Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has denied reports that he rated Ovie Ejaria better than Ebere Eze and that he has mandated the Nigeria Football Federation to get the former into his team immediately, reports Completesports.com
Ejaria and Eze, born by different Nigerian parents are still eligible to play for the Super Eagles though they have both featured for England at the U-20 and U-21 levels.
The duo are been courted by the NFF to switch allegiance and feature for the Super Eagles at the senior level.
However, reports emerged recently in some section of the media that Rohr would prefer to have Ejaria in his team instead of Eze.
The German tactician has however come out to deny the claim in strong terms and insists it is not his tradition to compare players.
“My attention has been drawn to some statements online that I have described Reading FC player Ovie Ejaria as a better player than Queens Park Rangers’ Ebere Eze and so the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) should get him in the team immediately,”reads a quote credited to Rohr on the official Twitter handle of the NFF on Wednesday.
“This is totally false and very disrespectful to both players. I never compare players and I have not asked the NFF to make any approach for the player in question.
“I will never ask the NFF publicly to approach any player for our team. We have our processes and it certainly doesn’t include sharing such information publicly.
“Furthermore I think there must be restraint in press statements purportedly quoting me and my person in terms of interviews.
“I share a very good relationship with the media in Nigeria but this must not be abused to the extent of misquoting me and making wrong claims about my person.”
8 Comments
Rohr should do more to improve the defence and he should stop inviting akpeyi.
We have heard you Oga Rohr. Thanks for the clarifications.
Please think twice about both players.
That Ejaria is a genius player. If they wanted to say now, they will say omo9ja is talking nonsense but today,
Oga Rohr have heard my voice about this Ejaria again. From Aribo to Ejeria. God, I thank you o.
Aribo and Ejeria, Oga Rohr, omo9ja deserves an accolade from you o.
Those people that are scouting for you didn’t see these two players before me but I thank God for my achievements so far and by God’s grace, I promise to get you more players in 2020.
Ejaria should be ready to play for Nigeria. I can’t wait to see the return of Kanu.
My concern is, his pattern of play may not suits Oga Rohr style.
That reminds me of Rabiu Ibrahim. Nigerian coaches wasted his talent.
How about Musa Muhammed? Musa is still playing. I think e played over the weekend.
What of African Buffon?
If Oga Rohr know that he is not going to use Ejaria, he should leave the guy alone jęję o.
That Agbo issue is still fresh in our minds.
For Eze, we can’t false him to play for Nigeria.
For now, Nigeria need young world class goalkeepers which I’m going to try to scout for more goalies.
Oga Rohr, you are welcome back home.
We patriotic Nigerians are here to help you succeed and if you keep listening to us, you will never regret it.
God bless Nigeria!!!
The rant of someone that has failed in achieving his goals, now only struggling to have a voice,just so he can be seen as relevant; characterized by the usage of the ‘I n me words”.Please stop making a fool of yourself. The few that used to respect you are fast backing off. Ejaria was first brought to Rohrs notice by John Ogu personally and again almost every Nigerian football fan has been following his progress after he missed out of that 2013 golden eaglets.
@glory, u dey mind that clown?
Lol Glory, the dude never ceases to amaze! Omo komo is highly gifted when it comes to claiming credit that does not belong to him. He will soon start asking us to thank him for putting food on our table and paying our bills! Hahahahahaha!
Na owngoalnigeria.com like to dey spread all this false news’!!!
https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2019/12/06/rohr-disagrees-with-pinnick-on-ebere-eze-switch-target-to-ovie-ejaria/
I have seen Nze play a few times. He is very skillful, can control a game like Okocha, and scores goals. 9 or so already for a midfielder. Very good number. There is no current Eagles player quite as skillful and controlling. I certainly would want him to play for NIGERIA.
If Ejaria is as good as some have stated in the comments here, then he also would be a useful addition to the Eagles.
Can both be played together, or just one in any match? Too soon to tell. We are not even sure that either can fit into the style of football Rohr wants to play. The certain fact is that more promising footballers eligible to play for Nigeria are coming up. That should be good for Nigeria, if players can be harmonised.
This Ovie story has been around for quite a long time.
I remember reading an article on thisisanfield.com which was written over 3 years ago in which Amaju Pinnick was quoted as saying:“As for Ovie Ejaria, I talk with his father often, he just called me recently.
These are people we have met and they are all excited about Nigeria.
I am yet to see a Nigerian that regrets being a Nigerian. Even if they have four or five passports, they are always excited to be Nigerians.
I can assure you that we shall get them to play for us at the appropriate time.” End of quote.
Yes, at the appropriate time, the appropriate players will elect to play for Nigeria.
Two things really pissed Gernot Rohr off about this story: 1)he claims to have been misquoted and 2) he berates the lack of professionalism exhibited in claiming that he compared Ovie and Eze.
We live in an era where dual nationality players are being rumoured at one time or the other to be electing to play for Nigeria. This is now at an unprecedented rate if you compare with the same period 10 years ago.
Whilst there is nothing wrong in trying to secure the best legs to play for Nigeria, stories like the one in the article above make a mockery of the whole issue.
At the appropriate time,the right dual nationality players will elect to play for Nigeria. Fabricating news doesn’t help our international football image.
Media men, stop it!