By George Aluo
If the German manager of Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr is to have his way, then the team’s former first choice keeper, Vincent Enyeama would stroll back to the national team.
Rohr has since taking over the Eagles not hidden his desire to see Enyeama back to the team. A competent Eagles source disclosed that Rohr recently had a one on one discussion with the France based goalkeeper who on his part is reluctant to stage a come back.
Enyeama it would be recalled had called time on his international career, following his face off with former Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh who stripped him of the team’s captaincy.
Ike Shorunmu, a former Eagles goalkeepers’ trainer in a chat with Saturday Sunsports said though Nigerians would want to see Enyeama back, Rohr should not force him out of retirement.
Hear him: “I know Nigerian soccer fans love Vincent and would want to see him back, but I think the Eagles manager should not force him out of retirement. Having made the overture to him, he (Rohr) should allow Vincent to freely decide. Vincent knows his body and he alone knows if he can still cope with the challenge of manning the post for the country. I know that in my own case many people including Christian Chukwu tried talking me into coming out of retirement ahead of the Nations Cup in Tunisia, but I stood my grounds that I have had enough. If Vincent truly think he has had enough, then we should respect that position.”
Continuing Ike said: “One good thing is that the team is not suffering from poor goalkeeping. The goalkeepers we have there are all good. The thing they need is support. We need to believe in them and to instill in them that “You can do it spirit”. Carl Ikeme has not done badly since he stepped in. He performed well in the game against Zambia. We also saw the Rangers boy, Emmanuel Daniel at the Olympics. He is a good goalkeeper. Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are equally reliable in between the posts.”
Shorunmu who tipped the Eagles to qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup, however, warned that the team must not relax, especially in the crucial November 12 home tie against Algeria.
“The Algerians are dangerous and would fight like wounded lions when they come to Uyo. My advise is that we must not relax. The Eagles must play their subsequent games with the kind of fighting spirit they put up against Zambia. If they adopt that attitude, then we will surely land in Russia.”
