3 Reasons Why Stephen Keshi Needs a Technical Assistant

Since Stephen Keshi took over the reins at the glass house as the Super Eagles head coach, the team has grown to become one of the most feared in world football. The just concluded CHAN tournament shed more light on how illustrious our coach is after transforming a less impressive home-based players to a team that distinguished itself. However, one could not help but notice some expensive flaws, which deprived the Eagles from picking up the CHAN title. Here we will attempt to give three reasons why Keshi needs a technical assistant for the World Cup. 1. The evolving dynamics of the game Football has evolved from what it used to be. Even with the most talented players, a team can still suffer defeat from another team with a less talented roaster; this was what happened in 2004 when Greece overcame all odds to win Portugal in the final match of Euro 2004. This was also evident when the Eagles could not see off a ten-man Ghanaian team at the just concluded CHAN Nations Cup. This goes to show that Nigeria is in need of a well grounded football scientist in the capacity of a technical assistant to help spot loop holes in matches, especially opposition’s team so that Keshi can exploit it successfully. 2. There is a deficiency at the scouting level The team paraded by the Super Eagles is truly not the best team the country has to offer. To me, most of the players looked like some desperate footballers looking for a means to sell themselves to any available club. Let us take Agbim Chigozie as a case study. Questions are already being asked as to how he found himself as the first choice goalkeeper of the Eagles when we all know that even the erstwhile Under-17 goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu could have done better. It goes to show that there are lapses somewhere and the sooner the Super Eagles start keeping a standard for national team invitation, the better for us. This is one area the technical assistant can come handy. 3. It will help reduce the work load of the head coach There is a saying that “No man is an island”. Keshi needs to start seeing the job of the Super Eagles head coach as a service to the nation; this will make him encourage more hands that will aid the course. Having a technical assistant will help him with the scouting home and abroad for gifted footballers. It will be in the best interest of Nigeria to have her best legs both home and abroad compete at the biggest stage of world football.