By Lekan Olaseinde
The pioneer chairman of the defunct Nigeria Standard Football Club of Jos, Mr. Clement Oluwole, has attributed the stunted growth of Nigerian football to lack of clear-cut philosophy and direction.
He made the observation on Friday during an interactive session he had with the technical crew of the Flying Eagles at their FIFA Goal Project training ground on Friday in Abuja.
The soccer administrator and analyst warned that a football nation that lacks philosophy was embarking on a voyage into the dark and was bound to stumble on its route.
He recalled that way back in the 70s, Nigeria had a tradition that endeared its football to rest of the continent, noting that the 4-3-3 formation with emphasis on wing play paid off when the Green Eagles clinched the bronze at the 1976 Nations Cup in Ethiopia and in 1980 in Nigeria
Oluwole observed that the transition of Manu Garba (MFR), along with Nduka Ugbade (MON), who guided the U-17 to win the 2013 World Cup Finals, last year, to the Flying Eagles was a welcome development, adding “it does not really matter whether the transition was by design or by accident.
“I strongly believe that the philosophy and tradition your head coach imbibed when he was the assistant head coach of the U-17 squad that won the championship in South Korea in 2007 under the late coach Yemi Tella paid off at the last tournament held at the United Arab Emirates 2013.
“It is my firm conviction that this continuity will not only guarantee victory for the team as you prepare for the African U-20 qualifiers for Senegal 2015 but also secure you the cup at New Zealand 2016 for the first time in the annals of the championship.”
The football technocrat, who delighted the crew members with the revelation that his tenure as the chairman of the Jos-based club produced six regular players for the Green Eagles and six for the Flying Eagles in the 70s and 80s, later presented copies of his book to them, which was a compilation of his sports commentaries written when he was sports editor of the Standard Group between mid-75 and early 80s.
Among the products, he said, were the late Okey Isima/ Bala Ali (both late), Arthur Ebuna, Sunday Daniel, ‘keepers Tunde Adedara/Mike Ekpeyong, Bernard Ogbe and Shola Popo.
Responding on half of the crew, assistant coach of the team, Nduka Ugbade, thanked Mr. Oluwole for the visit and his inspirational remarks.
He particularly noted the observation he made about continuity and the need for a soccer philosophy which should be the guiding light for the Nigerian football at all levels.
“We look forward to more of this visit because we can tap from your wealth of experience as we aspire to greater heights,” he said.
