Interview With Dr Terry Eguaoje

[amoky]

Germany is known for their organisation and efficiency, Spain is known for Tikitaka, The Netherlands is known for total football, Italy is known for its defensive efficiency. What is Nigeria known for? Listen to Terry Eguaoje assistant coach to the Nigeria Super Eagles and technical consultant to The Nigeria Football Federation as he discussed fashioning the "Nigerian football philosophy". Listen to Sport Africana TV on Apple, Spotify TuneIn, amazon and other podcast directories.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f ... 0552960118

[Cellular]

Germany is known for their organisation and efficiency, Spain is known for Tikitaka, The Netherlands is known for total football, Italy is known for its defensive efficiency. What is Nigeria known for? Listen to Terry Eguaoje assistant coach to the Nigeria Super Eagles and technical consultant to The Nigeria Football Federation as he discussed fashioning the "Nigerian football philosophy". Listen to Sport Africana TV on Apple, Spotify TuneIn, amazon and other podcast directories.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f ... 0552960118

Naijaria does have a football philosophy...

Even those who deny that we don't have a philosophy could attest that upon seeing our display against Egypt at the just concluded AFCON, identified with the brand of football we played.

I think Prof. Enugu-II can elaborate on when the transformation started... from the kick-and-follow old British style to the Jugo Bonito of Monday Sinclair to Chris Udumezue, James Peters, Amodu Shuaibu, Willy Bazuaye, Tunde Disu, Fanny Amun, Kashimawo Laloko, Paul Hamilton, Sebastian Brodericks, etc...

[Bigpokey24]

Our style is pace on the flanks , quick counter and midfield possession

[txj]

Germany is known for their organisation and efficiency, Spain is known for Tikitaka, The Netherlands is known for total football, Italy is known for its defensive efficiency. What is Nigeria known for? Listen to Terry Eguaoje assistant coach to the Nigeria Super Eagles and technical consultant to The Nigeria Football Federation as he discussed fashioning the "Nigerian football philosophy". Listen to Sport Africana TV on Apple, Spotify TuneIn, amazon and other podcast directories.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f ... 0552960118

Naijaria does have a football philosophy...

Even those who deny that we don't have a philosophy could attest that upon seeing our display against Egypt at the just concluded AFCON, identified with the brand of football we played.

I think Prof. Enugu-II can elaborate on when the transformation started... from the kick-and-follow old British style to the Jugo Bonito of Monday Sinclair to Chris Udumezue, James Peters, Amodu Shuaibu, Willy Bazuaye, Tunde Disu, Fanny Amun, Kashimawo Laloko, Paul Hamilton, Sebastian Brodericks, etc...

I don’t know that we do, especially if one subjects it to proper examination.
We have no functioning league. We don’t have professional coaches developing their craft in the lab that is the league. Players are not being developed in a systematic way….

Merely getting the ball and running at the opponent is not a definition of philosophy.

In any case that is hardly an issue of any significance.

[Enugu II]

Germany is known for their organisation and efficiency, Spain is known for Tikitaka, The Netherlands is known for total football, Italy is known for its defensive efficiency. What is Nigeria known for? Listen to Terry Eguaoje assistant coach to the Nigeria Super Eagles and technical consultant to The Nigeria Football Federation as he discussed fashioning the "Nigerian football philosophy". Listen to Sport Africana TV on Apple, Spotify TuneIn, amazon and other podcast directories.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f ... 0552960118

Naijaria does have a football philosophy...

Even those who deny that we don't have a philosophy could attest that upon seeing our display against Egypt at the just concluded AFCON, identified with the brand of football we played.

I think Prof. Enugu-II can elaborate on when the transformation started... from the kick-and-follow old British style to the Jugo Bonito of Monday Sinclair to Chris Udumezue, James Peters, Amodu Shuaibu, Willy Bazuaye, Tunde Disu, Fanny Amun, Kashimawo Laloko, Paul Hamilton, Sebastian Brodericks, etc...

I don’t know that we do, especially if one subjects it to proper examination.
We have no functioning league. We don’t have professional coaches developing their craft in the lab that is the league. Players are not being developed in a systematic way….

Merely getting the ball and running at the opponent is not a definition of philosophy.

In any case that is hardly an issue of any significance.

