Nigerian stars would pass for a circus parade

May 30, 2007

THE Nigerian team is packed with professionals. Yet at times, it seems like an assortment of clowns in a third-rate circus parade.

JOSEPH OPIO

THE Nigerian team is packed with professionals. Yet at times, it seems like an assortment of clowns in a third-rate circus parade.

Just ask Berti Vogts!

The German isn’t given to emotional outbursts but he vented his frustration after watching Nigeria stagger to a slender 1-0 win over Kenya last weekend.

“There is nothing ‘super’ about the Eagles right now,” he sneered. “They are just Eagles.”

Vogts’ career as Nigeria coach has been on life support since that controversial 1-0 win over Uganda in Abeokuta. Yet, days before a make-or-break return leg, the 60-year old believes he has been turned into a clueless ringmaster by the clownish conduct of his star-turns.

Vogts read his band of millionaires the riot act in a war-council convened after the Kenya win. His tirade concentrated on the lukewarm response to his national call-ups and a sudden spate of suspicious injuries.

And truth be told, Nigeria’s stars have treated Vogts’ summons with all the enthusiasm reserved for mandatory military service.

Take Joseph Yobo (right) for instance!

The Super Eagles skipper received his summons after Everton’s last Premiership game three weeks ago.

Yet instead of heading to camp, Yobo departed for the US to kick-start his summer vacation.

The defender temporarily interrupted his sun-drenched holiday to star in a charity match for the Kanu Heart Foundation, where “Friends of Kanu” played Portsmouth.

Vogts dispatched fresh summons to his captain. Cue drama!

Yobo sensationally cited a multitude of injuries — declaring himself a potential doubt for the June 2 duel.

“I’m struggling right now with a groin and back problem. I almost didn’t play the Kanu game but because I had already given my word, I had to make the game.”

It was a lame attempt at deceit. Yobo spent the season injury-free, featuring in every second of Everton’s 42-game campaign — to equal a 20-year club record.

His ‘injury crisis’ was designed to earn him an extended vacation.

Till an unyielding Vogts issued an ultimatum that prompted Yobo’s arrival last Saturday.

That ultimatum trick though has proved powerless against his most priceless target.

Vogts regards John Obi Mikel as the nucleus of this Nigerian outfit. After that Kenya friendly, he seems prepared to play his ace against Uganda even if he arrives on a stretcher.

Mikel had pledged to turn up against Kenya but he skipped his KLM flight to Nairobi and went incommunicado. “Mikel said he had no entry visa to Kenya but after that, he couldn’t be reached.”

The Chelsea maestro had earlier ruled himself out of the Namboole game, citing a dodgy hamstring injury.

But though Mikel genuinely did sustain an injury in Chelsea’s last Premiership duel against Everton, he was a portrait of fine health a week later — in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

The 20-year old not only created the winning goal but was so sublime that his manager Jose Mourinho swooned: “For me, a kid was the king of the game. He controlled the game like he wanted, he had the ball all the time, he passed it and he controlled the pace and possession. For me, Mikel was unbelievable.”

Mikel claims he played the FA Cup final under medication but his absence, coupled with the enigma of Obafemi Martins, is depriving Vogts of any sleep.

Obafemi, who has a fine reputation for evading national summons, hasn’t disappointed.

The forward played 33 games for Newcastle but got injured the minute Nigeria called.

His tale could have carried merit hadn’t he been sighted in Lagos last weekend — at a time his claims placed him in Newcastle’s rehabilitation centre with a coterie of fitness coaches.

“Instead of joining the team here, Martins traveled to Nigeria which is very disappointing,” Vogts remarked.

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