Former national team captain, Henry Nwosu (MON), says the current Super Eagles’ squad still lacks a quality play maker that can dictate the tempo of the game the way his humble self and Austin Jay Jay Okocha did in their different times in the team.

Speaking ahead of the World Confederations Cup in Brazil billed for next month, Nwosu admitted that the Chelsea of England duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses, played prominent roles in Nigeria’s triumph at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, but insists that none of them rightly fits into the position of Super Eagles’ play maker yet.

“I agree that both Victor Moses and Mikel (Obi) were outstanding at the Nations Cup in South Africa, but I don’t see any of them as the play maker in the Super Eagles yet,” Nwosu said in a telephone chat with Saturday Sunsports. “Moses is an attacker. He could be a motivator in the team because he scores goals at crucial moments. He is not a midfielder. So, he cannot regulate the tempo of the game.

“Mikel, on his part, is a midfielder, but his game was changed at Chelsea, where he plays as a defensive midfielder, as against the attacking role for which we knew him in 2005 when he played in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, where he shone like a million stars. “Agreed that Mikel did well at the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa, but he has yet to fully establish himself as the play maker of the team.

If he is intelligent enough, and I think he is, he can play as a defensive midfielder at Chelsea and yet, adjust effectively as an offensive midfielder while playing for the Super Eagles. “A play maker must be able to control the tempo of the game. He should be able to slow or quicken the tempo of the game depending on the match situation.

That’s what I was doing during my time in the national team. Jay Jay Okocha also did it during his time,” the diminutive ex-international emphasised. Nwosu further spoke on the chances of the Super Eagles at the forthcoming World Confederations Cup in Brazil next month, predicting that the Stephen Keshi-tutored side has the capacity to reach the semi-finals at the intercontinental tournament.

“If there’s anybody that believed in the Super Eagles before the Nations Cup in South Africa, I was the one and I’m happy the team proved me right,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve not started preparations for the next month’s Confederations Cup in Brazil. Despite the fact that the players are active in their respective clubs, I would have loved it if we had started to prepare seriously for the tournament.

“The strength of the team is the players’ determination coupled with the perfect blending of the home and foreign-based players. But that is not to say that we have arrived. The team is still work in progress. We are still learning and I believe that we can get better. “However, I still believe that Eagles will do well in the Confederations Cup.

I’m not saying that they must win the trophy, but I tip Nigeria to reach the semi-final stage of the competition,” Nwosu predicted. “My only regret is that we will miss Emmanuel Emenike due to injury. His absence will reduce the fear-factor in our opponents. I pray we have a good replacement for him,” he concluded.

“Chief Gabriel Chukwuma had spent over N1.5billion on Gabros International Football Club, which has represented and projected the image of Anambra State in the past 15 years without assistance from successive governments in the state,” Onuchukwu submitted. “The government of the state should first and foremost, tender an unreserved apology to Chief Chukwuma for years of neglect before paying him reparation in form of tangible assistance to Gabros International FC,” he demanded.

“About a fortnight ago, Governor Peter Obi splashed over N100million on the quartet of amateur football club, Ikpeazu Redoubtables FC of Onitsha, Rojenny Sports Complex, Oba, Flying Eagles as well as ex-Rangers players, in his efforts to resuscitate and encourage sports in the state, while neglecting Gabros International FC of Nnewi, the only professional football club in the state,” he alleged. Onuchukwu is miffed by the recent reaction of the Governor’s Special Adviser on Sports, Arthur Ebunam, who labeled Gabros’ President, Chief Chukwuma, as an ungrateful person among other uncomplimentary remarks.

“Honestly, it is very shameful for Anambra State government to have reacted the way it did to a very detailed constructive criticism. A listening government should have capitalised on our complaints to gain more popularity by reacting positively instead of trying to cover up with reprisal reactions,” Onuchukwu stated. “Chief Chukwuma is not, and has never been an employee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

He is neither a member of Anambra State Football Association. He has never been involved in any government sports programme directly or indirectly as claimed by the state government. His involvement has been his usual assistance to the state government by allowing the state to make use of Gabros Stadium in Nnewi free of charge, until the recent construction of other stadia in the state,” he stated.

Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday, at the Abuja National Stadium, swore in members of the various boards of National Sports Federation amidst tight security.

The minister, who tasked the new board members, including two editors of The Sun stable, John Joshua Akanji and George Aluo, to reposition sports in the country, also warned that the era of federal government spoon-feeding the federations was over. His words: “After the London Olympics, we came under tremendous pressure to disband all the boards of the sports federations, but we are committed to following due process, and that was why we did not toe the path everyone wanted us to follow.

