Former Super Eagles dare-devil striker, Julius Aghahowa, has joined millions of Nigeria soccer fans in wishing the team well ahead of the FIFA World Cup holding in Russia in June.
Speaking exclusively to The Point, he said despite the 0-2 loss to Serbia in an international friendly recently, the team would still rise to the occasion when hostilities begin in Russia.
“As a patriotic Nigerian and an ex-international, I expect the Super Eagles to perform very well despite the loss to Serbia in a friendly recently. Our soccer fans always want Nigeria to lift the trophy in any tournament they are involved in, so the expectations are high on Eagles to deliver at the Mundial in Russia.
“Frankly, I want Nigeria to go all the way to the finals, though I know that it is a difficult tournament because it is the biggest football event on earth, which every good player in this planet would want to feature in.
“Our players have done very well from the qualifiers to the friendlies they are now playing and my expectation is that they should step up their games so that, we will have a good outing at the Mundial,” he said.
When asked to take a look at any department of the team that deserves attention, Aghahowa added, “You know the Super Eagles have their handlers and it will not be proper for an ex-player like me to begin to tell them this player is not doing well or this position lacks good players to attend to it. All the players in the current Super Eagles set-up are doing well but they need the coaching crew to direct them well in real match situation.
“I have read in many tabloids that we have issues with the goalkeeping department, but I’m sure the handlers are working hard to rectify the problem before the Mundial”.
Aghahowa further told The Point that he had not made up his mind to go into coaching since retirement, but was quick to open up on his plans for Nigerian football.
“Well, I am not doing much for now because I’m not actively playing football as at before. But I’m doing a lot of personal business now, but by the side, I want to give back to the society that made me what I am through football. I want to do as much as I can to help young talented footballers to come up as well.
“Also, for now, I’m not ready to go into coaching because of the way and manner coaches are being treated in Nigeria. Proprietors of clubs are not patient with coaches because they want coaches who will give them instant results. See what has happened to Austin Eguavoen and even Duke Udi, which is sad.
“Sacking of coaches indiscriminately does not happen like that abroad. If you have a contract, your employer will allow you until it runs out, but here, the reverse is the case,” he stated with a tinge of regret.
Aghahowa further explained why he agreed to be the Patron of Oasis Football Academy of Lagos.
“The most important thing about grassroots football is the plan and structure the club or academy is having and when you look at people that are involved in Oasis Football Academy, you don’t have a choice than to come in and support them.
“When I saw the fantastic plans they have on ground for future players, I really have to come in and support them. Whenever I am in the country, I always come around during their trainings and see how they are doing and encourage those players that are doing well in the Academy.”
On his failure to organise a testimonial match to mark his retirement from football as was done by other notable ex-internationals like Kanu Nwankwo and Joseph Yobo, he said, “You all know how my career began, from the Flying Eagles to the Olympics, then to the Super Eagles. I have come to realise that people identify more with captains of the national team in these testimonial matches on retirement.
“I feel I have been in the limelight for some decades due to my engagement with football, so this is the best time to go and enjoy my private life. That is why I have not bothered for any testimonial match to sign me off from the game that brought me fame.
“Perhaps one day, I will still come out of my shell and contribute my quota to Nigerian football by mentoring upcoming players as we are doing in Oasis Football Academy.
“I’m currently partnering with Friday Nwankwo Kujah in the ‘Kick to Glory’ academy challenge that will help throw up a lot of talented footballers from the grassroots.
“I am also working with Big Money Entertainment, owners of ‘Scratch and win’ card. You just buy the card for N100 and you stand a chance to win a ticket to Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and even win other cash incentives. As I speak, people are already winning cash up to a million naira and this is a way of giving back to the society.
“At times I’m invited to schools for soccer clinics when I’m in the country, so these are ways I am giving back to the society.”
Aghahowa also spoke on his personal assessment of football development in Nigeria and why we have not got replacements for Rashidi Yekini, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi and himself since their retirements from football.
“I cannot say football development is going down in the country, no! What we are lacking is the structures or facilities which will allow football development to thrive because we have the players who are ready to play. We seriously lack football facilities for our upcoming players; no pitches and facilities for these grassroots players to showcase themselves. This sad situation has led to some of these upcoming players going into other vices or crimes because they do not have playing facilities to help showcase their talent.
“On why we are yet to get replacements for the players you mentioned, it is because we have not given our grassroots players the opportunity to showcase their talent. We have these dare-devil strikers, it is just for football agents or administrators to scout and fish them out. Good strikers are at the grassroots waiting to be discovered by agents. They need platforms so that they can be discovered.
“Secondly, we need a strong football structure that can help agents to discover players in the remote villages of Kano State for example. We do not have these structures and this is militating against football development in Nigeria.
“Just look at Oasis Football Academy, we are into this business to help discover good players for our great country Nigeria from the grassroots. I can assure you that in a few years time we shall produce great players Nigerians will be proud of and correct this anormally in our football development,” he concluded.
