EMENIKE: LEAVE IDEYE ALONE!

EMENIKE: LEAVE IDEYE ALONE!

Posted: Jul 01, 2013

Super Eagles striker,Emmanuel Emenike finally returned to action yesterday in Ukraine where his Russian club,Spartak Moscow played out a goalles draw against their host,Shakhtar Donestk in an international exhibition game at the Donbass Arena in Donestk.Emenike was on from the start and made way at the start of the second half for a certain Krotov.

This development will gladden the hearts of Nigerians,especially Nigeria head coach,Stephen Keshi who watched in utter disbelieve his strikers fritter away begging chances at the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The strikers' inability to convert their chances hugely accounted for Nigeria's melimination at the group stage of the competitions and many Nigerians have identified Brown Ideye, the Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine forward as the major culprit,a conclusion Emenike has vehemently disagreed with.

  "As far as I am concerned, Brown (Ideye) is a top-class striker any day, any time. As a striker, he is expected to score goals, but sometimes you may find it difficult to do so. But this was one player who made a huge impact at the Nations Cup. I enjoy a good partnership with him and we won the trophy together as a team. I therefore totally disagree with those now condemning him," Emenike reportedly told MTNFootball.

 “Sometimes, criticism does not help a player. Since nobody is perfect, we are all bound to have a down side at a particular time.

 “Ideye is a hard working player, who is always ready to die for Nigeria and we should allow him to work harder to deliver the goals for the nation. He's a good player." 

He said he believes the Dynamo Kiev star will rise to the occasion again. 

"I think this is the best time you can get the best of any under-performing players because he will feel the heat and that will enable him to work harder when given another chance," Emenike said.

 "I could remember when I was trying to settle in the Eagles, when all my efforts to score goals were not yielding fruits, I was heavily criticised.  Now the rejected stone is the toast of many. 

"I recalled in our match against Zambia in Kaduna, I missed some chances and the fans demanded that the coach should remove me. They kept abusing me, but I never allowed it to bother me because I know where I am going to. 

"I totally ignored the critics and remained focus on what I believe I can do to be better. I am a player who knows my ability and always keeps working hard. And that was exactly what I did."   The Spartak Moscow striker said continuity will lift the players in the Eagles.

 "We need continuity in the team. That is the major factor that can really help us when we qualify for the World Cup in Brazil,” he said.   “And we will go to the World Cup with the best legs. The best legs are the players who make mistakes and are then able to correct their mistakes to help the team.” -------------------------- complete sports