Chris Maduewesi
Member
Former Nigerian international Joe Erico has called for the future Super Eagles team to be built around Michael Babatunde.
Babatunde confounded his critics at the 2014 World Cup tournament,seizing an opportunity to show that he was really worth a place in the Nigerian team that went to Brazil.
Playing two games against Bosnia and Argentina before copping an injury,Babatunde was one of the stand-out performers for Nigeria which has led to a host of teams looking to sign him.
Erico who was once Nigeria's assistant coach alongside Stephen Keshi to Amodu Shaibu in 2002,said that the team should be built around Bababtunde.
“Every team in the world has a player who the team is built around and Nigeria is no exception. We have been having players around whom the team was built," Erico was quoted as saying on The Punch.
“It was previously Haruna Ilerika in the days of old, then Austin Okocha and after he left, Kanu Nwankwo became the team’s pivot. Like I said before that a team is a generational thing, I believe that Babatunde is a player who the team could be built around in the future.”
Two Premier League clubs,Sunderland and Stoke City are some of the clubs who are believed to have shown interest in signing Babatunde.
Erico also admitted that Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel can effectively do the job of a playmaker ,only if he demonstrates willingness to do so.
“It all boils down to Mikel’s will to perform. If he has it and believes he can do it he will although every player has his bad days. But Babatunde is a player to look out for and can be the team’s next playmaker.
“A team is never complete, you keep building it,” the former Eagles assistant coach said.
Photo Credit: FIFA.COM
Babatunde confounded his critics at the 2014 World Cup tournament,seizing an opportunity to show that he was really worth a place in the Nigerian team that went to Brazil.
Playing two games against Bosnia and Argentina before copping an injury,Babatunde was one of the stand-out performers for Nigeria which has led to a host of teams looking to sign him.
Erico who was once Nigeria's assistant coach alongside Stephen Keshi to Amodu Shaibu in 2002,said that the team should be built around Bababtunde.
“Every team in the world has a player who the team is built around and Nigeria is no exception. We have been having players around whom the team was built," Erico was quoted as saying on The Punch.
“It was previously Haruna Ilerika in the days of old, then Austin Okocha and after he left, Kanu Nwankwo became the team’s pivot. Like I said before that a team is a generational thing, I believe that Babatunde is a player who the team could be built around in the future.”
Two Premier League clubs,Sunderland and Stoke City are some of the clubs who are believed to have shown interest in signing Babatunde.
Erico also admitted that Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel can effectively do the job of a playmaker ,only if he demonstrates willingness to do so.
“It all boils down to Mikel’s will to perform. If he has it and believes he can do it he will although every player has his bad days. But Babatunde is a player to look out for and can be the team’s next playmaker.
“A team is never complete, you keep building it,” the former Eagles assistant coach said.
Photo Credit: FIFA.COM
