Westerhof Backs Keshi
for success in Brazil
The former Super Eagles trainer has urged his protege to ensure discipline and unity in his team as a way of excelling at the World Cup
Former Nigeria coach Clemens Westerhof tipped Stephen Keshi’s team to make a big splash at the World Cup in June.
The Dutchman took the Super Eagles to their first World Cup 20 years ago and had Keshi as his captain in a side that won the Africa Cup of Nations and also reached the second round at its debut in the United States of America.
Present coach Keshi has spoken of his admiration for the motivational tactics of the 74-year-old European who has in turn urged his protege to conquer the world in Brazil.
“Nigeria can be among the last four in the World Cup and the time for this is no
. I dream that this is Nigeria’s time and I want Keshi to make the team a family, so that they can play for each other on and off the field, make discipline high so that nobody loses his head, make good preparations and select well. If it goes like this, Nigeria will be among the last four,” Westerhof told reporters.
“You have fantastic goalkeepers. And I tell you, Nigeria has many players in Europe. Not all of them are known to Nigerians but there are many good ones. Keshi can do better than I did. He should. And he can. Nigeria can be among the last four.
“You have many good players but they are silent. Ike Uche is good but he must be a team player. And the boy in Newcastle [Shola Ameobi] can be made strong and made to play behind the central attacker. [Emmanuel] Emenike is strong.
“You must have a strong left footer like [Emmanuel] Amunike or Friday Elaho. You can make the players very fit, very strong and Oyibo is in trouble, I tell you. Then you ensure there’s strong discipline. I dream every time about Nigeria.
“The time for Nigeria is now and I know that Keshi can do it,” Westerhof said.
The Super Eagles reached the last 16 at USA 94 under Westerhof and were undone by two goals from Italy’s Roberto Baggio. Nigeria matched the second round record in 1998 but has since failed to make it past the first round in 2002 and 2010.
Keshi will hope to lead his side beyond the second round in Brazil to eclipse the record set by the enigmatic Dutchman.
Victor Agali, Henry Nwosu, Silvanus Okpala,
Others Storm Ehime-Mbano for Friendly with ASEFF
Ehime-Mbano Sports Stadium will today experience a nostalgic feelings of Nigerian football of 1980’s when the Association of Ex-Footballers and Friends (ASEFF) engages FESTAC All-Stars Club of Lagos in a novelty game to honour the late mother of Logos side President MrsOsuji who was buried on Thursday 3, 2014.
Trumpeta Sports desk gathered that house holed names during the Nigerian Pro League era in the 80’s and 90’s will be on parade for both sides to add glamour to the encounter.
According to the immediate past interim Secretary of ASEFF, Chuks Dike, the FESTAC All-Stars will have in their line-up the likes of Henry Nwosu, SylvanusOpara, Victor Agali, UgochukwuOsuji (President) among many other ex-internationals and league stars.
While ASEFF on their side will parade the likes of MobiOparaku, Godwin Kanu (Papilo), Collins Amadi (Zigma), Neville Okere (President), SunyOpara, Alex Ekwerike, MarcellinusChukwu among others .
It will be recalled that the Alex Ekwerike led interim exco in ASEFF early this year successfully conducted an election and handed over to the current executive being led by Hon Okere who has been pioneering the affairs of the association that brings together ex-footballers and their friends in other to continue chartering a new course for their lives.
The game which will bring the coming together of football friends and opponents in the 80’s and 90’s is for sure a good way of giving FESTAC All-Stars presido’s mother a befitting goodnight rest.
Heartland will turn-out Good -Emetole
Heartland Fc of Owerri gaffer, Kelechi (Caterpillar) Emetoli has stated that the former back-to-back Federation Cup champions will turn out good after all, despite the stuttering beginning of his lads in their recent league outings.
In an exclusive chart with Trumpeta sports head, Coach Emetoli noted that the boys who are relatively new in the top flight have shown enough to buttress the fact that at the end of the league, the Naze-Millionairse will sing better songs adding that both the management and the technical crew of the club have also identified that putting away created chances have been the bane of the young players hence the move for more experienced hands for the attacking section.
