Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, seems to have played into the bad books of many soccer-loving Nigerians once more, with debate raging over his 'usual habit' of using flimsy excuses to deny the nation of his services. His failure to train with other teammates despite arriving Abuja for the international friendly match against Botswana last weekend has pitched him against top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on one hand and the team's technical crew on the other side. On their part, a majority of the fans say they have had enough of this 'nonchalant and disrespect attitude' of Mikel, who, according to them, should be 'swept aside' if Stephen Keshi is actually serious about re-building the national team, writes GOWON AKPODONOR.THE voice of the people, they say, is the voice of God. This, perhaps, explains a point raised by Nigerian football fans, who were unanimous in calling for an end to the cat-and mouse relationship between the Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel.On several occasions, Mikel had stretched the patience of the fans by 'disrespecting' his country, even when his seniors rushed to honour national calls. This time around, the fans are saying enough is enough.Speaking on a radio programme monitored in Lagos yesterday, majority of the fans said it was high time the NFF called 'Mikel's bluff, claiming that the player had shown through his 'many flimsy excuses' that he has no time for the country's football any more.From Surelere to Oshodi, Ikeja, Ajegunle, Ketu, Victoria Island, Mushin, Festac and neighbouring towns around the city of Lagos, the fans used the opportunity of the radio programme to voice their anger on Mikel.In his analyses, Innocent Ikechuckwu, who called from the Spare Parts Market in Owode Onirin near Mile 12 area of Lagos, simply said that though Mikel has the potential for greatness, 'he is fast playing into self destruction.'He added: 'I don't see any reason why the NFF should continue to waste time extending invitations to him (Mikel) because he has shown that he loves Chelsea more than his country. It is not the first time and from the look of things, Mikel will continue to treat national invitations with disrespect. This is sending dangerous signals because if care is not taking, other players will follow his footstep. If the present technical crew, led by Keshi, must succeed in the re-building process, then a player like Mikel should be told in clear language to stay away from the Super Eagles. We have to call a spade a spade.'In his contribution, Taiwo Ajani, who called from Ajah said: 'If all Nigerian players are like Mikel, by now nobody would be bothering to watch the Super Eagles. His continuous invitation to the national teams is of no relevance and I will support any disciplinary action taken against him by the NFF and Stephen Keshi.'I remember vividly sometime ago when a row erupted between the Sani Lulu-led board of the NFA and Chelsea after Mikel claimed that he had a hamstring injury and would not be able to play for Nigeria in one important game against Uganda. I also remember then that NFA complained to FIFA, which mandated Chelsea to release Mikel for an independent assessment by Nigeria's doctors. The club refused because it was so clear that Mikel was playing a hide and seek game with Nigeria. Mikel has cultivated this 'bad attitude' of not showing commitment to the national team. So why not allow the NFF and Keshi to show him the way out' If this re-building process must work, people like Mikel should not be allowed to hold the country to ransom.'Nobody is bigger than his country and the earlier we let people like Mikel know this, the better for our football. It is obvious that Mikel has willfully chosen to follow the path led by players like Tarila Okorowanta and Etim Esin. The days of Etim and Okorowanta are gone and we don't want somebody who would remind us of those dark moments of our football.'Others, who spoke yesterday also called on both the NFF and Keshi not to waste time in 'weeding' Mikel out of the national team for the progress of Nigerian football. However, a few cautioned against it, saying that the player should be made to understand the consequences of his action. They warmed him, though, to understand that ignoring his country would have negative impact on his club career.For these soccer-loving Nigerians, Mikel should be one of the stars Keshi should build the team around. However, many are mindful of the fact that most problems he have faced so far in his career (both for country and club) are self-inflicted.'Most times, the young lad (Mikel) would appear looking sober and innocent each time he indulges in such wicked acts,' the Proprietor of Cable Soccer Academy, Edwin Onovwotafe, told The Guardian on phone from Delta State yesterday.'Every time he comes up with his flimsy excuses, I begin to look back to his days in the Flying Eagles under coach Samson Siasia in Holland 2005. He has grown so big and important that he now dictates for Nigeria. Someone should tell Mikel that the country made him what he is today and not Chelsea. He is indirectly destroying his football career.'The Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF, Chris Green, was quoted as saying yesterday that only Keshi would decide Mikel's fate in the Eagles, if it turned out the player had not been truthful in his injury claim.He said: 'Keshi is in charge of the team, we can only assist him. We don't intend to interfere in the relationship between him and his players. Keshi will take his decision on Mikel on the advice of the medical team, which will determine whether the injury was enough to stop him from playing for Nigeria. The NFF won't play a role in that decision.'Keshi may be waiting patiently for tomorrow's English Premier League game between Chelsea and Liverpool to make up his mind on Mikel. He had earlier in the week dared Chelsea to pick 'injured' Mikel for the game against Liverpool, saying that he will be 'very, very disappointed' if they did that because the midfielder (Mikel) stayed away from Nigeria's friendly matches against Botswana and Zambia claiming that he was suffering from a back problem.
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