I think Beckham is too old. I think he is too proud. I think he has an overbearing influence on coach Sven Erickson. In fact he should no longer be invited for international matches. He should be done away with.
You may wonder why I feel this way. Well it is because I am a Nigerian. A country that accepts no mistakes yet a country that thrives in mistakes. A country where you cannot dorn the green white green jersey for 10 years and still be considered relevant. A country that is ever willing to do away with 'old things' and embrace 'new wives'. In Tunisia '94, it was Keshi. "Keshi is too old". "Keshi has sold this match to Ivory Coast". "In fact Westerhorf and Keshi have teamed up to ruin Nigerian football". The toast of the period were Sunday Oliseh, Dan Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike and the gangling Rasheed Yekini.
In Mali 2002, Oliseh became too old, irrelevant and uncontrollable. His team was disbanded for losing to a side that later went on to beat the world championships in their World Cup debut. The coaching crew was sacked and in turn the 'local chief highly respected in FIFA circles' was appointed to form a new team that would lift the Korea-Japan World Cup. We lost of course. Next on line was ace defender Taribo West. He too suddenly became old and tired and from comments currently being made, Kanu Nwankwo and Jay Jay will soon become old and tired legs.
For the English though, Beckham is not through yet. He still has much to contribute to English soccer even if he cannot score spot kicks. He will not be sacked or abandoned. He can only resign if he wants to. The coaching crew will rather encourage him and this can only improve his game. Other European teams think alike too. The Dutch still make use of players like Cocu, De Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Marc Overmars. Sweden still have Larson and Ljunberg. In the German team, Ballack is very much around. Italy still houses old names like Totti, Del Piero and Vieri. Denmark still uses the services of Ebbe Sand who assisted in the 4-1 demolishing of Nigeria in 1998.
To me, Nigeria behaves like a satire. A nation that pays lip-service to credibility. We want modern things but we can't manufacture a pin. We destroy people still willing and able to serve this nation just because of 'new brides'. We destroy heroes in their prime and go for either new brides or old maids. A Nigerian will ask, "why bother to invite Aghahowa to the national team again when Ogbeche is on top form
And I will answer that, "one bicycle kick cannot guarantee a country's success in the World Cup". Experience counts. No country since 1966 has won the World Cup without an experienced player. In 1966 it was Bobby Robson; 1970 it was Pele; 1974 it was Beckenbaur; 1978 it was Kempes; 1982 it was Dino Zoff; 1986 it was Maradona; 1990 it was Rummenigae; 1994 it was Romario; 1998 it was Deschamps; 2002 it was the three Rs of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos. Unlike Nigeria, England will keep Beckham because of his experience. One day they will reap from this strategy.
Alain Gouamene of Cote d'Ivoire appeared for his country in seven African Nations Cup competitions spanning 14 years. It was only in 1992 in Senegal that he kept a clean sheet and ensured Cote d'Ivoire won their first and only Nations Cup victory. To date, no man has beaten his appearance record in that competition. Since it appears that the fate of our natural assets has long been laid to rest by successive bad governments, may we now have the grace to value our human assets. May we have the patience to tolerate their mistakes as they carry out national tasks and may they on their own part realise that without humility and fear of the Almighty, their experience will be as worthless as the specks that form by the corners of our eyes in the early morning.
Ngwaba is a company executive in Lagos
