Former maverick star and ex-youth international striker, Duke Udi has sent strong words of advice to Super Eagles’ coach, Eric Chelle, telling the Franco-Malian tactician that he must combine his coaching duties with those of a manager for the Nigerian team, Sports247 reports.
Udi further pointed out that, in football matters, the duties of a manager are different from those of a coach, but stressed that Chelle must be able to achieve both in order to succeed with the Eagles.
Udi, who shot to fame while playing for Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, from where he became a major attraction in the ill-fated ‘wobbling and fumbling’ Flying Eagles’ squad of 1995, outlined the differences between managing a team as well as in being a coach.
He expatiated, “A manager is different from a coach. I keep saying it. A manager is somebody who will bring players in with just three days to a match and still prove his point, which is by getting a good result.
“On the other hand, a coach is somebody that will be there to prepare a team for pre-sesson, have a longer time with the players, stay with them week in week out, and do daily activities as a coach. So, if you are bringing in a manager to the national team, you have no problems, because the players are already on ground.”
Udi, who went on to star for Grasshopper FC of Switzerland as well as clubs in Croatia, Russia and Israel, but played only four games with the Super Eagles, pointed out that the advent of Chelle as Nigeria’s latest national team handler should not been seen as a mismatch, considering the gaffer’s wealth of experience.
He, however, tressed that the new man in charge must blend the role of coach with that of manager, and pondered, “Why are Nigerians scared that there is no time for Chelle to settle down and get good results? Chelle is a manager and a coach. He has coached a lot of teams … younger teams. He has coached clubsides, and he has coached national teams.
“So, he’s a part-time coach and a part-time manager. That makes him a manager and a coach. So, there’s no room for any excuse from him that there’s no time. For every national team, there’s no time, because the players spend more time in their clubs. So, if you want to take charge of a national team, you must know you are a manager, but you must also understand that there’s no time in managing a national team.”
Udi rounded off by butressing the roles he expects Chelle to play with the Super Eagles, especially with regards towards getting the best blend for several players who are based in various countries and feature for clubs that have different playing styles.
“The difference between a national team and club is that you will get your players for just three, four days. You then have to prepare the team and still win your match. That’s why you are a manager … just manage the team. These are established players.
“They come from their various clubs with different types of playing styles. Every team in Europe has its own philosophy and style. So, it’s for the manager to bring each style and join them together to suit what he wants.
So, it’s not an excuse to say I don’t have time. If Chelle says so, then he’s not a manager. Why must he manage our national team?” Udi concluded rhetorically.
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Sports247 recalls that Udi, who started his professional career with Concord FC of Abeokuta in 1993, once had a stint as coach with Giwa FC of Jos in 2014; which happened 14 years after he returned home to star in the domestic league with Enyimba of Aba, Julius Berger of Lagos, Kwara United of Ilorin, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Sunshine Stars of Akure, 3SC of Ibadan, Akwa United of Uyo and Niger Tornadoes of Minna, where he retired on 2008.
