Former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has advised Nigeria on how she can win the 2018 World Cup, advising the federal government to invest in Super Eagles.
He said that Enyimba winning the African Champions League back to back when he was in charge in Abia State was not magic but an outcome of good strategies.
He said the motivation of players and the entire team must be key, stressing that players would give the best if they are well handled.
Kalu said, “People don’t know that the coach you see when you are watching football is not the same coach you will see after 90 minutes. When they are on the pitch, they are no longer human beings. They are thinking about consequences of losing, their salaries, benefits, where else to get a job and so forth”.
Kalu indeed tipped the Super Eagles to lift the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
According to him football is a big business insisting that if the Super Eagles is in good shape, Nigeria can make history in 2018.
The former governor said “If we are given the opportunity we can bring the cup to Nigeria. We have the material; we have everything to do it. We have the people, we have the resources. It is just applying it at the right place.
“We can do it if President Muhammadu Buhari sets his mind on it. Nigeria can come back with the World Cup, this is not the first time I am saying it, we can do anything in soccer. It might sound impossible but it is very possible. I am sure most Nigerians will be very happy to see Nigeria return with the World Cup”.
Asked why Enyimba still lack structure and stadium of their own despite winning the Champions League back to back, he said “the issue of running football can be expensive. We ceded the stadia we built to Enyimba. I don’t know why my successor reverted that decision. We were trying to set Enyimba back to stock market. We even called the BGL at that time to access how we can go to stock market. We were at the edge of sealing it before I left the government and I thought my successor would complete it but it was abandoned. But it is still possible.
“Now, Enyimba is playing away from home and I am advising Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to do everything possible to return Enyimba to their ground. They need to be in Aba. Aba is their base and I don’t see reasons why they should not play from there”.
Continuing, he said, “I built two stadia when I was governor, Aba was a playing ground and I converted it to be a stadium with a capacity to carry people . Also I built a new stadium in Umuahia. It is important Enyimba is returned because it will have positive psychological effect on both the players and supporters.
Kalu also commended the Enugu Rangers International club for their strive so far, saying the club would go farther if the managers and players do their job with passion.
“Enugu Rangers can also perform magic, mind you, in the old Rangers have already done mehala – wahala.
“So Rangers can reinvent the mehala – wahala in Enugu again. I have a lot of respect for Enugu Rangers. It is one of the teams that I have always thought to be up there. But I believe with good pushing, they might be able to keep soaring. But the handlers and the leaders must be passionate, football is all about being passionate about it.
Kalu, who was once tipped for FIFA Presidency disagreed with those that holds coaches’ decision as best.
He said coaches should never be left to make decisions alone because, according to him, when they make decisions, sometimes it is very wrong.
“Once they are on the line, it is a different ball game. This is why journalists were criticizing me that when I was governor, I use to be on the line. I use to do the coach’s job. They don’t know my state of mind is different. I think better than the coaches at that period. This is why I was doing the changes in Enyimba. And also hiring and buying the players myself. So, it takes a lot to build a football club. People must be honest both the holder and the beholder” he said
He also denied wanting to contest for FIFA Presidency or CAF Presidency when asked about his future shots in football leadership.
He disclosed that it was people that were prevailing on him to contest.
“I met with Amaju pinnick many times. In fact, I was supposed to be chairman of NFF and pinnick my deputy. There is no job I cannot do in football whether it is at club level, regional or world level. My mind is always prepared to serve in any capacity because I love football like food. I love it like Dodo , moimoi, akpu or amala”, he stated .
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