6:20 PM
Super Eagles handler, Shaibu Amodu, says he’s rendering himself as a sacrificial lamb for Nigeria’s possible 2015 Nations Cup qualification. Shedding more light on why he accepted to embark on rescue mission for the national team, Amodu said he was taking a risk to restore fledging hopes of Nigerian football.
“It’s has now become a recurring decimal for me to be recalled on a rescue mission. I hope my coming would be for the last time. I hope it is going to be the last bus stop because this is not an easy way of coming back.
“I am not supposed to be celebrating. I am not even excited about it. I am only being patriotic, and it would make or mar me. The hallmark of any successful man is to take risks. That is why I’m taking this risk for my country, “ he said.
Amodu had been mandated to get six valid points for Nigeria when Super Eagles travel to Congo on November 15 and South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State four days later.
Amodu, who recently replaced the sacked Stephen Keshi on an interim deal, believes that there must be a way to win the two outstanding matches next month. He specifically hopes that the match against Congo would pave the way for Nigeria’s qualification to next year’s Afcon.
“The match against Congo is more important to Nigeria, and we would do everything to win the match. If we lose to the Congolese, there would be no point talking about the last game against South Africa because we would no longer be able to qualify,” Amodu revealed.
Amodu’s first four stints as Eagles coach saw him mastermind successful qualifications for the Super Eagles to the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.
He was however sacked before both tournaments with the NFF opting for Adegboye Onigbinde and Lars Lagerback respectively. The NFF has since made it clear that Amodu is on a two-game agreement which means that he will be asked to leave in November even if he successfully guides Nigeria to the 2015 Afcon in Morocco.
Amodu is making his fifth return to Super Eagles following his first crack at the job in 1994.
Amodu who started football career as a striker, had played for Dumez and Niger Tornadoes in his playing days. His career ended after he broke his leg. He later made history with a Gboko-based club, BCC Lions when he won a continental trophy with the club as a coach. He also coached clubs like El-Kanemi Warriors and Shooting Stars; before moving to Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
He first managed the Nigerian national team from April 2001 to February 2002. He later stated that his dismissal was “unfair”, and also said that, a month later, he had yet to receive a formal letter confirming his dismissal. He was re-appointed manager in April 2008. In December 2009 the Nigeria Football Federation stated that Amodu was under pressure,] and in January 2010 there was speculation about his future. He was sacked in February 2010
Amodu was appointed technical director of Nigeria’s national teams in May 2013. He was re-appointed Nigeria manager in October 2014.] It was his fifth spell in charge of the country
According to Amodu, the most important thing for a coach is to stay focussed and keep an eye on the final goals – the end justifies the means in most cases in football.
cropped from mydailynewswatchng
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