“We waited till this time to allow the tenure of the former board members to elapse in order to organise elections at the appropriate time. By so doing, we have fulfilled our commitment to the laid down procedures in the interest of democracy. “I must, also, emphasize that in line with the direction we have agreed to follow, the era of spoon-feeding the federations is over. As you take over the responsibility of the sports federations, you have to acknowledge that it is primarily your responsibility to develop the sports you are in charge of,” the minister stated.

Super Eagles’ former coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has urged the handler and the entire Flying Eagles squad to prepare for challenges of making a great impact in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey. Onigbinde said that was the only way to get the best result in the championship as the team is billed to play the former champion, Portugal, Korea Republic and Cuba in group B of the event.

The former handler said in his days as Eagles’ coach, he was never afraid of any big name in the international competition. According to him, it now depends on how coach John Obuh would like to prepare his team for the event. “It is good the team is preparing with tuneup tournament which would put the players in right frame ahead of the tournament proper. The team is scheduled to play Brazil, Portugal and Mexico in a Toulon International tournament later this month “I never panic if my team is drawn against big names in the world football. What I always do is to prepare well for the championship since my opponents are not fielding more than 11 players on the pitch. Flying Eagles should be able to stand up to the billing.

The Under-20 coach should know what to do to scale through the group,”Onigbinde said. The nation’s Under-20 team should better prepare to surpass its runners-up records of Damman Miracle experience of Saudi Arabia 1989 and Netherlands 2005, event, Nigeria won bronze in Russia 1985. Obuh bys struggled to pick the World Cup ticket recently in Algeria at the African Under-20 championship. Observers said the team need a serious technical input to survive the heat of the World Cup.

They battle world champion, Brazil, who incidentally failed to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey next month, on June 4. Their final group game is against Portugal on June 6. Interestingly, the Flying Eagles will open their 2013 World Cup quest on June 21 in Kayseri against the Portuguese. In 2011, Nigeria held Portugal to a goalless draw in Lisbon, before they lost to the same team 2-0 in a pre-World Cup tournament in Panama. Portugal will go on to reach the World Cup final, where she lost to Brazil.

The Flying Eagles will also face Belgium on June 2. Group A has United States of America, Colombia, Congo DR, France and South Korea, who are also in the same World Cup group with Nigeria. The winners of both groups will slug it out in the final on June 8 with the runners-up to battle for the third-place medal. Most of the teams at the Toulon tournament are bound for the World Cup in Turkey.

The Super Eagles will count on their English Premier League stars to lead the way, including Chelsea’s midfielders, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, one of the top wingers in European soccer. In addition, Nigeria has called in two players based in the German Bundesliga, two from Serie A in Italy, two from the Scottish Premier League and two from the Portuguese Liga.

Mexico is expected to release its roster in the coming days. Tickets for the highly anticipated match in Houston, presented by Allstate, are available via www.Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 and at all Houston-area Ticketmaster locations, including all Houston-area Fiesta stores.

The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol invites fans to use their Visa cards. Mexico and Nigeria have met three times with a 1-0-2 record in favour of Mexico. The two teams last met in October of 2007 in an international friendly, with the match ending in a 2-2 tie at the Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.

Media planning to cover the upcoming Mexican national team match against Nigeria can apply for media credentials, using the online form by clicking HERE. The deadline to submit a credential application is Tuesday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. CT. No credential applications will be accepted after the deadline.

Nigerian former international, Tarila Okoronwata, has advised the Super Eagles’ Captain, Joseph Yobo, to quit the national team rather than engage in rancour with the Eagles’ coach. According to Okoronwata, Yobo has served Nigeria well and deserves every honour and needs to leave the stage when the ovation is still loud to avoid being ousted indisgraced.

He, however, advised Nigerians to respect Keshi’s decision on Yobo as he is the man that calls the shots and should not to be distracted. “So long as I am concern, Yobo is no more young and needs not quarrel with anybody if he is not invited to the team, he has paid his dues and I feel it is time for him to hang his boots instead of picking quarrels with his coach for not inviting or for benching him.

What the Eagles need are young players, Yobo, at his age, even though he is experienced may not be able to contend well with young vibrant strikers. The best thing for him to do now is to quit. I am not saying he should quit football entirely, He can continue to play at the club level, but in the national team, he should say farewell and give the young up-coming players a chance to show- case their talents.

“Keshi has been given the Super Eagles’ job and his every decision needs to be respected because he is the one that receives the blame if the Eagles fail and praise when they succeed. So far, he has done well, so he needs all the support rather than distraction. For the World Cup qualifiers, I want to advise the Eagles to be focused.

