By Daily Sports on October 13, 2015
Former chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Chief Oyuki Obaseki, has described as a dangerous dimension crippling into the rank and file of the Super Eagles, the open confrontation exhibited by the coach, Sunday Oliseh and the team’s captain, Vincent Enyeama, in far away Belgium during the build-up for the recent friendly game between Nigeria and DR Congo. He emphatically said that it is signal that must be critically checked and lasting solution found for the interest of the country. He added that what is happening in the team today is capable of denying the country the Africa Cup of Nations ticket for the 2017 edition to be hosted by Gabon. He calls for vigilance on the part of the key players. It is their duty to steer our ship towards picking ticket for the Nations Cup to brace up decisively and nip this trouble on horn.
“The truth is that there is an ugly incident already on ground now that may divide the team further along loyalty lines. I must say here that l appreciate the stand of NFF on the issue. It is one issue that must be thoroughly ironed out in the overall interest of the nation. I am of the opinion that both parties must be brought to round-table to trash out whatsoever that must have caused that rancour, and tell them in unmistakable language that Nigeria must come first, no matter what each of them may have against each other. There is nothing that cannot be resolved once there is honest understanding towards it. I will plead to Oliseh and Enyeama to see reason so as to get the team on track again and also strengthen it,” he said
Obaseki noted that Oliseh should see himself now as father of all the players, unlike when he was player and captain of the side and, therefore, behave likewise even on extreme cases. He also observed that whatever that must have caused the national embarrassment in far away Belgium ought to have been avoided. But there are already unforgivable grudges being nursed. He outrightly condemned, in strong terms, such attitude by someone who should know the grave implications of such act.
“Whatsoever that would have brought such heated disagreement that led to verbal assault on each other would have been totally avoided by both parties. One good turn should deserve another. Whatever past mistake that has been made, once there was cogent reason to support it; and even Nigerians blamed Vincent Enyeama the way and manner he wanted to keep to himself the death of his mother, which I guess is what led Oliseh to become so furious against the most-senior player and captain of the side. I thought that it has been resolved and the player invited for the friendlies. Why this chapter was opened again is what Nigerians are eager to know.”
The former second vice chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation called on the Pinnick-led executive committee to stamp their feet on ground and ensure that this ugly trend will die a natural death and finally buried too, without any further traces whatsoever. “Nigerians want a compact national side that will qualify her for Gabon 2017.”
•Photo shows Chief Oyuki Obaseki.
Source Daily Sports
Posted October 13, 2015
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