Daily Independent (Lagos)
19 May 2011
Ex-international and member of Nigeria Football Association technical committee Victor Ikpeba has thrown his weight and that of the committee behind coach Siasia’s decision to axe Osaze Odemwegie.
He said the decision though entirely that of the coach was necessary for discipline to rain in the national team.
“It all about discipline; I don’t know what you say but if a player walks out on the team and the coach has not yet heard from him, that is what it comes down to. And I think this is a new dawn to Nigeria football and for this generation of players. If there is no discipline in the team, there is no way you can succeed. This is the decision of the coach and I want you people ( media) to support that decision. A tree does not make a forest” stated Ikpeba.
He maintained that as one of the senior players in the team that Osaze has more responsibility to show example to the young ones.
” Good, he has had a fantastic season with Westbrom; but he is one of the older players in the team so he has to show example. Nobody is happy that he is not there but that is the decision of the coach and the collective resolve of the technical crew. Like what the coach said he has not heard from him since and I think everybody should respect that decision.”
“Everybody has been clamoring for discipline, the media has been clamoring for discipline, is that not so?” queried the former African footballer of the year.
As a body he said the technical committee has nothing to do with the decision, just as it is not their responsibility to tell the coach who should be invited to the national team. The decision to select players he said is that of the coach but added the technical committee is there to support the decision of the coach.
” Like Siasia said, he has not heard from the players and we are there to support him” summed Ikpeba.
AllAfrica – All the Time
See original article:
Nigeria: Ikpeba, NFA Technical Committee Backs Siasia On Osaze