Pius Ayinor examines Mikel Obi’s change of
attitude and the impact on the Super Eagles
After the game against Malawi last Saturday,
Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi heaped praises on
Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi.
Keshi said that the midfielder had been at his
best under him.
Mikel made distinct impression on the field
against a boastful Malawi team and was
deservedly voted the Most Valuable Player in
the game. For the immediate reward, he got
the TomTom $5,000 set aside for the MVP.
But he was not just establishing himself as a
midfielder to be relied on with the World Cup
qualifying match in Calabar. He was in full
control of Nigeria’s movements during the
Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in
February. For his work rate, he and his
teammates got rewarded with the African cup
after a long wait since 1994. But perhaps the
most enterprising outing so far in recent times
for the Chelsea star remains the FIFA
Confederations Cup which held in Brazil. It was
a competition that brought to fore the
attacking prowess of the young Nigerian.
Nigerians first knew Mikel as an attacking
midfielder with the national U-17 and U-20
teams but he soon became a midfielder who
hardly had any business with the attack
formation when he joined Jose Mourinho at
Chelsea. But under Keshi, Mikel has played a
more attacking position from the midfield than
the defensive role he plays for Chelsea and he
fully underlined it with his attacking posture
during the FIFA event in Brazil. And
remarkably, he scored the country’s goal in
the 2-1 loss to Uruguay.
The positive review Mikel is receiving now has
come after so much waiting. His lack of
presence with the national team had made him
quite unpopular with Nigerians. He was
derided, dubbed unpatriotic and called names
in the years past. Even when Keshi first took
charge of the Eagles in November 2011, the
midfielder, continued with the lack of
commitment for the national team. Mikel
stayed away from the two friendlies against
Botswana and Zambia – the games with which
Keshi started. He was out due to injury but
many Nigerians accepted the excuse with
doubts. It was not until several months later
that he finally played for the Super Eagles and
the relationship with the team managers and
Nigerians in general has moved from lukewarm
to something hotter.
His new disposition has made some fans of the
Eagles to call for his elevation to position of
the team captain with the continued absence
of Joseph Yobo. But what could have created
the new Mikel? Is it maturity or the dream for
the captain’s band?
A former midfielder and 1994 African cup
winner, Mutiu Adepoju, believes it is a
question of maturity rather than any other
factor that has changed Mikel.
He said, “For me, it has to do with maturity; I
don’t see the captain’s angle to what we see of
Mikel now. People mature with time and he is
not different.
“His club environment could have had positive
impact on him largely. As you know, he plays
alongside mainly national team players of
other countries and the way they have
responded to national team duties over the
years must have made quite some remarkable
impact on him. Mikel now has the
understanding that it is a thing of pride to play
for one’s country and he is exhibiting real
maturity and leadership.
“When a senior player like him behaves in such
a positive manner, it has a way of touching the
up and coming ones. The younger ones will
simply watch the behaviour of the senior ones
and emulate them. And so whichever direction
the senior ones turn, they will likely follow.”
Adepoju who played professionally in Spain
added, “I understand he really showed
leadership on and off the pitch during the
Nations Cup in South Africa. He was the first to
get to anywhere they were asked to go.
Winning the African cup could not have come
from nothing. The change is surely one of the
best things happening to the Eagles right now.”
Nigerians are surely waiting to see if the
change will be permanent or could go with the
wind.
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