By Maduabuchi Kalu on August 19, 2016

Former national team captain and coach, Christian Chukwu, has advised the Coach Samson Siasia tutored Dream Team VI to put behind the 2-0 defeat they suffered in the hands of the German Under-23 team on Wednesday.

According to Chukwu, having watched the Germans humiliate their European neighbours Portugal by 4-0, he knew that the encounter against the Germans was not going to be easy. The former Harambee Stars of Kenya national team coach said the Dream Team captained by John Obi Mikel would do well by focusing their attention in the forthcoming third place match against Honduras; who were annihilated by the hosts, Brazil 6-0 in the first semifinals of the Olympic football event on Wednesday.

Chukwu is of the view that Dream Team VI having reached this stage should ensure that they do not come home empty handed saying if they beat Honduras, Nigerians would troop out in their thousands to give them heroic welcome as they remain the only hope of the country getting a medal at the Games.

“It is quite sad that despite the determination and effort of the Coach Samson Siasia tutored national Under-23 team, otherwise known as the Dream Team VI to ensure that they play in the final of the football event of the ongoing Rio Olympics, they were defeated by a very good German side,” Chukwu said.

“Well, as far as I am concerned, I knew the game against the Germans was not going to be easy having watched the Germans humiliate their European neighbours, Spain in the quarterfinal by 4-0.   

“My advice to the team is that they should not dwell on the past but should focus their attention to their next game against Honduras, who suffered humiliation in the hands of the host nation Brazil, as they lost scandalously by 6-0.

“I think they did their best though it was not enough to earn them a place in the final. They should put the defeat behind them and strategize on how to ensure that they win the third place match to earn us a bronze.

“As it is at the moment, it seems that the Dream Team is the only possible medal hopeful for the country going forward. I can assure you that if they win the bronze medal at the end of the competition Nigerians will give them heroic welcome,” Chukwu assured.

Speaking generally on the performance of ‘Team Nigeria’ to the Games, the former national team coach said the country would continue to fumble in international sports fiesta like the Olympics until she decides to do things right. He is of the opinion that Nigeria is not yet interested in winning medals at the Olympics as long as they continue to treat preparations to major sporting events with levity.

He said the country was paying lip service to the critical area of sports which was sports development. Chukwu said there was need for the sports administrators to go back to the drawing board if Nigeria must be taken seriously by sporting nations of the global community. 

•Photo shows Christian Chukwu.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 19, 2016

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