…hails Pinnick’s kind gesture to distressed Oruma
Former Super Eagles midfield maestro, Friday Ekpo, has called on administrators in the Nigeria Football Federation not to forget the great contributions made by ex-internationals in the round leather game by fixing them up in positions where they can contribute their quota in the development of football in the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Point in Lagos, the combative midfielder said the football house could help organise seminars for ex-internationals who are currently not engaged with any clubs and create an avenue where they can help discover talented players from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“I know many ex-internationals who are not meaningfully engaged but have the desire to contribute their quota to the development of Nigerian football. I think they deserve the attention of NFF!
“I also know that it is not possible for every ex-international to coach the various national teams, but things can be worked out for them by the NFF.
“NFF can help organise seminars for ex-internationals and those of them who are good at coaching can be encouraged in this regard. They can also be encouraged to go into scouting and should be split into the six geopolitical zones to help scout and even discover budding talents from the grassroots for the various national teams.
“NFF should help get ex-internationals who may indicate interest at coaching, to actualise their dreams. They should be helped and encouraged to acquire their coaching certificates by the football house because Nigeria is a great football-playing nation that has a lot of talented players rotting away at the grassroots level.
“However, with many ex-internationals operating with clubs at the six geopolitical zones, more stars from Nigeria will be unearthed.
“It is unfortunate that many of us have their coaching certificate, but no club to coach. I feel the NFF should come in here and close the gap in this regard,” Ekpo said.
Reacting to the helping hand offered by the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, to a distressed ex-international, Wilson Oruma, Ekpo expressed delight at the kind gesture.
“I want to appreciate the NFF boss for this great support he rendered to Oruma. May God bless Pinnick for coming to helping one of our own,” Ekpo stated.
Pinnick had handed out a helping hand to former Super Eagles midfielder, Oruma, who was emotionally distressed after he was duped of the sum of N1.2bn, his life savings, by a clergyman and some fake oil magnates.
Oruma came to the limelight again after stories emerged of him on the social media looking unkempt and needing immediate help, as he was said to be emotionally troubled after his ordeal.
Speaking on plans to rehabilitate the former Super Eagles star, Pinnick said by this week ,Oruma will move into his (Pinnick’s) house to commence the process.
“By this week, Oruma will move into my house before they finish furnishing the three-bedroom flat where he would stay.
“His story is a pathetic one and we cannot allow him to die. I am rendering this help to him, from one Warri man to another. We are Warri Ambassadors!
“All we need to do is to show him love. I ate with him, he’s stable. The NFF will include him to play a role in our award ceremony coming up soon.
“Thereafter, we will include him in the U-20 national team. Come June, we we’ll also include him in the contingent to Russia to cheer the Super Eagles.
“I’m still talking with some of the clubs he played for to allow him come and do a coaching course with them,” Pinnick said.
Following the recent relapse of the mental breakdown he first suffered, Oruma was admitted to a Lagos hospital where the NFF visited him.
He had a 17-year career playing for the like of Lens, Samsunspor, Sochaux and was also a regular for the Super Eagles.
Oruma was one of the breakout stars of the Golden Eaglets that won the 1993 U-17 FIFA World Cup.
Three years later, he was part of the U-23 team that made history by winning the gold medal at the football event of Atlanta ‘96 Summer Olympic Games.
He also represented the Super Eagles and won two Africa Cup of Nations bronze medals (2002 and 2006).
On Super Eagles chances at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia, Ekpo said the success of the team depends on the tactics and formation the coach, Gernot Rohr, will employ at the Mundial.
He added that Nigeria has quality players in the senior national team, but prayed that they should be injury-free, to enable the best legs to wear the green and white jersey of the country when action commences in Russia.
He also cautioned the team not be complacent.
“Every country that qualifies for a FIFA World Cup must not be underrated because they are potential champions.
“I want the Super Eagles to take a cue from the 1-0 defeat of the then defending champions, Argentina, which was led by Diego Maradona at the Italia’90 World Cup.
“Nobody gave Cameroon an opportunity to upset mighty Argentina, but it happened. Therefore, the players and the coaching crew of the Super Eagles must not underrate their group opponents like Croatia and Iceland, “he concluded.
