Super Eagles assistant coach
Ike Shorunmu believes in this interview with BAMIDELE BOLUWAJI that the FIFA Confederations Cup has helped the national team players to learn a lot as he assures that the team will get better before Malawi match.
Sir, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup is over now, how would you describe the Super Eagles' performance at the tournament?
It was a good tournament for every member of the team- the players, the coaches and other staff. Although we could not meet the expectations of many Nigerians, I will say here that it was a wonderful experience for all of us. We also thank the Almighty Allah for the journey mercies because it was not easy travelling from Europe to Africa and finally to Brazil; but we are grateful for the journey mercies.
The Super Eagles could only win one game at the Confederations Cup before they crashed out, what do you think was actually the real shortcoming of the team?
Well, I will not say the players did not try their best, they did everything they could to win every game we played at the Confederations Cup but they were not lucky to score the goals that would have seen them through to the semi-final stage of the competition. Despite the fact that we beat Tahiti, we still missed some good scoring chances that would have increased the score line. Our games against Uruguay and Spain were the same thing as we played very well but the goals refused to come and that accounted for our exit in the group stage of the Confederations Cup. But like I said earlier, lots of lessons have been learnt from it and we are going to work harder to make the team better.
You have rightly identified that the team has goal scoring problem, what are the coaches doing towards ensuring that the attack gets better before Nigeria play Malawi in a 2014 World Cup qualifier holding in September?
The team is on break now and the head coach is working really hard to make sure that the problem in that department is resolved on time because if that attacking department had been very effective, we would have done better in Brazil. So what I am saying is that the head coach has noticed that and there will be improvement.
Don’t you think that the absence of Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike affected the team's performance at the Confederations Cup?
Well, you may think that way but in fairness to the players we took to the competition, they did their best but it was like their best was not good enough to help the team go beyond the first round. Fine, Moses and Emenike are good players but they were not deliberately dropped from the tournament, they had injuries and the best we could do was to get replacement for them which we did. I won't crucify the players we took to Brazil but I will only encourage them so that they can do more.
Enyeama gave his best but he conceded some goals that saw Nigeria crashing out from the tournament, how would you rate his overall performance?
Goalkeeping department is a very sensitive department in any team and whoever is in the post at any point in time should know what is expected from him. Enyeama is a great professional and he did his best. If he was not good enough, he would not have been given the mandate to keep mount the post in all the three matches we played in Brazil but I still strongly believe that he will get better. The Confederations Cup came at the time when all the leagues in Europe were on break and the players were preparing to rest. So we just have to take it like that and urge him to do more.
With the position of Enyeama in the Super Eagles, is there any hope for the duo of Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim in the team?
Definitely, there is hope for them and I can tell you that the mere fact that they are not playing now does not mean we do not have any plan for them. They are strong members of the team and they can be called upon at anytime. For Ejide, he was in goal a couple of times while Agbim is doing a great job for his club too. So what they are going through in the team now is like a learning process which will make them become better goalkeeper whenever they are called upon.
The Super Eagles will play Malawi in September, are there going to be changes in the team before the crucial match?
I can’t really say for now but I am sure that Nigerians are going to see a better team before the match. The head coach is not relenting, he is working hard and we are also praying that all the players are injury-free so that we can have our best legs available for the match. It is a match we must win to move to the final round of the World Cup qualifier and we need our best legs to achieve that.
Do you think you have a team that can beat Malawi as they trail the Super Eagles with 2 points behind on the Group F table?
We have put the previous games behind us and all our concentration is now on how to beat Malawi. I know that it is going to be a tough game because a win could see them through while a win or a draw will see us through but we are not going for a draw, the ultimate aim is for us to win the match and that is what we are looking forward to now.
Can you make any prediction ahead of the game?
No, I am not going to do that. But I will assure you that we are going to prepare very well to make sure that we beat the Malawians convincingly.
The Home Eagles will play Cote d’Ivoire this weekend in a 2014 CAF CHAN qualifier, what are you looking forward to?
We had our first training today (Monday) and we are all happy with the turn-out of the players. We spoke to them and I am sure they are going to listen to every instruction that will be given to them. Despite calling them Home Eagles, we have some players who have been with the main team for a while now and we expect their experience and exposure to help other players to excel in the match.
What is going to be the priority of the team ahead of the CHAN final in South Africa next year?
For now, our priority is to qualify for the tournament and after that, we look forward to winning the tournament but we need to qualify first.
How are you looking forward to the last round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier?
Well, we need to beat Malawi first before we start talking about that but one thing I will assure you is that we are not going to take the match easy with Malawi because it is very crucial to us.
Finally, how were you able to resolve the face-off between the Super Eagles and the NFF over match bonuses?
The federation was on ground and the matter was attended to by them, so that is all I can say about that issue.
...PAYS TRIBUTE TO OLIHA
WE'LL MISS OLIHA'S HUMOUR
I find it extremely difficult to talk about the dead. Reason is that no matter what you say, he's gone and gone forever. But what I don't seem to understand, especially in the case of Thompson Oliha, is the suddenness of his untimely passage to the great beyond. That goes to confirm what one writer wrote in his book that those who the gods love die young. Perhaps this aphorism will console those who are still grieving over the sudden death of our highly disciplined, energetic, charismatic and jovial brother, friend and colleague, Thompson Oliha.
SHOCK
The last time we met, I asked him ‘Powerhouse’ you are looking frail, he replied that all is well and that he was okay. As usual we laughed it off. But I was emotionally shocked on Sunday morningwhen the news frittered in that Thompson Oliha was gone. And I asked how, when and why so soon? Why so young? Just 44 years! What a life and its travesties. It’s so sad; it’s so painful and hard to accept what has just happened.
NATIONAL TEAM CAREER
We were together in the national team during the Senegal '92 Nations Cup. We were also together during the Tunisia 94 Nations Cup. Oliha was so jovial and playful. He would call me 'Ike Baba' and I would call him 'Power House; No bouncing'. That was the nickname we used to call him then because of his work-rate on the pitch and his total commitment. He moved on well with all his colleagues. He respected his teammates and was friendly to all. It’s so sad that he's gone and so soon too.
UNFULFILLED DREAMS
From the point of a friend and colleague, one can say Oliha had a successful career. Having featured for several top clubs in Nigeria then including Bendel Insurance and Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Oliha also participated in the 1988 Pre-Olympic Games soccer tournament where Iwuanyanwu Nationale represented Nigeria and finished fourth among all the teams that participated. He won all the three colours of the Africa Nations Cup medals- gold, silver and bronze. He played in the World Cup and also played professional football in Europe where he starred for several clubs in Turkey and Israel. To that extent, he had successful career. But of course, you don't ask me about reward because you know the way things work here. You have just said Oliha's wife said his husband kept on complaining about his inability to collect the house which the federal government promised the Super Eagles players after winning the Nations Cup in 1994. Well, that is the irony of it; that while some who preferred Abuja then collected their own, those who wanted their own house around Lagos have not been able to lay hands on them nearly 30 years after.
WHAT WE'LL MISS IN HIM
We are going to miss his sense of humour, his commitment, patriotism, his dedication and so many things. There are so much to miss about him. But then, Oliha has completed his race here on earth and has gone to his creator. We can only pray for his soul to have eternal rest in the blossom of his creator.
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