DON'T EXPERIMENT WITH GHANA FRIENDLY -AMOKACHI
Former Super Eagles' striker, Dan 'the bull' Amokachi, has called on Coach Samson Siasia not to use the proposed Ghana/Nigeria international friendly in London on August 9 to experiment on players that he wants to see play for Nigeria in future.
Amokachi, who is an analyst with SuperSports, a pay channel on the DStv told Daily SunSport in Lagos at the new football season launch that the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana is not one that anyone should toy with, especially given the fact that the Black Stars are not a side that can be easily run over.
The former player of Ranchers Bees, who was discovered by Coach Clemens Westerhof in the 1990's, stated that it is important for Coach Siasia to approach the match with all seriousness. 'The Black Stars of Ghana have a good crop of players that are ready to do battle and are always very committed when they face Nigeria. This is not the game for us to experiment with. I look forward to Coach Siasia using his best legs to execute this encounter.'
In his opinion, the encounter is one that Nigeria can win if we approach it rightly. 'I feel that Nigeria can win this encounter given the fact that we've been sent out of the All Africa Games football event for both men and women. I just hope our players would bring the same zeal that we all hope for in this friendly because a win would go a long way for us. Should we loose the encounter, Ghanaians would taunt us to no end and it's not fun, I must tell you.'
Speaking on the truce between Coach Siasia and Osaze Odemwingie, the former Club Brugge of Belgium striker said that he is happy that the West Brom striker is back to the Super Eagles. 'It's a big relief that Coach Siasia and Osaze have sorted things out and I'm glad that the hottest Nigerian striker in Europe today is in the squad for the Ghana friendly.
'To be sincere, every good player must be crazy to perform well on the pitch. Most times, the best players are often stubborn and it's always the duty of the coach to find a way around such players because we need them. Osaze erred by his act, but I believe that as the man in charge of the team, Siasia should be able to understand his players and manage them to get maximum results,' he stated.
Amokachi managed Nigerian club, Nasarawa United F.C. and later Enyimba Aba. In April 2007, he quit his role as assistant coach of the Nigeria national team. On April 10, 2008 Amokachi was re-appointed to Nigeria's national team, the Super Eagles, as assistant coach to Shaibu Amodu.