Former Super Eagles Mid-fielder, Garba Lawal, on Thursday cautioned the Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, over non-inclusion of Ike Uche and Osaze Odemwingie in the 2014 World Cup plan.
Keshi it was reported has excluded Uche and Osaze from the world cup squad because of “indiscipline’’.
Lawal in Abuja said that Keshi’s reason for sidelining Uche, a striker who had scored 12 goals for his club, Villarreal, was “flimsy”.
“When you say ‘indiscipline’ it contains many things. How come he scored 12 goals in Villarreal.
“I have been following this boy week in, week out; he is fantastic.
“I believe he (Keshi) can change him (Uche) because the striker is playing well.
“World Cup is very different but I don’t know how the coach thinks. If your players are not playing week in, week out in world champion year, it’s going to be difficult.
“Ike Uche that is playing week in, week out is who the coach says is undisciplined which I don’t understand,’’ Lawal said.
He urged Keshi to devise another means of instilling discipline in the players rather than excluding them from important tournaments such as the World Cup Final.
Lawal, who is also a member of the NFA Technical Committee, noted that the onus lies on Keshi to do well, saying Nigerians expect the Eagles to excel.
“He is the coach; he decides for himself. If he decides to go with all the home-based players, you can’t say ‘No’. That’s why he is the coach. He takes the decision and it’s final.
“You can only advise him, if he takes fine. If he doesn’t take it fine. Even the NFA board is to advise him but not to say ‘you must call this, you must call that’.
“If you appoint him as a coach, you have to allow him to do his job. He has to take responsibility because he chooses his players, himself,’’ he added.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group F with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup scheduled to take place between June 12 and July 13. (NAN) Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I read something from your report here about Uche not Osaze, so why is Osaze name and picture screaming in your headline?
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