Former Tremendous Eagles midfielder, Sylvanus Okpala, has declared his curiosity and availability to steer the Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria, noting that he’s greatest positioned to steer the staff.
Okpala, who gained the AFCON title in 1980 as a participant and as an assistant coach in 2013, mentioned this in an interview with PUNCH On-line on Tuesday.
Final Friday, Portuguese supervisor, Jose Peseiro, confirmed his exit as coach of the Tremendous Eagles after his contract formally expired.
Peseiro, who guided the Eagles to a second-place end on the 2023 African Cup of Nations, mentioned he was fulfilled teaching Nigeria.
Nevertheless, Okpala, whereas commending Peseiro for his efforts because the Nigerian head coach, famous that it was excessive time the Nigerian teaching job was introduced residence.
Okpala mentioned, “The one factor I can say about Peseiro is that he has tried his greatest, however the sport goes on.”
When requested a couple of potential substitute, he mentioned, “I’m a kind of that ought to exchange him. For the truth that we’ve been on this problem of attending to quarter-finals, semi-finals, that could be a fallacious method of using a coach.
“I imply, every time Nigeria goes to the Nations Cup, we’re going there to win, however it isn’t a should it’s essential to win. However we should current a staff to win and never simply take part.”
“Our gamers are overseas primarily based gamers, and most of them are taking part in towards one another, both within the Italian league or so on, so that they get the identical coaching, so when we’re going to the World Cup, we needs to be fascinated by successful the World Cup. We’d not qualify from the group stage, however we should go there with the mindset to win.”
He famous that Nigeria should do all it may to qualify for the World Cup. “To qualify now for World Cup goes to be very troublesome, troublesome within the sense that we’re in the identical group with South Africa, so we should be very cautious. and if Nigeria doesn’t qualify for one more World Cup, there will likely be plenty of disaster in Nigerian soccer.”
The 1980 AFCON winner famous that there must be a bar raised by the Nigerian staff, which he believes has all of the potential to win the World Cup.
“Attending to the semifinals of the World Cup is not information in Africa as a result of Morrocco has gotten to the semifinals within the final World Cup. I believe Africa needs to be speaking about successful the World Cup. It’s the identical soccer; the distinction is the mentality,” he added.
Okpala, whereas saying that the ways of the ex-Tremendous Eagles coach weren’t dangerous, mentioned, “Peseiro is an effective coach; he’s not dangerous. I believe the issue with him is that whenever you’re fascinated by what to play, it’s essential to additionally take into consideration what the opposite staff will play and just remember to cease them from taking part in what they’re presupposed to play and play what you’re presupposed to play. However I believe he was a lot on what he was going to play. What if the opposite staff overwhelms your staff? What do you do?” he requested.
Talking on the vacant Tremendous Eagles managerial place, he additional famous that information and expertise needs to be thought of for whoever is chosen, including that he qualifies for each.
“I’ve gained the Nations Cup as a participant, and I’ve gained it as an assistant coach to Keshi, the file is there. It isn’t simple. It’s not by luck or arithmetic, it’s by information.
“The staff we went to South Africa with, you may’t evaluate them with these boys. We went there with home-based boys, taking part in within the Nigerian league. it was solely Mikel (Obi), even Mikel wasn’t a daily participant in Chelsea then when he got here with us. Then Amunike, and I believe Musa too.
“We had solely about just one 12 months with the boys then, however this staff has spent over 2 years collectively. We now have gamers that may win the World Cup.”
He additional famous that though Nigeria in 2013 wasn’t the favorite to win versus Ivory Coast, who had “top-of-the-line ever African groups,” they have been in a position to show them fallacious.
When requested if he was greatest positioned to steer Nigeria, Okpala mentioned, “Sure, if I’m given an opportunity.”
He famous that again within the 2013 feat, the NFF had already purchased the flight tickets to return the Tremendous Eagles again residence once they have been to play Ivory Coast within the quarter-finals, however the staff didn’t hand over. In line with him, “We sat down and deliberate a technique and that technique labored.”
“So sure, if I’m given an opportunity, I’ll do wonders with these boys,” he famous.
He, nonetheless, famous that even when he wasn’t made the pinnacle coach, he might be introduced in to deliver his experience and expertise to the staff, saying that “coaches are born, not made.”
“I’m superb at studying video games, and that provides me a bonus too,” he added.
The Nigeria Soccer Federation will likely be tasked with selecting a successor to Peseiro after he penned a farewell message to Nigerians following the expiration of his contract as coach of the Tremendous Eagles.
