Super Eagles and Rangers defender Calvin Bassey has explained why he believes he can play as a striker if given the opportunity.
Bassey was drafted from his preferred left-back position into central defence at Rangers last season.
The youngster was outstanding in his makeshift position, as he helped Rangers to the Europa League final and also the Scottish Cup title.
And speaking on NFF TV, Bassey stated that he will play anywhere even as a striker if he is asked to by his coach.
“In terms of my preferred position for me I just like to play football. Wherever the manager puts me even as a striker, I’m going to go there and give everything I’ve got.
“And sometimes it depends on what my coach wants from me, we’ve seen many players (James) Milner for example, they change his position sometimes he plays centre midfield, sometimes he plays on the left. It just depends who you are playing against and what the manager wants from you.”
Bassey got his first call up to the Super Eagles under former coach Gernot Rohr but never had the opportunity to play.
He eventually made his debut in the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs first leg game away to Ghana in March.
And reflecting on his first invitation to the Eagles, Bassey confessed that he was shocked.
“I was shocked, I couldn’t believe it,” he admitted. “I just felt so privileged and blessed. I thank God everyday because God is our strength. So I just feel blessed and privileged to be here and to represent my great nation.
“Playing for Nigeria, I don’t think I can put into words. We have over 200 million people behind our back everytime we go on to the pitch. And just being able to make the 25 players in the squad representing them is a dream come through. We’ve got important games coming up I just want to help the team anyway I can.”
And on his thoughts about the current crop of players in the Eagles:”One thing you can never doubt with Nigeria is the talent, we have some of the top young talents in the world. We have Chukwueze, Osimhen.
“I know there is always high expectations because we always have talents in the Nigeria squad so we will take each game as they come.”
7 Comments
God bless Eguavoen for capping this lad. What a bold decision. BIG UPS CEREZO. Otherwise na for Rohr bench Southgate for cap you for England.
The guy improved drastically last season. Any other coach should have done the same.
It’s hard for me to credit Eguavoen for anything. Lolz
We all saw Rohr even going to the extent of calling back Ighalo when Dennis and Awoniyi were having a standout seasons last year. We also saw Rohr Calling Jamilu Collins no matter what irrespective of Bassey form.. with Fifa rules of more than 3 international caps and Rohr record of tried and tested. I can almost guarantee that Rohr would have cost us Bassey being a fully fledged SE player!
Mr. Augustine Eguavoen may not be a good coach and I believe, he is not. But he deserves all the credit in the world for capping Calvin Bassey. I have not a scintilla of doubt that Calvin Bassey would have been capped by England these past few weeks either at the senior international level or youth level. One of the things about Nigerian coaches at the national level is that they don’t play mind-games when it comes to capping real prospects. The late Mr. Stephen Keshi did it, so did Mr. Sampson Siasia. With all due respect, foreign coaches seem lukewarm when it comes to that. I mean, when it comes to capping real young foreign-born talents. Mr. Berti Vogts cost us Dennis Aogo when we needed him badly and Mr. Rohr played a role in our losing Eberechi Eze. Our creative mid-fielder woes would have been a thing of the past by now.
@Tony
You don’t need to be a good coach to know how good Bassey is, not to say he is perfect though as there is still room for improvement, exactly why the sky is his limit.
Like you rightly said, England would have called him if we had delayed.
I hope he continues to develop
Williams ekong should please be cast of the team first eleven. He doesn’t bring anything to the defence line if the supper eagle.imagine someone who can’t make the first eleven of Watford FC leading the defence line of our great country Nigeria. It’s absurd.
But for the successive coaches of the team to have stuck with him, means there is somrthing he brings to the table which makes coaches play him. He lost his place in the Watford first 11 because he decided to play at the Afcon. Same thing happened to ola Aina, and that explains why Dennis decided to snub the AFCON.