I believe they would over run Kenya at home despite that she picked a draw here if they could rekindle that spirit they used in winning AFCON, there is no team that would stop them getting the World Cup ticket.

Former African Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke, has charged Super Eagles players to be at their best when they face Kenya and Namibia in the World Cup qualifiers next month. Amuneke in an exclusive chat with Midweek Sports said Nigeria’s qualification would depend on the attitude of the players and how prepared they are to do the country proud.

“They must reflect on the euphoria that their victory in South Africa attracted early this year. Nigerians were happy and showed appreciation when they broke the country’s 19- year-old Nations Cup jinx. They must be prepared to do it again and the only way to achieve result is to play with total commitment,” Amuneke said. Amuneke, who was a member of the Super Eagles squad that won the cup in Tunisia in 1994, said Super Eagles’ qualification for the World Cup would depend on the attitude of the players. Enjoy the full interview:

Agreed you are with the Eaglets, but can we start with the Super Eagles and the busy month of June. Do you see the Eagles qualifying for the World Cup and doing well in the Confederations Cup?

I think we will qualify for Brazil 2014. As Nigeria is the African champion she is condemned to stoke the fire of her game. That will raise the confidence level of our players. However, there is this challenge of playing as champion. Every other team wants to stop you and dethrone you, so the boys must rise to the occasion and play like champions, especially in the game against Kenya.

They must recall the euphoria that followed their victory in South Africa early this year. Nigerians were happy and showed appreciation when they broke the country’s 19-year-old Nations Cup jinx. They must be prepared to do it again and the only way to achieve result is to play with total commitment.

Commitment is the key word here. The players must play with 100 percent commitment, I mean total commitment. It’s easy to blame the NFF, the coaches and all that if anything goes wrong, but the principal actors are the players. They must be ready to deliver on the field of play. They must be ready to be at their best  and give their all. The players must fight with the last drop of their blood. That is the only thing that will guarantee us a Brazil 2014 ticket and a good showing in the Confederations Cup this summer.

Let’s look at the Golden Eaglets. You are one of the coaches, do you think winning silver in Morocco was good enough?

Well, what happened in Morocco was one of those things in football. Considering the way we entered the tournament, expectation was very high after we went 28 games unbeaten. Nigerians thought we would be coming home with the cup. But as I said that is football for you. For me, the most important thing is that we have qualified for the Under-17 World Cup, so we just have to re-evaluate ourselves and see the things we did wrong in Morocco. The two matches we lost to Cote d’Ivoire were eye openers. We have learnt our lesson and I am confident it will help us during the World Cup campaign in UAE. We just need to work very hard and I am glad the boys have realised that they need to sit up.

Beyond Morocco, do you think the boys can in the near future become Super Eagles players?

I can put my money on that. The MRI test has made it possible for us to play with players whose real ages are truly Under-17. The MRI test is a good step that is bringing some sanity into the age grade football in Africa. I know MRI is not 100 percent correct, but it brings us very close to the real age of a player.

We have a set of players, who in the next six years can graduate into the Super Eagles and for us that is key. The essence of these age grade tournaments is to discover players at their tender age and we are doing that in the present Golden Eaglets. And one thing I want to point out here is that we are keeping our doors open to every talented Nigerian player. We have a pool of players and we can draw from that pool. For the World Cup in UAE, we will definitely string changes and go to the competition with the very best.

What is the situation with your pet project, talking about the Emmanuel Amuneke Soccer Academy?

I started the academy in 2007 and I have been trying to do the best I can to encourage the boys. I am using the academy to create a platform for the boys to play professional football. In fact, the whole idea was to get players form age 6 as that is the best age to train the kids in football. But today, we are focusing on 15 to 18 years and trying to develop the game from the grassroots. Putting the boys in an academy helps to develop them on all fronts. I want to see them not just playing football, but becoming responsible citizens of Nigeria.

I understand your team is going to participate in a youth soccer fiesta, the Iber Cup, in Portugal. Can you confirm this?

Yes it is true. We are almost through with our travel plans. I want to thank the organisers for giving us the opportunity to participate. I played my club football in Portugal, so it’s exciting taking my academy there to go and play in a youth tournament. I personally think it is an honour for the organisers to have invited us because that shows they value what I did as a player in their country. I am not taking the academy there to go and win the cup. My desire is to give the boys exposure and that is the whole essence of such tournaments. Playing in Portugal will give the boys opportunity to meet with youths from other parts of the world. I want to use the academy as an avenue to give something back  to the society.

