TheCable

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, David Ngodigha, has backed Chigozie Agbim’s inclusion in the 30-man provisional list for 2014 World Cup preparation.

Since his lacklustre performance at the African Nations Championship in South Africa, Agbim has been a byword for incompetence among football lovers.

But speaking to TheCable, Ngodigha, the technical adviser of Nigeria National League side, Go Round of Omuko, Rivers State, backed the under fire keeper to redeem himself.

“Agbim made mistakes because the expectation to win the CHAN was so much, especially after winning the Africa Cup of Nations,” Ngodigha said.

“I remember committing a blunder in our first leg game against Angola in Luanda, but Clemens Westerhof stood by me. He told me then that one can have a bad day but one can always bounce back. After training and if he’s fit and also if he’s ahead of Akpeyi, he should be taken to the World Cup.”

The u-23 team goalkeeper trainer has confidence in Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Agbim, and Daniel Akpeyi, but said it doesn’t mean that there are no other keepers.

“But these are the ones we have for now,” he said.

“In my days, we had Rufai, Etta Egbe and I. But Patrick Okala, who was not the number one choice, was at one point manning the post for the Super Eagles.”

He urged Nigerians to desist from criticising Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi over the omission of some players from his 30-man provisional squad.

“It’s not everybody who can go to the World Cup, and thank God all of a sudden, we are blessed with talented players,” he said.

“We should give Keshi all the support he needs. We should pray he selects the best 23 from the provisional list. This is not the time we start bickering that Mr. A is not in the team or that Mr. B is there.

He used the preparation of Egusi soup to drive home his point.

“You can decide to use dry fish in yours while another person uses chicken; the end result is the Egusi soup.”

He also warned the team to guard against complacency. saying : “We should not underrate Iran who could be a banana peel; we should take them seriously as we will take Argentina.”