Allow Amodu to take Eagles to Angola 2010
By MADUABUCHI KALU
Sunday, November 22, 2009

•Christian Chukwu Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Sequel to Super Eagles’ miraculous qualification for the first-ever World Cup to be stage on African soil, former national team captain and coach, Christian Chukwu, has expressed his happiness for the team’s achievement. ‘The Chairman’ told Sunday Sunsport during the week that it’s wonderful seeing the team qualify for the mundial in South Africa when all hopes seemed to have been lost.

"I am happy for Nigeria’s 2010 World Cup qualification. The Eagles’ victory in Kenya has rekindled the hope of many Nigerian football followers, who almost lost hope on Nigeria hoisting her flag in South Africa in 2010. We are thanking God for His mercies and we are celebrating the feat," Chukwu said.

On what he expects from the team, the technical crew and the managers of football in the country now that Nigeria has qualified for the World Cup, Chukwu said there’s every need for the team to start now to prepare for the Nations Cup, which comes up in January in Angola, because there’s a big task ahead.

The former Enugu Rangers’ coach said without good preparations, the country may likely not go far at the Nations Cup, and if it does happen, it would break the hearts of millions of Nigerian football followers.
"Having qualified for the World Cup with its attendant celebrations, I still want to state that there’s a greater task ahead. It’s now time to start preparing for the Nations Cup in January, we don’t really have time to waste.
"Meanwhile, I would want the Super Eagles to be overhauled with a view of injecting young and hungry players into the team. Young players should be invited to vie for shirts alongside with the older ones. The essence of injecting fresh blood is to strengthen the team, and the time to do it is now."

Still harping on the importance of preparation as being pivotal to Nigeria’s success in her quest for glory at the mundial in South Africa, ‘Chairman Chukwu’ opined that there’s no need for Nigeria to go to the World Cup if Eagles should not be well prepared since we cannot afford to go to South Africa and disgrace ourselves and the entire continent, who reposed great confidence in us.
"I am harping on preparation because without it, we cannot do well either at the Nations Cup in Angola or at the World Cup in South Africa. We cannot afford to go to South Africa next year and disgrace ourselves. As far as I am concerned, there is no need for us to go to South Africa if we cannot aim at winning the trophy. And the only way to do that is by preparing very well."

Reacting to the insinuations that the Glasshouse intend to dispense with Coach Shaibu Amodu, Chukwu advised that Amodu should be allowed to take Eagles to Angola 2010 Nations Cup. He suggested that the Glasshouse should use Amodu’s performance at the Nations Cup to judge whether to retain or sack him. Chukwu said he hinged his submission on the premise that there’s no time to engage new manager, who would start all over to build a team for the two big football events billed for next year.
He, however, tasked Amodu and his assistants to work on overhauling the team with a view of bringing in young players, who are hungry for success.

"For me, Amodu should be allowed to take the team to the Nations Cup. We have no time to start recruiting a new manager and rebuilding the national team all over again, doing so will not be in the interest of the team. And with that exercise, we cannot realise our ambition at the World Cup.

"Having said that, Amodu on his part, should consider carrying out a comprehensive overhauling of the team. He should inject fresh and young blood, who are hungry for success into the team."

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