Emulate Westerhof, Bonfrere To Succeed As Eagles Coach

Westerhof and Jo

A former international goalkeeper and member of the victorious Atlanta Olympics Dream Team I, Dosu Jospeh has charged Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr to emulate his predecessors like Dutchmen Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo, if he is to succeed with the team. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the coach will soon be handed a fresh contract to manage the Super Eagles and the former Julius Berger of Lagos goalkeeper wants the Franco-German football tactician to redouble his efforts.

Speaking yesterday, Dosu whose blossoming career was cut short by a ghastly car accident in 1997 said Rohr so far has not done anything his predecessors didn’t do as managers of the Super Eagles. He said for him to make a name for himself the way Westerhof and Bonfrere did, the former Gabonese national team coach must do some of the things the duo did like having interest in local talents.

Dosu

It will be recalled that while Westerhof led the Super Eagles to their second AFCON title in 1994 and also guided the team make their debut appearance at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Bonfrere Jo who replaced him led the Dream Team I to win Africa’s first Olympic gold in football in 1996. Dosu, therefore, tasked Rohr to win the Africa Cup of nations, AFCON, title and also lead the Super Eagles to at least semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup to be reckoned with in the history of Nigerian football.

“I want Rohr to wake up and do better than what the indigenous coaches have done. If he wants to be reckoned with, he should strive harder the way Westerhof and Bonfrere did to write their name in gold.

“He needs to get us to at least the semi-finals of the world Cup and also win the AFCON without losing a match in the preliminary round.

“Nigeria is like Brazil. We cherish our football. We adore it. This is why anytime our national team is playing, people rush home to go and watch.

“Football is religion in Nigeria. The game is more potent than politics. Politics divide but football unites us. When Nigeria is playing, we put aside all our differences to support the team. “Therefore, he must appreciate this passion and do better than what he has done so far with the team,” he said. Dosu, however, commended Rohr’s for bringing young players into the team to blend with the older and more experienced ones.