In terms of sponsorship, how has it been. Is the academy getting support from the corporate world?

I must confess to you that it’s been difficult. We have approached many corporate bodies without any luck. But that is not deterring me. I am not in anyway discouraged. But I can look back and say thanks to God for some friends out there who have been helpful. I will keep encouraging the boys and keep the dream of the academy alive.

Boards of federations elections yesterday produced surprises as some former presidents lost their seats, while a good number retained theirs. Prominent among those that lost out are former president of the taekwodo federation, Jonathan Nnaji, as well as the former president of weightlifting federation, Chimdi Ejiogu.

But for incumbents in the athletics, tennis and basketball federations, it would have been a case of continuity as the AFN returned Solomon Ogba, who had to fight over two rounds to defeat his former vice, Honourable Ibrahim Gasau by 7 -3 votes in the second round after tying 5 -5 in the first round of voting.

Tennis federation’s president and NOC’s president, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, were returned unopposed just as Engr. Habu Gumel of the volleyball federation. The IOC member was asked to continue the good work, while Tijani Umar was returned after some elected members walked out. The handball federation was not left out in the continuity race as it returned Yusuf Dauda, who defeated Sam Oche 9-0, while the South-south elected member, Kwashi Thompson, was voted vice president of the federation.

The wrestling federation produced former world and African champion, Daniel Igali, as the new president as he defeated the former president, Edeze Austin, by 7-4. The squash federation produced a new president in Adamu Erena, who defeated Engr. Doyin from the South-west zone. Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Waheed Enitan Oshodi, emerged president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, after defeating two other contestants.

Oshodi scored 4 votes as against 3 votes for Ishaku Tikon and 2 votes for Kayode Abdulwahab- Omotoshe, while cricket produced Emeka Onyema as the new president after defeating Segoe.

Africa has produced many top stars, from Salif Keita to Didier Drogba, with Nigeria’s Victor Moses set to soon join the elite class.

The talented winger has shown great promise with both in Chelsea and the Super Eagles of Nigeria that before long he would be talked about soon be among the continent’s greats.  He was instrumental to Chelsea reaching the final of the UEFA Europa League having scored four goals including two in both legs of the semi-final to see off Swiss side, FC Basel.   He will again be expected to play a big role in tomorrow’s final against Benfica in Amsterdam.

Victor Moses was a catalyst for Nigeria’s success at African Cup of Nations in February so much so that it earned him a place in the team of the tournament alongside three of his fellow countrymen.

Moses was particularly influential in the final game of the group stage where he won two penalties and converted them both as Nigeria recorded a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia to book her place in the knockout phase. Ex-international Garba Lawal said that Victor Moses had all the attributes of a great player, but he must be consistent before he could take his place alongside other African stars.    ”

Victor Moses, no doubt, is a great player with good qualities. He has done well for the national team and Chelsea. We can’t say he has arrived yet as a big star, consistency makes a great star, we need to watch him, if he could keep up the pace for the next two, three years, then he is a star and legend in the making.

He can get there with his display so far,” Lawal remarked.    Another former international, Mutiu Adepoju, said that Moses would grow to become a top star.

“Moses has been doing well for Nigeria at Chelsea, we saw him at the Nations Cup and the game against Kenya, superb display. He has been an instant success at Chelsea even when people asked questions on how he would break into the team,” Adepoju said.

“He only needs to keep doing well and then he will be a sure candidate to be an African great player in nearest future.”

Football agent, Mohammed Lawal, said he expected the Chelsea star to use next year’s World Cup in Brazil to announce his arrival on the big stage of world football.    ”He has settled quickly at Chelsea and should Nigeria qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Victor would use this platform to prove his worth,” he said.

Victor Moses promised a lot right from his early days at Crystal Palace and his performances at the London club did not go unnoticed as several clubs in the English Premier League kept close tabs on him before he eventually landed in January 2010 at Wigan, whose coach Roberto Martinez described the player “a special talent”.

Moses was there for three seasons and becoming an ever-more important player for Wigan in its constant fight against relegation from the top flight.

Moses greater consistency and displays in his third season with Wigan attracted interest from Chelsea, who after a protracted transfer battle signed the Nigerian youngster for £9 million in August 2012. Moses has had to work hard for a place in the starting XI at Stamford Bridge and has been in and out of the team under both Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez, achieving 21 appearances and five goals for the reigning European champions. Moses scored his first goal in his first start for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw with Swansea in the EPL.

Trophies beginning with that of the Europa League on Wednesday will go a long way in enhancing the growing reputation of this one-time political refugee.