The truth is that all teams, particularly when duly organized and coached, everywhere have a philosophy of how the game should be played. Philosophy is no more than simply have a basic conviction of how best to play the game. Most Nigerian teams have this, whether it is playing long balls or playing via the wings, they all constitute a philosophy of how the game should be played.

However, and in my view, the idea that certain countries or regions have specific philosophy of how the game should be played is frankly like a discourse from the 1960s to early 1970s when the idea of how to play the game was largely regionalized i.e South America, Africa, Europe etc.

That is not longer the case for several reasons. Managers now are global travelers mixing ideas and imposing others. Footballers are now, themselves, global travelers acquiring ideas now only encouraged by the Bosman rule but also by the improved transportation.

What exactly is now the difference between how Brazil plays or European teams play? Very little difference because of this globalization of ideas. That has affected Nigeria as well. With most of our players based in Europe (some born there, bred there, playing there), they have been bred in European ideas of how the game should be played. In my view, the differences now are not apparent in the larger philosophical thinking of the game but the minute issues of strategic/tactical variations within larger philosophical scope.

Although, there are STILL players bred in the streets in Nigeria with a different thinking of the game. Those types of players are either quickly discarded or have those ideas coached out of them to fit the dictates of the European ideas of how the game should be played.

Much more of the above can actually be found in a wide array of readings available, several academic and others general interest.

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

The man is a tout. He spent more tine talking about himself than the wheel he's trying to reinvent. Caf, Fifa evrybody likes him and all his degrees. Mscheeew..... he should be a trainer at UI not SE.

[Cellular]

Thank you Prof.

In your opinion, who was it that introduced the tip-tap pam-pam football to us?

Was it Eto Amaechina or Monday Sinclair?
I vaguely recall one coach going to Brazil and coming back with a variation of the Brazilian Jogo Bonito that was just a beauty to watch. I even remember P&T Vasco Da Gama employing the same style of football to beat Rangers one time during an FA cup.

Germany is known for their organisation and efficiency, Spain is known for Tikitaka, The Netherlands is known for total football, Italy is known for its defensive efficiency. What is Nigeria known for? Listen to Terry Eguaoje assistant coach to the Nigeria Super Eagles and technical consultant to The Nigeria Football Federation as he discussed fashioning the "Nigerian football philosophy". Listen to Sport Africana TV on Apple, Spotify TuneIn, amazon and other podcast directories.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f ... 0552960118

Naijaria does have a football philosophy...

Even those who deny that we don't have a philosophy could attest that upon seeing our display against Egypt at the just concluded AFCON, identified with the brand of football we played.

I think Prof. Enugu-II can elaborate on when the transformation started... from the kick-and-follow old British style to the Jugo Bonito of Monday Sinclair to Chris Udumezue, James Peters, Amodu Shuaibu, Willy Bazuaye, Tunde Disu, Fanny Amun, Kashimawo Laloko, Paul Hamilton, Sebastian Brodericks, etc...

I don’t know that we do, especially if one subjects it to proper examination.
We have no functioning league. We don’t have professional coaches developing their craft in the lab that is the league. Players are not being developed in a systematic way….

Merely getting the ball and running at the opponent is not a definition of philosophy.

In any case that is hardly an issue of any significance.

The truth is that all teams, particularly when duly organized and coached, everywhere have a philosophy of how the game should be played. Philosophy is no more than simply have a basic conviction of how best to play the game. Most Nigerian teams have this, whether it is playing long balls or playing via the wings, they all constitute a philosophy of how the game should be played.

However, and in my view, the idea that certain countries or regions have specific philosophy of how the game should be played is frankly like a discourse from the 1960s to early 1970s when the idea of how to play the game was largely regionalized i.e South America, Africa, Europe etc.

That is not longer the case for several reasons. Managers now are global travelers mixing ideas and imposing others. Footballers are now, themselves, global travelers acquiring ideas now only encouraged by the Bosman rule but also by the improved transportation.

What exactly is now the difference between how Brazil plays or European teams play? Very little difference because of this globalization of ideas. That has affected Nigeria as well. With most of our players based in Europe (some born there, bred there, playing there), they have been bred in European ideas of how the game should be played. In my view, the differences now are not apparent in the larger philosophical thinking of the game but the minute issues of strategic/tactical variations within larger philosophical scope.

