Former youth international, Jide Oguntuase has sent a passionate appeal to top shots of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the home-based Eagles together in camp and avoid disbanding the team.
Speaking against the backdrop of the postponement of this year’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN) until August, Oguntuase, who is now a licensed coach, reckoned that it would be counter-productive to disband the squad.
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Rather than see the CHAN Eagles sent home because of the competition’s shift in date, Oguntuase, who has worked with Gazimba FC of Lagos and Osun United of Osogbo in the lower league, reasoned that the players should remain in the national camp and only rejoin their clubs for weekend matches.
The former dazzling winger added in an interview with sports247.ng, “Although CHAN has been postponed till August, I still want the NFF to keep the boys in camp. They should continue training day in, day out. On Saturdays, they can go to their clubs and play for their various teams, then report back on Sundays.
“That would help them a lot. That was how we did it when we were camped for the national team. I am very sure that it will help our home-based Eagles bring glory back to Nigeria and the cup.”
Oguntuase, who has also worked as an assistant coach with Lagos State’s team for the National Sports Festival, buttressed his view with a number of benefits he believes would accrue to the players, coaches and B-squad as a whole once the NFF agrees to keep it intact.
He added: “They should not disband the team, but they should keep them together intact in camp. They should continue playing friendly matches day in, day out to keep them in form. With that, the coaches will be able to see one or two new talents to add to the team and beef up the squad.
“That’s what I expect from the Nigeria Football Federation. They should not disband the team. This should not be an issue of disbanding the team now, then bringing them back some months to the competition. That would not be okay for us.
“Long-term camping will help the boys. They will gel very well and be able to understand one another better. All the mistakes will be checked by (the team’s coaches, Daniel) Ogunmodede and (Fidelis) Ilechukwu. They will be able to touch all the loose aspects,” Oguntuase submitted.
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