LEAVE OBUH ALONE!

Following the unexpected exit of the Coach John Obuh-tutored Flying Eagles at the quarterfinals of this year's FIFA Under-20 World Cup, the President General Worldwide of Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain the Abia State-born coach despite his team's failure to win the trophy in Colombia.

Dr Ladipo made the call at the welcome party organised for Flying Eagles on Thursday by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Capital Oil and Gas Limited at his Apapa, Lagos corporate office.

According to Ladipo, Obuh was a quality and a worthy coach and had shown at the international level his technical competence with the type of football that endeared his team to the hearts of not only Nigerians, but lovers of the game all over the world.

Obuh, he said, has in two years made the country proud despite the fact that he has not won a cup at the world stage.

He expressed hope that the coach could still make giant strides if he is allowed to carry on with the national team. He also thanked Chief Uba for hosting the junior national team even though it did not win the trophy in Colombia. He, however, called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the Capital Oil boss in supporting our national teams.

According to him, what Sir Uba did on Thursday has entered the history books, as the chief was the first Nigerian to encourage the junior national team even when it did not win the world trophy. He prayed that God would continue to bless the young oil magnet for him to also continue in his support for the national teams.

'I want to call on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), thank God the First Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh is here with us, to allow the Chief Coach of the Flying Eagles, John Obuh, to remain with the national team. He has shown that he is a competent hand for the team,' Ladipo began in his speech.'In two years, Obuh has led Nigeria to two World Cups – the Under-17 and the Under-20, and he has not let the country down. He did well with his boys despite the fact they did not win the trophies in those two assignments.

'Obuh is a worthy and competent coach. His team endeared itself in the hearts of millions of football-loving people across the globe. That is why I'm delighted with what Chief Uba has done for the team.'This is the first time this type of thing is happening in the history of Nigerian football; that a team, which did not win the trophy is highly encouraged. I doff my cap for Chief Ifeanyi Uba.

'I believe that very soon, people will begin to call for the removal of Coach Obuh because his team failed to win the trophy in Colombia. But for me, in football, you win some and lose some. So, we need to appreciate the effort of the coach and his boys. 'I also use this opportunity to thank Chief Sir Ifeanyi Uba for putting up a fantastic reception for the Under-20 team. I, therefore, call on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate him for better development of our football,' Ladipo prayed.