Coach John Sam Obuh has expressed his readiness to return to the national team if called upon.
Obuh who had modest achievements with the National U-17 (Golden Eaglets) and U.20 (Flying Eagles) between 2009 to 2013 expressed the desire while answering questions at the PERSONALITY INTERVIEW segment of the FCT Football Update WhatsApp program. He said the experiences he gathered while handling the two teams, stood him out among others.
Quoting his words, the former Kwara United gaffer said ” I have gathered the needed experiences while handling the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles in the past. My experiences of graduating from U.17 to U.20 counts. It can help me if given another opportunity to handle any of the teams”.
The Abia State born tactician who had Coached teams like Niger Tornadoes, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Rangers International and Akwa United said handling the national teams is entirely different from handling club sides “at the national team, your efforts is what is seen. You would not have the opportunity of blaming the referees, fans among others. There would be no encroachment or what have you. Whatever you achieve is between you and your players, and that is what will give you the needed results. National team assignments are for Coaches who would want to work hard and get results at international levels. When you coach at the National level, a lot of people are watching you, and you are carrying the whole country on your shoulder. National team assignments are not for mediocres” he said.
Obuh handled the Golden Eaglets in 2009 when Nigeria hosted the U.17 World cup, and they finished as runner’s up. They were defeated by Switzerland by a lone goal in the finals played at the Abuja National Stadium. He was promoted to the U.20 team in 2011, where they emerged as African champions and finished up as quarter finalists at U.20 World cup in Colombia. They could not go beyond the round of 16 in the preceding edition held in Turkey in 2013.
