FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) Instructor, Adeboye Onigbinde, says the Super Eagles lost their must-win 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier against the Syli Stars of Guinea from the bench.A disappointed Onigbinde, who is also a former head coach of the senior national football team, told The Guardian after the match that, 'It is bad the Super Eagles drew the game and failed to qualify for the Cup of Nations, which I, like every other Nigerian, expected that they would win.'On whether the team was adequately prepared for the encounter, judging from the lack-lustre display on the pitch, he said, 'I would not want to dabble in whether we prepared enough for that game because we had a technical man in charge of the team.''Personally, I was not close to the team; so; I could not have deciphered what the level of preparation was.'In football, we say the better team wins and so, it means we were not able to lift our game to the height expected of us. Because of this, some people are of the opinion that we lost the game from the bench and I tend to subscribe to this.'While also turning down a request to assess the output of the individual players in the team and their contribution to the final result vis--vis the abundant talent, Onigbinde said: 'Coaching involves a great deal of human management and I don't need to say more than that.'Many people assumed that if first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, were to be in goal, it would have been a different kettle of fish.But Onigbinde retorted: 'Why was he not in goal' If he was not in goal, on account of disciplinary matters, then, it still boils down to the issue of human management because you cannot give what you don't have.'So, Enyeama not being in the team was a reflection of the level of experience and knowledge of the coach and you cannot blame him for that since he did not appoint himself, but was clamoured for by people that wanted him.'It must be stated that I have nothing against him or anybody in that entire set up.'He specifically refused to single out goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, for blame, especially for the cheeky manner he conceded the second goals.He said: 'Football is a team work and you can't blame one man for the failure of the team. It was the failure of the whole players because the keeper had 10 out-field players in front of him; so, why did they allow the ball to get to him''I am not saying that the goalkeeper was without blame in the match, but the other players, who allowed the ball to get to the keeper in the first instance, should share in the blame.'What I am saying in effect is that the general set-up of team has fundamental problems that should be addressed.'On what surgical operation he would have carried out on the team if he were to be in the saddle, Onigbinde balked, preferring to wax philosophical.'If I were to be in position, circumstances and situations would be different. So, no comment on any player! The coach selected them and he is the only person that knew what system, style or pattern of play he wanted to execute.'It was his responsibility to pick players that would have helped him realise his plans. If anybody should defend the inclusion of any player, it should be Siasia,' he said.
Click here to read full news..
