By Daily sports on January 11, 2021

Although I knowingly ignored writing on the dismal performance of the Flying Eagles, majority of readers of Daily Sports (www.dailysportsng.com) insisted I do something last week on the poor outing that saw the side out of the competition. I did promise them but told them that CAF Champs League second leg which Enyimba International could not make against AL Merreikh FC of Sudan posed greater importance to occupy this space last week.

Yes, the Aba team beat their opponent but it was not enough to get them to the next stage. Those that watched the match saw the desperation that characterised the second encounter by both sides and most importantly, the display of football mastery which gives some greater glimmer of hope that African clubs and football is steadily growing.

The victors drew the first blood which ordinarily would serve as demoralizer to the home side but Enyimba players refused to bow but kept fighting until the very imaginative Victor Mbaoma came calling twice before the curtain of the hot jigsaw game was drawn.

Despite the loss, I commend Lukman Osho led technical crew for mounting a solid match plan that checkmated the invaders that came again for conquest. However, aside the team’s eyes being firmly on the ball of both the CAF Confederation Cup and the NPFL, the Aba warlords must work assiduously on the grey areas forthwith. This reporter also thumbs up Abia State government and the management of the side led by veteran administrator, Felix Anyansi Agwu for massive support.

I digress. I was discussing the woeful outing of the Flying Eagles which l must confess that I am reluctantly doing this assignment via popular demand by readers. This is aside the fact that this columnist did comprehensive analysis on the team when NFF announced the coach and my conclusions made way back. For instance, I described the crew led by Ladan Bosso as lame duck team destined for the fall. It was a dead on arrival exercise which the Pinnick Amaju led NFF executive Committee knew but had to obey the directive of people up the ladder that brought him. I also remembered calling Bosso dead wood whose time in coaching has gone to zero level. Unfortunately in Nigeria, anything from the north must be, despite the fact that Muhammadu Buhari that fought his way to lead Nigeria in 2015 has put the country many steps backwards yet and as usual, Nigeria like a demented hen that sucks her finest eggs has adopted mediocrity as a rule.

Like I concluded in that thought provoking write up, “I saw it coming,” the team failed and heaven did not fall, even as the beat goes on. I remembered vividly the bashes that came because I hit the nail on the head and also called a spade by its name. Amaju Pinnick and his co-travellers did not see anything wrong, after all Nigeria as a failed state has no business with success, even in areas we had comparative advantage before this clueless and directionless regime of Buhari and APC stole themselves into power.

Nothing matters any longer in Nigeria. The nonsense saying, if you cannot beat them join them syndrome has taken the centre stage and become institutionalized. Ladan Bosso, like a blind man, led the team into a bottomless ditch. Those that appointed him clapped for him despite using very over aged players. The state of Nigeria and its leadership has suddenly become a matter for international mockery.

Sunday Dare that had been angling to take over the Super Eagles saw the Bosso avoidable failure as nothing because he is untouchable. He is from the North, therefore and otherwise, otherwise. There had been dead silence ever since. If you dare say anything contrary, they will call for your head. Who cares? I don’t care a hoot. I must say because I owe foremost everything to the readers of this digital all sports portal not Amaju, his board or Dare. They are not permanent like the fans or readers. My own is to report or do critical analysis with truth dangling openly.

It would be recalled that the recycling of coaches that no longer have ideas was not limited or exclusive to the recent appointment of Ladan Bosso whose coaching career has always ended in controversy. In short, it has been the trend since Amaju Pinnick came into NFF.

He did the same twice in U-23 Eagles with his brother Paul Aigbogun. I cried to high heavens on both occasions but as a stubborn fellow he looked the other way and Nigeria was the worst for it. He has the penchant for bringing on board expired coaches in the name of rehabilitation. He arranged for Paul Aigbogun into Enyimba and twice his fellow Delta State born expired coach without any iota of ideas failed in the very first round of that year’s CAF Champs League. That was why I was never surprised when Ladan Bosso’s name was fixed as Flying Eagles coach and we have seen his performance. As this columnist often says, Nigeria as a country that never takes care of impending earthquakes until the next day to the disaster before she starts gathering her geologists, learns nothing and forgets nothing. The vicious circle goes on.

My prayer is for Nigerian clubs in the continental assignment to concentrate. However, I have faulted the fixture that placed very performing Rivers United FC and Enyimba International FC in the next round after the Port Harcourt high fliers dismissed South Africa’s club, Celtic FC. It is never a fair pairing. After all, it is this same competition that Rangers International played in the finals against IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan in 1977 in Kaduna.

Let me leave it there and wish Rivers United well. The NPFL matches are going on smoothly and one prays it continues. The table is taking shape but when the crunchy period sets in, the fittest will survive. It is always a very interesting time in the league as it brings up clubs that have depth bench and reserves.

Stay with us for the 247 trends in the game and other sports. We are always ready with you as positive co-travellers. Keep shooting hard till next week as the struggle continues!!!

Source Daily sports

Posted January 11, 2021

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