As Nigerian football fans await the final release of the Super Eagles
list for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, former Nigerian
International, Baldwin Bazuaye, has affirmed that players like
Vincent Enyeama, Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel Emenike, Mikel Obi
and Ikechukwu Uche will be Keshi’s biggest assets at the competition.
In this interview with Sunday Vanguard sports, the former Lobi
Stars FC of Markudi assistant manager and ex- Head coach of the
troubled Insurance of Benin, advises Stephen Keshi to be professional
in the selection of players for the Mundial, adding that those calling
on him to dump experienced players from the list do not mean well
for him. Excerpts:
Coach we have less than two months to FIFA World Cup in Brazil,
are you comfortable with Super Eagles readiness for the competition?
I would say ‘Yes and No,’ yes in the sense that we have very competent
players that can make Nigeria smile at the Mundial if well selected,
and if the coaches are allowed to do their job professionally. I say this
without any bias. Coaching is the most difficult job to do, especially
in this part of the world. It is Hire and Fire. We seat on gun powder
ready to explode any time any moment. This is our fifth time at the
FIFA World Cup and we did not go to Ghana to pick players, those
that have made Nigeria proud at football competitions at the CAF
and FIFA levels are from this country. We have never lacked players,
but the problem is getting the right ones. Nigeria parades an array of
stars in most part of Europe doing very well in their various clubs. So
if the players are given shirts according to merit, Nigeria will be the
revelation at the World Cup. Nigerians are ready to support the team
if only things are done right.
I’m also very confident in this present crop of Super Eagles players
because they are very young, energetic and play top flight football in
Europe. They are capable of making things happen. In our days as
players, we did not get such backing from the Federal Government, let
alone being paid in dollars, so the players have every thing going for
them. The only angle I want the NFF to improve on is in the area of
friendly games. We have not had enough International Grade A
friendly matches to get the boys fully ready for the show.
Again the other aspect is the issue of rumor making the round that
the NFF might go ahead to get some one else to head the team.
Nigeria coaches have all it takes to coach any National side in the
world. The present Eagles technical crew headed by Stephen
Okechukwu Keshi has it all, they have proved to us that they can do
it looking at their track records in the past two years. So the NFF
should jettison that idea and give them the best support ever.
As a football manager, how would you rate Alhaji Aminu Maigari,
the NFF president so far?
Without mincing words, the Head of the NFF Alhaji Aminu
Maigari, has done favorably well in turning our football around,
though they were some crisis at the beginning but thank God they were
able to manage it well.
Stephen Keshi with Mikel Obi
And today every football follower in the country is happy with the
development going on in our football. I’m particularly happy with
the recruitment of ex- Nigerian stars into the Board of the FA. This
is the kind of things we want that can help move the game forward in
Nigeria. I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to them to also
consider some us who are still very young and have some thing to offer
to Nigerian Football.
Why have you tipped Vincent Enyeama, Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel
Emenike, Mikel Obi, and Ike Uche as players to watch out for at the
world cup? Like I said earlier, Nigeria is a country blessed with
football talents across the length and breadth of this nation and the
problem we have always had is selection. So if the coaches can, for the
love of the game, put sentiment aside and pick the best, Nigeria will
go far in Brazil. Just take a critical look of the players I mentioned to
you now, they are players that have been tested and trusted in their
fields, so you do not need a second Prophet Moses to tell you that they
need to be on your World Cup list. Look at Vincent Enyeama, a
goalkeeper of high repute, full of experience, skill and all that it takes
to wear the national team jersey No I. He was at the South Africa
2010 World Cup, Nigerians saw his exploit. With Enyeama in the
post, I’m very confident that Eagles will go far.
Now talk about Peter Osaze Odemwingie, despite having some rough
time with his career last season, I make bold to say that among the
current crop of present day Super Eagles strikers, Osaze Odemwingie
is one of the best if not the best. He is intelligent, committed, devoted
and highly a business-like player. Very tactical on the ball and above
all, with a high level of experience that any coach needs from a
player.
Emmanuel Emenike is another striker that has paid his dues, who I
know will do very well with the combination of his team-mates
especially when it comes to scoring goals. Keshi must be very careful
in his selection so as not to make mistakes that may ruin the team.
Also for the interest of the game and the country, it is time we put
the past behind us, no matter what must have transpired between the
out-of-favour players and the technical crew, there is chance for
forgiveness. All over the world, players are extremely difficult people
to manage and again you do not judge players by the kind of things
they say or do, but by what they can do for you as a coach to win your
games in times of difficulties. I have no doubt about the capability of
our players, they have what it takes to make us proud at the World
Cup.
Your father, Willy Bazuaye won the 1996 Olympic Gold medal for
Nigeria, what are you doing as a young coach to surpass your father’s
records ?
I thank God that my father was able to reach that level of
achievement in football as a coach. Not so many people remember him
today because this is a country where people forget so easily. My
father did his best despite the fact that somebody was there taking
the credit, Nigerians know the person that made that dream possible.
Today Pa Willy is down but thank God that his children and few
other people like Governor Fashola of Lagos state remembered him on
his sick bed. Back to your question, I’m really doing my best to
surpass my father’s track records in coaching business. I’ve not really
had that opportunity to prove myself at the national level. I have
worked as assistant manager in various Glo Premier League clubs and
also headed Insurance FC of Benin, but I really want to coach any of
the junior national team side. I have what it takes to handle any
junior national side. Some of us must be given an opportunity to prove
ourselves. I’m praying and waiting for my time, I know one day it
will come to pass and my dream of working with the NFF will be
achieved.
I understand that Edo state government has not paid you people for
the past five years while you were in Insurance as manager, is it
true?
I have spent half of my years working for Insurance. I played for
them, I captained the team, I have served the team with all that is
in me as a coach, and as I speak with you now, I’m still very much
ready to work for my state. Yes they are indebted to many of us not
only me and I’m sure that one day they will be touched to pay us our
money. We worked for Insurance on empty stomach. I also have no
regret working for my state.
Does that name Bazuaye give you any edge over your contemporaries on
this job?
Yes the name Willy Bazuaye is well respected outside the shores of
this state, you know that a prophet has no honour in his place. I’m
very proud to have come from this family of Willy Bazuaye. Those
that know the worth of my father always respect me each time they see
me. My father has contributed his own part to the growth of Nigerian
football, it is up to me to do my own part too.
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