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Exclusive: ‘My Problems With NFF Job, Super Eagles Job, Nigerian Players’ –Nwosu Rages

Exclusive: ‘My Problems With NFF Job, Super Eagles Job, Nigerian Players’  –Nwosu Rages

Former Nigeria international and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Green Eagles, Henry Nwosu, is a household name in Nigerian football having played the game from the lowest cadre to the peak before venturing into coaching job.

In this interview with Completesports.com at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Nwosu touched on a variety of issues ranging from the misfortune of his home State’s club, Heartland FC in the 2022 NPFL season, to the Super Eagles players’ poor values and very limited demand in the European transfer market, as well as the intriguing Nigeria Football Federation jobs and Super Eagles’ fortunes.

Interview by CHIGOZIE CHUKWULETA in Owerri.

Excerpts……

Coach, Heartland FC are currently struggling in the relegation zone, battling for survival in the NPFL. What do you think should be done and your word to Imo State government to avoid such sorry situation in future?

Nwosu: It’s unfortunate. Heartland is a team that should not be struggling around relegation zone. Heartland FC are reputed for good football. But unfortunately, we have bad administrators. Allow us get good administrators, good people to administer our sports.

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Don’t put Henry Nwosu there – even though I know the job. Put people that know the job. Put people that know it, that might even know it better so that they can give good result. Look, let’s help ourselves because we are not helping football in this country. If we help football in this country, football will grow.

Not many Nigerian players have been mentioned in the European transfer market. Why do you think they are not attracting major transfer offers like the Nigerian players in the past?

Football no be for mouth. Football na wetin you do with your leg, na him go help you.

Most of our players are not doing too well with football, with their legs. Let them come and play, let them come and show us, let them come and showcase their talents in football. Don’t wait until one journalist is ready to broadcast your name, shout your name everywhere, no no no no. When I played, l didn’t care about any journalist. I did my job because I knew how to do it and l wanted to do it the best way l could do it, and l did it.

What do you think is responsible for the poor situation of many Nigerian footballers today?

Go and ask them, l don’t know ooo. Because my own days na different days. For my own [playing days], l can tell you the problem, it is not the same problem with what is happening today. Today’s players are waiting for journalists to come and help them. I did not wait for any journalist to push me. I played my football – how I play will tell you what to write about me. Come and watch football, you will see what I will do and that will tell you what to write about me.

henry-nwosu-super-eagles-nigeria-football-federation-nff-heartland-npfl-nigerian-players

Henry Nwosu

 

Recently, ex-Nigerian footballers started making bold moves to get into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation and be involved in administering Nigerian football . What is your take on this?

That place [NFF] is meant for one person? That place is not meant for another person. It not meant for Henry Nwosu or Nwosu Henry alone. It is meant for everybody who are eligible to be there. You should know how to go about it for you to be there. l will say, if you know what it takes, be given the chance to run the affairs of Nigerian football. Give us the chance, let’s run Nigerian football and then let’s see how it goes. You had given Nigerian football to mediocres in the past. They have tried, but they didn’t succeed. Let us give it to people that know about football. Men that played football, let’s give it to them and see.

Your colleague Nduka Ugbade had a successful outing with the U-17 recently at the wAFU B U-17 Championship. What is your take on this?

That is what we are saying. Give it to us and let’s see. I, Henry Onyemaizu Nwosu, l will say don’t give everything to football players, don’t. Give and withhold some. If you give everything to football players, you will go begging later. Give them some and keep some and then let’s see how it goes.

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Super Eagles have started well with two wins in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers which garden the hearts of Nigerians. What’s your take on this?

It is good you are seeing your team climbing up, they are coming up. We are happy about it. It is good for us. My trouble is not just the team. My trouble is, are you resuscitating the team? The team has problems, you must take care of the problems. Once those problems are handled, you can then see better things to come.. l can tell you, our team have bright future, but we cannot do it if we don’t take care of the problems around the team.

What are the problems you talked about, and what can be done to resolve them?

Nwosu: You see, it is not a one day thing. It is a case that has been there. They’ve has been there for a long time. They have to work on them. l am a football coach and I know my areas in football when it comes to problems. They should know the areas where they have problems, they should go after them and try to solve the problems.

Is the current technical crew of the Super Eagles competent enough? Can they make the desired success that Nigerians clamour for?

Nwosu: Crew or no crew, that’s not my problem. They [the NFF] know how to solve their problems. They can solve the problems with or without the technical crew. But the thing is that we don’t look inside to see the main problem that we have internally to see how we can solve it.

 

 


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 9
  • He kept saying there are problems and we know that. But for him to mention what the problems are, he no fit….and these are the people clamoring to be at the helm. Because you played football at the highest level (Nwosu, not sure at the highest level) does not make you a good manager.

    • MONKEY POST 2 years ago

      My BROTHER tell me your LOCATION so I can WAYBILL one small RAM to you for SALLAH for this your COMMENT…

      I wanted SAYING (BLASTING) THE SAME THING that you have SAID much EARLIER on, but for the RESPECT I have for some of these EX, I DECIDED to LET GO…

      This is no INTERVIEW atall

      I came here THINKING HE was going to EXPOSE some FACTS but HE kept on mentioning they know the PROBLEM.. I don’t know ooo… Go and MEET them bla bla

      But the GOOD THING about the INTERVIEW is HE SAYING the COUNTRY’S FOOTBALL should be GIVEN to THOSE that KNOW the GAME.

      So APPARENTLY HE is STYLISHLY saying that PINICK and HIS BOYS knows nothing about the GAME which is actually TRUE…

      • Apparently, there a good ones amongst the ex-players that can hold their own managing our football and even then, they have to be properly screened. People like Mike Emenalo and that guy that used to play at Stoke City. At the same time, can they fit in??.. Can they fit in when we factor in their oyinbo mentality. They will be coming from an environment where things work perfectly to an environment where almost nothing works. Oliseh is another one looking at his background, but he will be a disaster…him mouth dey just too big. He talks too much. I will not like NFF to go on picnic again by bringing/electing Pinick back to the helm of our football. Enough of the damages.

        • MONKEY POST 2 years ago

          ENOUGH of the DAMAGES my BROTHER @OLU..

          GOD BLESS you and HAPPY WEEKEND…

          • MONKEY POST 2 years ago

            And PLEASE @OLU you talked about a GUY that use to PLAY @ STOCK CITY..

            WHO please?

          • onwajunior 2 years ago

            Lemme imitate Nigerian sport journalists – Former Nigerian midfielder likened to Patrick Viera… Lol…Olafinjana

          • Michael Emenalo and Seyi Olofinjana…Those 2 guys can do a good job running NFF considering their backgrounds, experience and antecedents. But are ready to run? If they are ready, on what platform?…and will the system give them a chance?…Those are the pertinent questions.

    • chuks 2 years ago

      Where in his interview did he call to be made NFF chairman or coach of the national team. You just enjoy reading articles upside down to satisfy yourself. The man clearly said the problems are internal which needs to be resolved. Everyone need to check themselves. Are you for the progress of the national team or your own selfish interest. What is wrong in Picnic giving Emenalo a chance or Seyi ojofijana a chance to run the teams. But our approach to issues will not even want them to near the national team

  • MONKEY POST 2 years ago

    LOL.. @ONWAJUNIOR Likened to PATRICK VIERA?? Like SERIOUSLY?? OK o.. Thanks anyway.. LOL…

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