Former Super Eagles’ striker, John Chukwudi Utakla (The Attacker) has declared that the Nigerian national team’s current coach, Gernot Rohr deserves to get the same kind of support that the former handler, Jo Bonfere got from the country’s soccer governing body, megasportsarena.com reports.
Utaka, who winded down his career playing for Portsmoputh of England, after several years in France, noted that Bonfrere got immense backing that helped him win Africa’s first soccer gold medal at the Olympic Games with Nigeria’s under-23 squad at Atlanta ’96 and then went on to win silver with the senior team, Super Eagles, as co-hosts of the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations.
In casting his mind back at the gains and strides Bonfrere achieved for Nigerian football, the 38-year-old Utaka, who shot to limelight while starring for Ismailia of Egypt, added that Rohr would be able to surpass the performances if he received adequate support from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), his assistants, all the players, officials and fans.
The ex-international attacker-cum-winger, who also excelled with Stade Rennes, RC Lens and Montpellier of France, added that NFF should support to succeed, because he believes the former Girondins-Bordeaux of France manager has already made meaningful contributions to the Eagles, since taking up the job in August 2016, then got a renewal in June 2018.
As Rohr’s second current deal with the governing body is set to expire next month, Utaka, who scored six goals in 49 appearances for the Eagles and featured at the 2002 Mundial, is rooting for the 66-year-old tactician to continue on the job, having guided the Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and to finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
‘The Attacker,’ who also played a significant role as Nigeria finished third at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, as he got a crucial winning goal against Cameroon, stressed that he believes Rohr can perform better than his predecessors, but that would depend on if he is fully backed by the NFF.
Utaka told Brila FM: “The boys know him more than the previous person, so give him that chance and support just like the little they did with Bonfere Jo at the Olympics. He might do better than what he has done but I think, he will do a good job.”
