel, we thank you very much for talking to us.

Amunike: Well I also thank you, Ralph for your time and your concern, tell Nigerians that I’ll be back