Nollywood Blogs | 20 June 2010 05:00 CET

BUS CONVERSATION ABOUT NIGERIAN GOAL KEEPER VINCENT ENYEAMA

By Kenneth Uwadi

Immediately after the Nigeria and Greece World Cup match, which the Greeks clinched with a 2-1 victory, I traveled to Omoku from Port Harcourt. In the NDDC bus that conveyed me to Omoku, passengers were hauling abuses and insults on Super Eagles Of Nigeria for performing poorly in the on going FIFA world Cup in South Africa and were showering praises on Vincent Enyeama.It was an 18-seater bus but the conversation was tied around 11 passengers that I know as Opiti, Kataburu,Asawana,Kenna , Mohammed, Sabateri,Egwero,David ,Andy,Haruna and Nnenna.

Sabatiri:Na wao .So common Greece has defeated us in football .It always take me two to three days of swallowing panadol to recover from headache after watching a Super Eagles game. This bunch of fatigued players are not disciplined, can't make an accurate pass, afraid to go forward and obstruct the goalkeeper's view in the name of defending.
Is it possible to inject at least seven new players into the starting lineup for the next match against South Korea? It's very sad to see winnable match slip by us .Poor Vincent Eyeama.He is the only Nigerian player in that match.Mr. Enyeama keep fit. When my granddaughter gets of age, I'll give her hand to you in marriage as a token of my appreciation for your performance in this 2010 world cup. May God bless you.

Nnenna: You are waiting for your grand daughter to get of age. Enyeama will you marry me? Enyeama, please come and marry me. Super Eagles,na wao for unaooo.It was Enyeama against Argentina and Enyeama against Greece.

Egwero: Wetin make them Super Eagles? Are they Super? Are they Eagles? They are Chicken .Our players in this World Cup are old and are not even ready for the tournament. The only thing that pains me much is Enyeama's career they want to ruin and i know that God will not allow that to happen. The next step for the Nigerian federal government is to dissolve this so called National Yeye Team and start scouting for younger players for Nigeria.That is the best solution and federal government should prepare to arrest all this current Super Eagles players and jail them for disgracing Nigeria excluding Enyeama. Enyeama, no weapon fashion against you shall prosper in Jesus name. Enyeama, don't worry yourself about this yeye team, whether they like it or not, you are set already for premiership. Clubs out there want you and you are going there in Jesus Name…. The Lord will fight for you…. Yeye Team.

David: Argentina vs Nigeria…Enyeama was the man of the match .Greece vs Nigeria, the same Enyeama was the man of the match. It is a pity that they don't want this guy to progress more in the competition and shine so as to get a better club in Europe…. Infact, they should sacrifice Aiyegbeni to the gods…. supposing, it was those boys that played the Under 21 and Under17 for Nigeria that is playing this World Cup, it would have been better. Right now, Nigeria doesn't have a senior team… I don't see the reason why Larger buss should remain as the coach , even if we qualify to round 16 or not… The so call corrupt NFF should bring in Siasia, to take over.

Opiti: I disagree with you about sacking Largaback.Largerback should be allowed to continue with the team and hopefully he will be able to build a very solid team in the next one year before any major tournament comes up. Enyeama has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is a goalkeeper that knows his onion. He has shown that he has come of age and is a reliable goalkeeper .To be man of the match consecutively is not beans.More grease to his elbow. This Aboki Sanni Kaita is a highly undisciplined footballer despite the fact that he has been a professional footballer for several years.Kaita brought ill luck to the Super Eagles with that red card that he really deserved. If it were possible to issue two red cards to him for that offence, i would have encouraged the referee to do so. As far as i am concerned it is over for the Eagles in this tournament because i can't see Nigeria beating South Korea.

Kataburu: No I no support you,Mr Opiti. 2010 FIFA South Africa—–We can still make it!

Opiti: Make it to where? Finals? Or win the trophy? Abeg, I don't think even Lag-Behind or Lager-Back believes in himself or his boys that much. You are sounding like President Goodluck Jonathan when he asked the boys to bring home the Cup. He thinks everything na goodluck.May be we need two Juju from Nigeria–a repellant one and one that attracts the football to the back of the net before we can qualify.The repellant Juju will be buried behind our goalie and the one that attracts the ball into the net to be buried behind South Korea's net.Then we can qualify.

Nnenna: Haba, this your suggestion get as e be. What happens in second half when they change sides? Who will rush to the field to re-bury the stuff? May be Aboki Sanni Kaita can do the burying for us. He is indeed a major 'Kaita-strophy'

Asawana: What do you guys want this poor guy to do. He has made a mistake. Please leave him alone to get over it and lets not kill his confidence as this guy has represented us in Under-21 and Olympics Silver and now, this world cup. He deserves his position and this man works hard just like Garuba lawal . Lets not dramatize this rubbish and allow this young man to represents us.He made a poor judgment but its over and we have to deal with it and move on. This situation can be salvaged. We just have to beat Korea by 2-0 . It's possible and we have guys that can do it in 90 minutes. Nigerians, i beg lets support these lads now, especially now please!!

