Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former Nigeria international, Mutiu Adepoju, could qualify as a soccer oracle having distinguished himself at national and international levels during the glorious days of Nigerian football.
Fielding questions from the Saturday Sunsports in Abuja recently, he reacted to several issues concerning the game in the country, including the relevance of the duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses in the Super Eagles AFCON 2019-bound team.
Although he emphasised that he is contented with what he is currently doing, he however said that he is still nursing the big dream of picking up a coaching job within the country.
You have been part of the La Liga coaching clinic, what would you say is the biggest takeaway after the third edition?
What I may consider the biggest takeaway from the training is the benefits we have started reaping in the quality of players the coaches that participated in the training. There were no less than six quality players in the U17 national team that are products of the first edition of the coaching clinic.
Again, we have seen the impact of the coaching clinic in the improvement of our coaches and the input of the coaches in nurturing the youth team players to stardom. I strongly believe that more good things will come because it is a gradual process that must continue and that is why we are very passionate about its continuity every other year.
What is your impression about Mikel Obi’s move to Middlesbrough FC?
It is really a good move in every aspect you may want to see it. Although he joined a lower League Championship side, it is even a tougher league to play in because it involves tough clubs and players.
Essentially, the most important benefit is that the move will help him get more playing time ahead of the African Nations Cup. If there is no other thing, playing in the Championship will keep him in match form instead of being rusty playing for a team that would keep him on the bench.
What is obvious in football is that players would always face ups and downs in their careers. There must also be rise and fall. No matter the way people want to interpret the move, the most important thing for me is the playing time in a very competitive league like the English Championship.
I strongly believe that what should also be uppermost in his mind is to prove that he is still good enough to be part of the AFCON 2019-bound Super Eagles. So, I don’t support the impression that it is a let-down for a Super Eagles captain to be playing in a lower league cadre.
Which Nigerian foreign-based player(s) would you say have impressed you the most so far this season?
Many of them have been very impressive in their clubs this season. We know of Samuel Chukwueze doing marvelously well and scoring for his club. As time goes on, he is going to improve more. Wilfred Ndidi is also doing well with Leicester City.
There are many others like Alex Iwobi scoring in Arsenal, Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Kalu doing well in their clubs and a host of others that have contributed in making the country very proud. I strongly wish that they continue the way they are doing now because the Super Eagles will have a good AFCON if they continue in their present forms.
Do you share the impression that Victor Moses made the mistake of his career retiring from the Super Eagles?
What is certain is that every player must take a decision in the course of his career that he feels is good for him. Victor Moses might be right or wrong to have taken that decision to quit the national team perhaps because of the realities he found himself at that time. I also know that he thought of it very well. But, if he decides to retrace his steps, I believe that he is still welcomed in the Super Eagles. I won’t join those criticising or crucifying him over the decision he took because he considered many factors before taking it.
He knows how he was feeling at that moment but as I said earlier, if now he wants to return to the team, we should welcome him. However, let me point out that everything depends on the coach who will take the final decision on whether his services are still valid in the team. If you ask me whether his services are still needed in the Super Eagles, I would say that if he continues to enjoy playing time in his new club before the AFCON, if he is no longer rusty, he is still a quality player any time any day. He is a great and experienced player that can still add value to the Eagles team for the AFCON.
How far can the Super Eagles go in this year’s AFCON?
By my own assessment, if the players continue to play well for their various clubs and remain in top form, shape and injury free after the end of the season, they can go very far. The sky will be their limit.
Has Rohr impressed you or should we shove him aside?
He has been good and has shown mental capacity in the management of the team. He has done well so far especially by qualifying the team for the AFCON. For now, we don’t have any reason to shove him aside when he has done well and I am sure that he is good to go and to learn from whatever mistakes he may have made.
How do you feel that Shooting Stars could not gain promotion this season?
Yes, I am still sentimentally attached to the 3SC because it has been my club right from when I was a young boy. It was really very unfortunate that they could not get the promotion ticket after participating in the Super 8 this year. I believe they can still gain promotion next season.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian league so far?
I am happy that things have continued to move on very well in the last three, four years. However, it is lamentable that the crisis last year really disturbed and disrupted many things. The crisis slowed down the league but I believe that with time and cooperation of everybody, the league will bounce back.
What is your assessment of the 2018 football year?
The 2018 soccer season for Nigeria was very good. Don’t forget that we qualified, participated in the Russia World Cup and narrowly missed the second round. Although the participation did not match the expectations of many soccer-loving Nigerians, however their performance was commendable and I believe that the team will continue to improve from strength to strength.
Why has it become difficult to attach yourself with any club or national team as a coach?
Well, I am happy with what I am doing at the moment and I can loudly say that I am enjoying it. I am not in a hurry to leave what I am doing for now. In-as-much as I would want to coach, coaching profession is a matter of opportunity.
I have the qualification but it goes beyond qualification and like I said earlier, it is a matter of opportunity. However, I have not given up and as time goes on; I am certain that such opportunity will smile on me. If I have my way, I need a coaching job within the country.