Although, there are STILL players bred in the streets in Nigeria with a different thinking of the game. Those types of players are either quickly discarded or have those ideas coached out of them to fit the dictates of the European ideas of how the game should be played.

Much more of the above can actually be found in a wide array of readings available, several academic and others general interest.

[Enugu II]

Good question. The name of the guy who introduced that brand to Nigeria escapes me at the moment but I'll post it as soon as I recall.

However, it was Brazilian who was hired to coach in the 1960s who changed our style. Eto as a player for Pan Bank in those days played that style. In any case, the change in that style made Nigeria a legitimate competitor against Ghana. Ghana previously dominated us.

Of course, Eto after he retired from football coached that style of football.

[joao]

If the players, who are to execute the philosophy of the coach, lack discipline and
focus then nothing works. People talk about counter attack while we have players
not controlling the ball or redirecting it quick enough. How successful can a counter
attack be when players like dwelling on the ball?
What makes any football philosophy work is a disciplined and focused group of
players who are in sync with the coaches' agenda.

[Agbako]

The man is a tout. He spent more tine talking about himself than the wheel he's trying to reinvent. Caf, Fifa evrybody likes him and all his degrees. Mscheeew..... he should be a trainer at UI not SE.

Oldboy you have given this egomaniac more props than he deserve self... Football is not by degrees or grammar its by work and results.. Stupidity allowed by Nigerians sometimes have no boundary....

[Cellular]

If the players, who are to execute the philosophy of the coach, lack discipline and
focus then nothing works. People talk about counter attack while we have players
not controlling the ball or redirecting it quick enough. How successful can a counter attack be when players like dwelling on the ball?
What makes any football philosophy work is a disciplined and focused group of
players who are in sync with the coaches' agenda.

Not very successful.

In games we move the ball quickly and not use the slow plodding (Papa Eagles) style, we tend to dominate possession and play well...while winning.

Teams that have successfully forced us to slow our pace and play big man footie will get favorable results against us.

[Agbako]

Good question. The name of the guy who introduced that brand to Nigeria escapes me at the moment but I'll post it as soon as I recall.

However, it was Brazilian who was hired to coach in the 1960s who changed our style. Eto as a player for Pan Bank in those days played that style. In any case, the change in that style made Nigeria a legitimate competitor against Ghana. Ghana previously dominated us.

Of course, Eto after he retired from football coached that style of football.

EII. The brazilian coach for Mighty Jets started the short passing game . His name is Coach Pena or Pedro.. not sure. Ismaila Mabo. My towns man Sam Opone era at the Jets. I may be corrected. My friend in Sillicon Valley George Lamptey (Ghana) was there as a player too.

[Enugu II]

Good question. The name of the guy who introduced that brand to Nigeria escapes me at the moment but I'll post it as soon as I recall.

However, it was Brazilian who was hired to coach in the 1960s who changed our style. Eto as a player for Pan Bank in those days played that style. In any case, the change in that style made Nigeria a legitimate competitor against Ghana. Ghana previously dominated us.

Of course, Eto after he retired from football coached that style of football.

EII. The brazilian coach for Mighty Jets started the short passing game . His name is Coach Pena or Pedro.. not sure. Ismaila Mabo. My towns man Sam Opone era at the Jets. I may be corrected. My friend in Sillicon Valley George Lamptey (Ghana) was there as a player too.

I believe the guy's name was Lopes at Mighty Jets. Yes, the Jets played that style with Mabo, Sam Garba, Sule Kekere, Atuegbu brothers, and Olayiwola Olagbenro in those days.

However, the style preceded that Mighty Jets team. The guy that I was thinking of is Jorge Penna was with the Green Eagles and it was him that introduced the style to Nigeria when he was hired back in 1963!. It is precisely the guy you mentioned above (see bolded within your quote). Penna was hired to replace The Englishman Les Courtier who had been coaching Nigeria since 1956 and Nigeria was basically booting the ball forward and it showed in repeated losses to Ghana (Then Gold Coast). Courtier's replacement for a year was Moshe Beth-Halavi from Israel who lasted barely a year before Penna arrived. In my research, I recall that Penna made mention of Nigeria's great potential if only we focused on keeping possession rather than repeatedly booting the ball back to the opponent. Although Penna's overall record with Nigeria was abysmal (2-3-5/W-T-L), his impact on how Nigeria's plays the game (philosophically) changed forever.