Kenna:Yes,the failure of Nigeria against Greece is not Kaita. Non of you know anything about football.I wonder why anyone should blame Kaita. Nigeria is not the only team that has played with 10 men. Italy did it against Holland in European Nation's Cup.Ghana did it against Nigeria in Africa Nation's Cup and there are so many teams to measure with. So i want you guys to tell me, why Nigeria, can not do it with a lowly Greece. The truth is that, Larger beer is not a coach… The same way Amodu played the boys is the same way the so call Larger beast played.. There was no difference.. How on earth can he bench Martins and Nsofor. Even Kanu is better than, Osazee…Infact i am ashamed of every one who supported Larger beast. Is Nigeria the only team that did not prepare on time? What about Ghana, Switzerland, Mexico and the rest good teams. Let us sack this Laga bush.

Opiti: I disagree again.We cannot continue to hire and fire coaches in Nigeria.Lars should stay and rebuild our football.Wait a minute,who expected this team to perform a miracle.I know from the word go that so long as the present NFF officials remain on the saddle,nothing good can come out of this team.Where do I start to count the sins of the Sani-Lulu led NFF…..the stealing of 225,ooo dollars from under their nose,the unending cancellation of proposed friendly matches,what about the demand for kick back from Glen Hoddle to name him the Nigerian coach. who knows if Laga bear was asked to pay some money to get the job.Above all our NFF abandoned the team's preparation for the world cup in search of re-election ticket, sponsoring FA state/zonal Chairmen to South Africa for Jamborie all in a bid to win re-election.My Naija people,which other proof do you need to understand that NFF people want the Eagles to fail.Was it not in London that they put the players in an unserviceable aircraft before Baba-God averted a disaster by ensuring the plane did not take off

Andy :Na waoooo.But guys, against Argentina ,Nigeria showed character and belief and kept hopes alive. Enyeama shined like a million stars to keep the score line at a generally acceptable level. We pray that the Hammer's (West Ham United) move for Enyeama will materialize to console him for the terrible disappointment after displaying these top class super saves. Eyeama who currently plays for Hapoel Tel-Aviv of Isreal is one of the best shot-stoppers in Africa.Vincent Enyeama has been the undisputed first choice in goal for Nigeria, who have a trio of quality options between the posts.

Mohammed: This Eyeama,you say who him be self ? Me I no dey watch foot ball .I like wrestling.I can talk more about Tripple H and The Undertaker.

Opiti: Mohammed, I am disappointed. You don't know your Kaduna state born football Hero? Vincent Enyeama is a Nigerian football goalkeeper. Since 2002, he has played for the national team of Nigeria. He currently plays for Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Tel Aviv. At 16, he started with semi-professional club Ibom Stars, played four seasons with local giants Enyimba Aba, before moving to Israel. During his spell with Enyimba he won the CAF Champions League twice. In the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Enyeama also had a good tournament with Nigeria.

Nnenna: Make the guy come marry meeeee. Arsenal needs to go for this guy,not West Ham.Wenger Is at the World Cup.I will certainly be keeping tabs on him if I was Wenger. Arsene Wenger need not look anymore. This keeper is good.He produced about four saves from Messi and another two from Higuain and he has a release clause of just 3 million euros!!! Arsenal get him now. I am wondering why a keeper like him is playing in Israel and not in a big club in Europe.

David: He did a good job today, but Nigeria still lost to Greece.Poor guy. Best Nigerian goalkeeper. WOW, he not only blocked one of Messi's goals…he blocked four!!!!He got man of the match in the match against Argentina and today against Greece once again.Amazing goal keeper!!!! . Hope we get to see him in clubs like Arsenal , Barcelona, Real Madrid or Man United  next season. Completely worthy of a place there. In the season of 2009\10, Hapoel Tel-Aviv won the championship and the cup in Israel, also they had a really good season in the European League. None of it would have happened without this goalkeeper.He should play at no other place then the best leagues in Europe!!

Kenna: You are right ,i am Hapoel fan but Enyema deserves to be in one of the biggest clubs of the world like Arsenal ,Liverpool ,Man United and so on. Enyeama has played for Hapoel Tel Aviv since 2007. Hapoel Tel Aviv endured a poor season in 2007/2008, but Enyeama just kept on improving. He proved to be a real leader helping the team to avoid relegation and reach the state cup final. This included an emotional letter he wrote to his fellow players, encouraging them to fight together for the club. Slowly he started to feel that he belonged to the club, Enyeama has been performing extremely well in recent seasons, showing steady improvement from year to year.Arsenal will be the best for him.

Haruna: I' am an Arsenal fan but I still believe he doesn't need Arsenal yet. Let him start off at a club at the level of say Wigan Athletic for guaranteed first team football and if he proves himself he should take the step up to a huge club

Andy: I am an Arsenal fan myself, and i know that when we don't have stabile defense, we must have a perfect goal keeper like Vincent Enyeama. Enyeama is at the right age, and ready for a big league. If Arsenal will wait a year or two, his price will be 6 million.
Wouldn't we be sorry?

I reached Omoku by 8 pm that day but I enjoyed the ride and every bit of the bus conversation and like others in the bus,I am happy with the performance of Vincent Enyeama in this ongoing FIFA world Cup in South Africa and I wish him well in his football career.

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