AIYEGBENI'S RETURN TO EAGLES WOULD BE SUICIDAL- ETIM WARNS KESHI
Keshi
In-form Blackburn Rovers' striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, is in the news for the right reasons. He is scoring goals in the English Premiership with ease and has attracted the attention of the new Super Eagles' Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
In fact, the Eagles' gaffer is keen on recalling the former Super Eagles' striker to the national team. But much as many followers of the game seem to be in support of Aiyegbeni's return to the national team, former Super Eagles' striker, Etim Esin, said those clamouring for his recall should have a rethink.
On the backdrop of Aiyegbeni's fine run of form in the Premiership, which has seen him bang in nine goals from nine matches this season, Etim told Sunday Sunsports that he believes that the player would not be able to sustain his current form if he comes back to the Super Eagles.
According to the Chile'87 Flying Eagles' star, Aiyegbeni has been a club player and should concentrate on having a good career spell with Blackburn than venturing back into the frays of the Super Eagles.
'There is no doubt that Yakubu is in a terrific form now, but the question is; would he sustain it? I appreciate his efforts and the waves he is making at the moment. It is good for him and his profile as a professional player.
'If Nigeria had qualified for the 2012 Nations Cup, I would have said that he would be relevant in the team if he comes back. But he is no doubt a club player. There are players like him who excel at the club level, but when they come to the national team they falter.
'For me, those who are clamouring for Aiyegbeni's return to the Super Eagles based on his recent exploits in the English Premier League should have a rethink, because he would not be able to sustain the tempo, especially by 2013 when the World Cup qualifiers would be on the fry,' Etim reasoned.
It would be recalled that Aiyegbeni was the main culprit in the Nigeria's failure to impress at the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa. He missed a clear chance to score, and since July 2010, he never earned a recall to the national team.