On ChineduEfugh (Team Captain) who has been side lined in the last four games but seems ok for the week 5 tie on Sunday, the gaffer was rather economical with his thoughts maintaining that every available factor is being looked at and exploited in a bid to put the teams league campaign on track.
He however assured the darling fans of the side his handling for the fifth time in his coaching carrier that Sundays game against Nasarawa United at the Dan Anyiam Stadium will herald the turning point of the Oriental side, sharing the thoughts of his captain, Chicago. He also called on the fans to always continue supporting the players in every game to bring out the best in them and prayed that God will grant the club Chairman Chief Fan Ndubuoke and General Co-ordinatorOsacarKeke quick recovery after their unfortunate motor accident recently.
We Can Still Reclaim Owerri
they have a free reign, and litter the town with left-overs from their wares.
And again, the various uncompleted roads and roundabouts by the Okorocha administration have worsened the environmental situation of Owerri city.
Much as I commend Okorocha for the various roads under construction, but policies are implemented to produce results and create benefits for the poor masses, not for grandstanding.
Therefore, what would it benefit Imo state if the Government embarks on construction of all roads at the same time yet none can be said to have been completed and commissioned after three years?.
For instance, all the major roads in Owerri; Orlu road round-about, Akwakuma fly-over round-about, IMSU round-about, Emmanuel College round-about have all remained uncompleted for years now, yet other new projects are just being started. Like the bridge being constructed by direct labour at Nwaorie River now.
What I am saying is that it would have been better for Owelle Okorocha and Imo people to finish the strategic roads and their roundabouts, get them done with so that Imo people can record those ones as completed. The major roads under construction for nearly three years now, with its attendant sufferings on motorists is not good for Owerri and its visitors.
A friend of mine, Chief Aductus Onuoha, a die-hard follower of Okorocha told me that all the projects would be completed, as what Okorocha is doing now is construction; construction; construction;. According to Onuoha, the time will come for “commission, commission, commission”.
But I known that all over the world, even in families, responsibilities are taken one after the other, so that you tick each one done. Was it not Economists that developed the theory of scale of Preference and Opportunity Cost, where you chose items one after the other, than take all and achieve nothing?.
Having said that, Imo people should tell their next Governor, be it Okorocha or any other person, that Owerri has gone beyond Okigwe and Wethral roads. Heavens will not fall if Imo Government House is relocated to its permanent site at New Owerri, which will decongest the old Owerri, as the crowd that troop to Douglas House everyday can now move to new Owerri, which will also lead to rapid expansion and development of entire Owerri.
Also, every Governor should go through the policy of his predecessor and continue with those accepted by the masses, fine-tune them and continue the work.
If you go to Fire Service Police Station gate, all the trees that took the state years to plant and nurture have been cut down. Why?
Trees are important to Ecosystem. Have you visited Kano, Kaduna or Zaria before? When I was in Zaria, I trek from Tuduwada to Wusasa (General Gowon’s home) by foot. A distance of about four kilometers. You don’t feel it because you walk under big trees planted by Ahmadu Bello. This was what I saw in Calabar.
If we throw away politics of vengeance, pride and ego in Imo we can still reclaim Owerri. If we follow good plans initiated by our predecessors despite who he or she is, we will reclaim Owerri. If Okorocha’s free education is working, it will be stupid for his successor to drop it. It does not matter if he does not like Okorocha’s face, what matters is Imo people.
In Akwa Ibom, nearly all Governor Godson Akpabio is doing was initiated by his predecessor Obong Victor Atta, a renowned Architect. And Akpabio is today taking the glory for bringing them to fruition.
Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos is following the good foot steps of his predecessor, Bola Tinubu, and Lagos is the better for it.
Liyel Imoke is pursuing the “road-map” left behind by Donald Duke and Calabar is glimming.
In Imo state, we throw the Baby away with the bath water because of politics of personal ego, than for the good of the masses.
These are the things militating against the expansion of Owerri. Ndubuis Kanu left us with Owerri Master-Plan, yet we are chasing shadow. For how long will this politics of destroy your predecessor, and non continuity in Imo last? Anyway, Calabar cheerio! For now.
