By Daily Sports on May 23, 2016

As you will agree with me, we have contributed our quota to the way forward for Nigeria’s football as a result of the crisis which has lingered due largely to political undertones and echoes. In write-up after write-up we blamed both sides and heaped the entire culpability on the door steps of the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung for his one-sided role that gave Chris Giwa and his illegal group some sharp teeth which though cannot bite.

Still brooding over the unnecessary crisis in our football house, my spirits became lifted with the announcement of the impending visit to the country by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. It carries lots of air that would no doubt give Nigerian football a breather. When he comes, according to reports, he would have audience with President Muhammdu Buhari, then all stakeholders, so that Nigerian football may thrive again.

Nigeria got thus far without the hammer falling because the very suave and disarmingly unassuming Infanito is on the FIFA driver’s seat. Sincerely. It would be needless to talk about the old order in FIFA. Welcome in advance to Nigeria, first citizen of global football!

This week, we will discuss Enyimba International FC of Aba. To refresh your memory, dear reader, this is the team that broke the jinx in Nigeria’s then 39-year-old fruitless shot at Africa’s most prestigious club football summit, the CAF Champions League. It won it back to back. It has attempted to grab it again after that historic fate but to no avail.

Today, the People’s Elephant, as Enyimba is fondly called by her numerous fans across the country and beyond, is on the march again. In short, at the group stage where the only language is dollar rain,

Enyimba is not a new customer to the pulse of the continental club championship. This is the first stage where the boys will start being separated from the men – if you like, the preliminary point of the crunchy phase of the competition.

From here, teams advance to as far as their strength can carry them. The squads in the race are no mean teams. They are the best one can think of in the continent as the competition becomes keener and tougher, too. The fittest survives the deadly but healthy football rivalry. Note that they are like the foxes trying to outwit each other; the bench that has depth goes gaga all to the advantage of the team(s) concerned. It is the name of the championship at that highest level.

I have watched the present crop of players in Enyimba; the team has depth, is compact and, foremost, has matured lads that know when to strike when the chips are down. I also see in the team the ability to get going when the stage becomes tough, rough and slippery. Without any prejudice, the Aba billionaires are rooted except if they allow the complacency and the unpredictability of the round leather sport to play a fast one on them. However, with a good measure of motivation, concentration, hard work, focus, zeal and determination coupled with the calibre of lads in their stable, Enyimba would no doubt go far to meet its self-imposed set target in the championship.

However, vigilance must be their watch word as the hostilities in this US dollar-spinning encounter kick off. The Aba landlords with their entrenched all inclusive tradition; reverence and experience are poised for the kill. They also boast a resilient spirit and enormous venom to unleash on any aggressor on their way to the crowning stage of the 2016 CAF Champions League.

One must however not lose sight of the fact that other teams in the championship are equally hard nuts to crack. It is obvious that any side that reached this critical stage of the competition is not a minnow or pretender to this championship of wits and brawn.

Without much ado, I can safely say that mouthwatering incentive would not be lacking for the Nigerian side. Their chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, is a force to be reckoned with in football politics and administration. For sure, he won’t allow any distraction for the team. The lesson learnt on the game against Etoile of Tunisia enroute this stage is yet to be lost on the team.

When I watched Enyimba against MFM FC of Lagos and against FC Ifeanyi Uba in Umuahia, the outfit gave a glimmer of hope that it will go far in the ongoing continental assignment. The playing pattern is strong, impacting and robust. The confidence among the players is worthy of note. The team’s attacking prowess oftentimes throws opponents’ defence into confusion and panic. It has paid off handsomely for the team. The maturity of the lineup has been pivotal to their dogged displays and survival in most of their tight and tricky encounters both at domestic and continental levels.

The Chinedu Ude Orji-marshaled defence is calculative, unruffled, brave, poised and encouraging, but it must not take things for granted as African teams can be lethal, daring and astonishing. The defence seems to have developed a near-perfect rapport with the attack. Of note also is the recovery level of the team when it loses the ball to opponents, even as the composure with which it absorbs counter-attacks and goalmouth melees remains heartwarming. In truth, they have been worthy but that is not to say that there is no work to be done in those areas to avoid conceding cheap goals.

Head Coach Paul Aigbogun and his assistants are doing much, knowing fully well that they have a date with history. It is one’s belief that with a strong and well-motivated side, Enyimba will conquer.

As the championship leaps into the crucial league stage, the Nigerian flag bearers are quite aware that precision and imagination play crucial roles and it is the simple and single request from their fans, sponsor, and management. The team is not under any pressure, but it is willing to win the trophy for the third time, thus grabbing the ticket to represent Africa at the next World Cup Championship. 

It our legitimate request. Enyimba has all it takes to make it. A club with the desirable practice of winning crowns. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should do much to propel the only Nigerian team in the race for continental football glory. It will give much colour to the Pinnick Amaju-led executive committee and the only option is to work closely together with the Aba billionaires to achieve this.

I will suggest also that Pinnick leads the Federation in this regard. He knows what I mean. The side must not be left as an orphan. Enyimba must not be seen as the burden of Abia State Government.  What this implies is that the whole work load that would lead to the crowning should be fairly distributed.

Let me say it again that Enyimba has a formidable team. It is no hidden fact that the players, coaching crew and management are working hard. It must be a Nigerian project thenceforth, despite the financial crunch affecting the NFF. PERIOD. Best of luck, Enyimba. Best of luck, Nigeria.

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 23, 2016

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