Ebonyi Football fans on Thursday urged the Super Eagles to
be wary of the best fashion rating it has received from nations as the World
Cup begins in Russia. The Eagles’ World Cup kits and travel outfit were rated
the best by soccer fans, pundits and media across the globe with many saying
they had won the World Cup in its fashion sense. Major sports dailies,
including the Daily Mail wrote: “First, it was the announcement of their
tournament kits that sent football supporters crazy. “Now it is their travel
attire that has got everybody talking again.’’
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| Super Eagles |
The British news outfit, The Sun, also wrote: “Nigeria once
again won the fashion stakes at this year’s World Cup with their incredible
travel outfit. “A fan posted that Nigeria is winning the 2018 World Cup fashion
parade.’’
The fans who spoke to Newsmen on Thursday in Abakaliki on
the fashion rating, noted that with the commencement of the global fiesta could
be counter-productive if not adequately managed. Chijioke Amah, former Manager
of Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki, said the players should instead
concentrate on correcting the flaws noticed during their friendly matches. “It
is not a problem for the team to savour the euphoria of its global fashion
rating but it should realise that the main rating will be their performances on
the pitch.
“The same attention which their attires attracted will also
be applied to their performances on the pitch and if they fail, the same people
who praised them would vilify them,’’ he said. Chika Nwagele, Captain of Ebonyi
United FC of Abakaliki, urged the players to effectively utilise their underdog
status to spring surprises at the World Cup. “The team should emulate the 1996
Atlanta Olympics winning team which lost its friendly matches but improved
tremendously to win Africa’s first Olympic football-gold medal. “The players
should realise that they have attracted global attention to themselves and
faltering at the competition will make people feel their prowess lies in
fashion,’’ he said. Emeka Nwonuma, a businessman urged Coach Gernot Rohr to
correct all lapses noticed during the team’s friendly matches.
“The team always improved during the second half of the
matches and Rohr should consider using the players who turn things around for
him as starters. “He should also work on his defence which flopped during the
friendly matches to give effective cover to his first choice goalkeeper,
Francis Uzoho, who did not inspire much confidence. “The coach should also work
on set-pieces because the team conceded two of the four goals against it during
the friendly matches from such situations,’’ he said.
A teacher, Mrs. Clara Anyanwu, urged Nigerians to pray for
the team because of the huge burden of expectations on the players. “The team
apart from being the best dressed for the World Cup also drew global attention
for having the youngest squad and the youngest first choice goalkeeper. “Soccer
fans should not expect much from the team but be contended with whatever
performance it showcases in Russia, adding that they should support the NFF to build
on it for the future,’’ he said. (NAN)
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