Daily Independent Online.
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Monday,June 14, 2004.
Eagles invitation saved my career - Ogbeche
By Uzor Odigbo
Correspondent, Lagos
Super Eagles
Bartholomew Ogbeche has declared that his invitation for a three Nation’s
tournament in England by coach Christian Chukwu saved his career.
Ogbeche who until
his recent exploits in the Super Eagles was written off as a pretender, said if
not for the England soccer tournament, Nigerians would have further dismissed
him from future call-ups to the Eagles following his failure at the Korea/Japan
mundial.
“I am
grateful to the coach for inviting me. I had a terrible time at the world cup,
I played with lots of troubles, injuries and so on which also affected me in my
club (PSG) in France,”
Ogbeche opined that
the three- nation tourney saved him as his extra-ordinary brilliance in goal
scoring vindicated him both from his fans in Nigeria and in France.
The player who
netted three out of the seven goals Nigeria scored at the tournament said he
feels great with his playing form and assured that he will give his best in all
the matches Nigeria would play.
“I am fit
now, no injuries and in relative good playing form. I will be delighted to play
for the country any time I am invited,”
On the new look
Eagles, Ogbeche noted that the Eagles of today is not entirely new, adding that
the injection of promising new
players who seemed to have matured was the only thing that may be
considered new.
He affirmed that
the opposition towards Eagles qualification for Germany 2006 World Cup looks
formidable, but assured that the Nigeria team will pull through.
“It is better
to play Cameroun than play Gabon. Unknown teams usually give trouble everywhere
even at club level. I don’t think any team is being under-rated and
that’s why Nigeria decided to play its best materials in all matches,”
