The Former Super Eagles skipper Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is worried with the bench role Super Eagles’ midfielder maestro John Obi Mikel played at Chelsea in most matches in the just concluded season as the World Cup tournament draw nearer.
The former Bolton Wanderers of England midfielder disclosed that since Mikel play a pivotal role in Eagles’ campaign at the World Cup then there is every need for the Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants to drill Mikel to enable him be in top form in Brazil.
The former PSG opined that if Mikel can be more attack-minded should the technical crew do away with sentiment and drill him for the interest of Nigeria to excel at the .world fiesta.
Okocha also charged the former Lyn Oslo of Norway player that this World Cup may mark the turning point for him provided he is ready to up his game.
‘‘This is the biggest opportunity for Mikel to seize control of the midfield and prove to Nigerians that he is capable of fitting into that role without questions. For me, this is Mikel’s World Cup. He did it very well at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and should be able to do better because the World Cup is a bigger stage,’’ said Okocha.
He added that with the support from corporate bodies and the Federal Government, the Eagles have no reason not to perform creditably when hostilities begin in the South American country.
The Eagles are drawn in Group F with Iran, Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Yuguda lays foundation stone of Bauchi Technical Centre
The city of Bauchi was adorned in all glorious colours yesterday as the Executive Governor of the State, Mallam Isa Yuguda laid the foundation stone of the NFF Regional Technical Centre, the first of the six planned for all the geo-political zones in the country.
A mammoth crowd welcomed the NFF delegation led by its President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari at the Bauchi Airport, with men, women and the youth as well as horse-riders showing their joy on the historic occasion.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Kablan congratulated the NFF for being proactive and desirous of the best for Nigerian football, while wishing the Super Eagles the very best at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.
NFF President Aminu Maigari lauded Governor Yuguda for providing the generous land space for the project, while also commending FIFA for readiness to fund the project and Kablan for his commitment and drive.
In his goodwill message, Senator Gumba lauded the performance of the present NFF administration led by Maigari, and Gaiya insisted that the Maigari team deserves a second term of office on the evidence of several achievements over the past four years.
