Henry Nwosu: Automatic shirts for foreign-based players bane of Super Eagles

A former Green Eagles captain, Henry Onyemanze Nwosu, has said the practice of handing foreign-based players automatic shirts in the Super Eagles is responsible for the dwindling fortunes of the team. In this interview with Trust Sports, the youngest member of Nigeria’s victorious 1980 Africa Cup of Nations squad spoke on the newly floated All Nigerian Players’ Union (ANPU), the need for Gernot Rohr to be given a sound Nigerian as an assistant coach and his expectations from the present Super Eagles.

As a former captain of the Green Eagles, do you support the recent decision by some former internationals to float a parallel players’ association called All Nigerian Players Union? 

I am in support of that decision. There is every need for a new body because the other one (Professional Players Union of Nigeria (PPUN) is self-serving. They don’t allow some of us to know what is happening. They hardly hold meetings. Nothing is happening from state to national level. They make decisions as it pleases them. This is unacceptable. It is wrong. If we’re operating a players’ union, it must be encompassing. Everyone must be taken along. I was a member of the executive of the union but since I decided to stay off, nobody has deemed it necessary to tell me what is happening in the association. If they can treat me that way, you can only imagine what is happening to others who are not up to my level. It is not right. We need an encompassing players’ union.

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 Contrary to your reasons, some people are of the opinion that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). President Amaju Pinnick is the brain behind the new union… 

I don’t think Pinnick has a hand in the affairs of the players union. Pinnick is not a party to what is happening. I have not received a call from him or anyone else to say please we want you people to do this or that. So why are they calling the name of Pinnick? Pinnick can’t tell us what to do. We are adults who know what is good for us. He can’t tell us what should happen in our association. 

What is your assessment of the Super Eagles under Coach Gernot Rohr? 

I think that the coach should be given a good Nigerian assistant. Rohr needs a second in command who is knowledgeable and confident enough to advise him. Such an assistant shouldn’t be a yes man. He should be able to say no to his boss. The Nigerian assistant should be able to say I think this should happen but this shouldn’t be done. If this is done, I think we would have a more effective technical bench. 

Most Nigerians are unhappy that Rohr does not stay in Nigeria to scout for local talents. What is your take on this? 

He has not committed any offence. Most of the players are based in Europe so he has to be close to them to monitor their progress. It is for this reason that I said Rohr should be given a sound Nigerian assistant coach who will help him monitor the domestic league and other football competitions. Such a coach will be going round to scout for players while Rohr is out there monitoring foreign based players. At the end of the day, they would compare notes and I tell you, we would have a formidable team. For now, I am not impressed with what is happening in the Super Eagles. 

Would you say the present Super Eagles are as committed as some of you who represented the country in the past? 

That is why I want us to bring in some of these home-based players. If you are a foreign-based player and you realise that a home-based player is taking your position, you will definitely sit up. Most of these players don’t show enough commitment because they believe they have automatic shirts in the team. They know that even if they don’t play well, they are going to retain their positions. But if the camp is thrown open, there will be more competition. Even the foreign-based players would work harder to keep their places. There will be healthy competition because nobody wants to play second fiddle in the national team.

Do you also agree with Nigerians who say the major problem of the present Super Eagles is lack of a creative midfielder?

Yes, it is a big problem for the team. Even before Jay-Jay Okocha came on the scene, we had talented players who controlled the tempo of our game. When Jay-Jay arrived, he maintained the tradition. He dictated the pace of play for the Super Eagles. But we don’t have a player like him again. Maybe some of the youngsters in the team need to sit up and do more.

How disappointed were you when the Super Eagles lost at home to the Central African Republic in the 2022 World Cup qualifier?

I felt highly disappointed. In fact, I was shocked to say the least. You see the players have this we go win mentality. It was the same thinking that made them lose against the Central African Republic. Thank God, they got back their senses in the return leg and were able to exact revenge against the Central Africans. They must be more serious and determined to defend the green white green colour. 

Osimhen is the new kid on the block for the Super Eagles. What is your advice for him? 

Osimhen is just starting so he must stay focused. He shouldn’t allow it to get into his head. He must keep playing because he is just starting. That was why people like us lasted long in the national team. We didn’t allow success to get into our heads. I played as if I was just starting. Every game was like a World Cup final. I am advising all other players in the national team, not only Oshimen. They must be focused and committed. Most of them are young. They have a bright future but it can be destroyed by unprofessional behaviour. 

How satisfied are you with the way the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is relating with living legends like you? 

I want to be very honest. Nigeria has not appreciated us enough. The football federation is not doing enough to ensure we are taken care of. However, there is no need to keep complaining. Maybe some of them are ignorant of the contributions we have made in Nigerian football. They are not willing to help us. Sometimes people say some of us are talking against Pinnick but we can’t keep quiet when he is not doing the right thing. We can always give him advice so that he can do better. Personally, I criticise constructively so that we can do better than we are presently doing and that is my life. I don’t criticise out of malice. I don’t hate anyone. I think the NFF can do better than they are doing now.