It is a belated congratulatory message going out to Tremendous Eagles’ coach, Eric Sekou Chelle. I write my congrats to him, not simply because he gained bronze for Nigeria on the latest Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, however largely resulting from how he weathered the storm of criticism that trailed his introduction into the Eagles’ saddle.
I cannot deny the truth that I used to be amongst his most vehement critics, who tackled him viciously, not due to his credentials however resulting from prejudice and bias.
Sure, the argument that I gave (rightfully so) was that the Tremendous Eagles shouldn’t be dealt with by any coach from one other African nation, as a result of Nigeria’s soccer pedigree is healthier than what many different nations throughout the continent have achieved within the spherical leather-based sport.
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For me, Nigerian coaches can deal with the nationwide groups of Gambia, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania – not vice versa – as a result of our observe report within the spherical leather-based sport throughout the continent (in addition to the world) is healthier than theirs.
That line of thought made me antagonise Chelle from the outset, particularly as I felt he had come to usurp what must have been given an indigenous Nigerian tactician (particularly Emmanuel Amuneke). I nonetheless maintain that view tenaciously, however that doesn’t imply I gained’t recognise that Chelle ended up performing splendidly with the Tremendous Eagles.
An uncanny indisputable fact that stands him out is that, after a yr on the job, he’s but to lose an official match inside regular sport time. The losses to DR Congo and Morocco had been through penalties, whereas the 2-1 hunch in opposition to Egypt earlier than the Nations Cup was an unofficial ‘coaching sport.’ So, Chelle is a profitable coach!
Nevertheless, as I acknowledged earlier, his success goes past what he has achieved on the sector of play. I gained’t have a good time him for profitable AFCON bronze, as a result of three of our coaches have accomplished it earlier than, whereas one other gained silver and one even acquired gold.
For me, the actual deal value celebrating about Chelle is his perspective; and three issues stand him out in that regard – reactions to criticism, feedback throughout press conferences and relations along with his gamers.
You may ever discountenance lofty feedback about an individual when correlative views in that path stream from many mouths inside a brief time frame. So, for a number of of the Eagles’ gamers to repeatedly say they like and admire their coach means there’s one thing nice he’s doing amongst them that makes him stand out.
On his half, Chelle mechanically reciprocates the love expressed for him by his gamers, as he would all the time thank them for adapting to his ‘philosophy’ and for going all out to play in response to his directions. He by no means forgets to commend his gamers throughout each media convention.
Why then gained’t his gamers go all out to get good outcomes for him? So, he outlined nice ways for them at AFCON 2025 and so they keyed into it. Not solely as a result of he’s a very good coach technically, however largely as a result of he relates along with his gamers cordially. Speak about efficient man-management acumen…
Anybody who needs to argue that ways alone could make a staff win matches ought to revisit the latest case of Xabi Alonso at Actual Madrid of Spain, and be aware how ‘players-power’ compelled the membership’s administration to rapidly sack him – regardless of his legendary standing.
Having acknowledged all of this, we should always have a good time Chelle and congratulate him largely due to his humility. Even within the face of important feedback that trailed his appointment, he by no means fired again nor did he boastfully defend his standing.
Even when insidious questions are hurled at him throughout media classes, he all the time retains his cool and responds neatly – in contrast to a sure former Tremendous Eagles’ coach who would tongue lash you there after which for daring to ask a query he feels is demeaning to him.
So, let’s all hail Chelle for his comportment – cool, calm, collected and brave. Regardless of being deeply emotional, he doesn’t have a mood, by no means raises his voice, doesn’t flaunt himself, and he completely oils his physiological shock absorber.
Other than his sociological strengths, Chelle additionally proved that he has a whole lot of tactical savvy, which was extremely instrumental in our victories over Tunisia and Algeria … nay, in all our seven matches.
Other than the ‘human weak spot’ that allowed Samuel Chukwueze’s ‘movie trick’ in coaching becloud his reasoning when it mattered within the shootout versus Morocco, Chelle proved his technical mettle at AFCON 2025. So, I hereby submit that he was an enormous success in Morocco.
Due to this fact, in my ultimate evaluation, I additionally transfer a robust movement that high photographs of Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) ought to do the whole lot attainable to maintain Eric Sekou Chelle as Tremendous Eagles’ head coach up until 2030 … in any other case ‘the rejected stone sagas’ of Philippe Troussier and Gernot Rohr would possibly recur to mock us within the close to future!
