Former Super Eagles’ striker and assistant coach, Daniel ‘Da Bull’ Amokachi has posited that, in order to excel, the Nigerian national needs players who grew up ‘on the streets,’ sports247.ng reports.
Although the ex-international striker, who was fondly called ‘Amo Taxi’ during his days with Everton of England, acknowledged the vast reservoir of talent currently available in the Eagles, he stressed that most of the lads do not play with their heart.
While singling out Galatasaray of Turkey hitman, Victor Osimhen, Amokachi added that growing up in poverty at the ghetto and struggling on the streets is a good factor in moulding footballers that are hungry for success.
Amokachi expatiated thus: “Most of us earlier Super Eagles’ players came from the gutter. We played on the streets and started our lives on the streets.
“We are happy that we found ourselves where God blessed us to be. But, for this generation, you can only pick one, two, three players that struggled through hard times.
“Victor Osimhen, though, is one of us, because he was a hawker on the streets. He sold water and had to run after buses for people to buy what he was selling.
“You still see that running in him when he’s playing. You can see the zeal in him which says, ‘I don’t wanna go back to that suffering.’
“He will keep telling himself, ‘I am happy that God has blessed me with this platform that is helping me and my family.’ That will make him play out his heart all the time.”
Amokachi, who earlier played for Club Brugge of Belgium and Besiktas of Turkey at the height of his career, also recalled how he met Nigerian legend, Rashidi Yekini while growing up in Kaduna.
“Also in that class of fighters on the pitch, may his soul rest in peace, was Rashidi Yekini,” recounted the outspoken former player who went on to become a television pundit.
“I still remember a time when I jumped over the fence of a stadium to watch a match, and I saw Rashidi Yekini playing for a team called UNTL – United Nigeria Textile Limited FC. They beat KTL 13-1, and Rashidi alone scored nine goals.
“They were sexy goals – not just tap-in; but with speed, good shooting, and fitness. At that point, I just fell in love with Rashidi Yekini.
“In the long run, the way the good Lord wanted it, I was together with Rashidi Yekini at a young age in the national team.”
The enterprising former attacker, who is remembered mostly for his breathtaking goal against Greece at USA ’94 FIFA World Cup, concluded with nostalgia about his grand days with the Eagles, but lamented how the squad’s current set of players do not put their heart into national team matches.
“I get goosebumps every time I think about my days in the Super Eagles. It was amazing to be among the two strikers that paired Rashidi Yekini – because I idolised him.
“Unfortunately, there’s now an immigration in the Nigerian team, because most of them are not from the ghetto. They don’t know the pain of how to struggle and suffer.
“They have the talent, but they don’t have that heart which tells you, ‘this is my country, this is where I come from.’ That is a big minus for us,” Amokachi submitted emphatically.
