AFCON U-17: The Spite in Manu Garba’s Outrage News

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AFCON U-17: The Spite in Manu Garba’s Outrage

By Daily Sports on March 4, 2019

When the failed culture of recycling is instituted in a society or country as a way of life; as we see in many facets of Nigeria, the end result is usually a trip to the absurd, the world of placing nothing on something. Without mincing words, this recurring decimal in life and policy has overtime benumbed the people, driving them often to that state of ‘unshockabiliity’ for want of a better word.

Let me say here without let or hindrance that this nonsense policy is not exclusive to football or sports in general. The Nigerian polity is guilty as charged. Let me recall that when Manu Garba failed in his national coaching assignment some years back, to be precise at the U- 20 Flying Eagles level; without shame and outright arrogance and show of power, the NFF instead of sacking the coach, demoted him to the level he is now and instead of him to throw in the towel, he like many of his ilk, accepted the demotion and since then we have seen his work rate.

My long-standing opinion of him was further confirmed last week when he came out to say his lads are not ready for the AFCON qualifier billed for Tanzania in April. His confession remains outrageous in recent times and must not just be treated with a wave of the hand if the country intends to participate in the summit proper because Garba is not a sweat merchant worth his salt to handle a national team of any serious-minded country.

My question is what he has been doing that he is not ready for a championship that has been on CAF calendar long ago and every member country of the apex football governing boy is aware of. Manu Garba knows that and coming now at the eleventh hour to raise this false and unready like alarm smacks of blackmail and must not be swept under the carpet by the Amaju Pinnick led NFF executive committee as one of those things.

Manu Garba has spilt the beans. He has also demonstrated his incompetence and for NFF to still allow him to be on that position would amount to insensitivity on the part of the football federation. The U-17 category even ought to be handled by a seasoned and serious-minded coach because if we know what we are supposed to do in the country and her football, that category should properly be handled because it is the foundation of our football where our all-embracing and talented lads emanate from to other national teams in the country.

My view is that Manu Garba has stirred the hornets’ nest and must be called to order and also sanctioned. He will fail with this set of U-17 side if he continues. His outburst showed his unreadiness for the national assignment and so the earlier he is relieved of the job the better for our football. To be candid, I am scandalised by that signal Garba raised at the eleventh hour and he must account for it. Such an unguarded statement in national assignment! It is unacceptable. What has he been doing with the team he assembled? It may not be too hard to say that Garba at his level in coaching has shot himself on the foot. He is a shame to the world of football. He overstepped his bounds and must be called to order and to tell him in clearer terms that the team must not fail in it’s the assignment in Tanzania.

Where is Manu Garba coming from? What are his achievements in coaching? He is a nobody, so far I am concerned and must be checked now. His recent statement did not come to me as a surprise and allowing him to stay put would lead to regrets.

Manu Garba has murdered sleep and must not sleep anymore. He has directly admitted failure and so must be helped by showing him the exit door. This U-17 team must not fail. Nigerians are football crazy lots and we must not fold our hands and watch this opportunity to make a difference fizzle away because of the attitude of one careless individual called Manu Garba. I pray that the youths of this country would not rise in uncontrollable anger against this nonsense from Garba this hour. Below is the re-run story of Manu Garba’s outrage for readers that missed its first publication.

In the first place, there would not have been any need for this kind of statement if this coach was sacked when he failed woefully some few years back. There should be no sympathy for failure. Join us in our 24/7 social media network. Keep shooting hard till next week!

AFCON U-17: Golden Eaglets not yet ready, Garba reveals

Nigeria’s U-17 coach, Manu Garba has disclosed that his wards have not yet reached the level to compete at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, billed for Tanzania in April. According to him, this was why it was necessary the team participated in the Turkey invitational tournament so that the players can have a taste of competition.

The five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions are aiming to return in a big way after they failed to qualify for the AFCON tournament in 2017 and thus missing the chance to defend their 2015 World Cup title in India.

“We are just into a week in training and I can say we are more than fifty per cent set in the aspect of techniques and tactical ability. As for physical fitness, we are still a bit behind. That notwithstanding, we are trying to meet up with everything. “We want to make sure we get to at least eighty per cent level of fitness so that we can give our best in the preparatory tournament in Turkey.

“The ultimate is to go to Tanzania, qualify for the World Cup as African champions, Nigeria being the best at U17 level. God willing, we will raise a team that will make Nigeria proud by qualifying for the World Cup as African champions.”

Nigeria are in Group A, alongside Tanzania, Angola and Uganda.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 4, 2019