Sunday Oliseh might be our biblical Moses.
He was born on these shores, but the former national team captain is not one of us. Like Moses, he is an Israelite with Egyptian training.
According to his Wikipedia page, the 40-year-old only played one year in Nigeria. And that was for Julius Berger between 1989 and 1990. Between that time and when he hung up his boots in 2006, Oliseh featured for Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Ajax, etc.
This his early exposure and football education in Europe stands him apart. If you’ve watched him carry out pundit duties, you will agree he is articulate and knowledgeable.
A lot of early criticisms insist that analyzing football on TV or even tweeting about it, doesn’t mean you will make a good manager. While I’m tempted to nod in agreement, I must quickly point out that there is no Nigerian coach in Oliseh’s class.
We can’t turn up our noses on Oliseh’s UEFA Pro License. It is one of the highest and most respected coaching qualifications worldwide. Mutiu Adepoju and Emmanuel Amuneke are the only Nigerians that have it. For full context however, we must note Oliseh is possibly the only African to have coached abroad.
Yes, it might have been at lowly Verviétois in Belgium. But it does count as an achievement in itself.
Like Moses complained before the Lord, Oliseh himself didn’t sound convinced about his readiness for the Nigeria job.
“So many people have been asking me , why don’t you go and coach the Super Eagles? I want to live long,” he said earlier this year.
“In as much as I know I’m very much qualified for it, I love my country and the proof of this abounds, but I’ll rather share my experience and allow my thoughts and knowledge reach a vast majority.”
Now he’s been asked to come and lead the team.
It’s refreshing to see how the NFF went straight for Oliseh. No sieving through endless applications. No touring of Europe and the Americas under the guise of looking for a random expatriate. Just a let’s-do-this meeting in London.
But Oliseh is coming back to Pharoah’s house.
The same NFF (or NFA in those days), threw him out of the national team over disciplinary issues. But now he returns, armed with his rod (his technical know-how and principles).
Like Moses, he must look Pharoah in the eye and say “let my people go!”. He needs to be strong-willed and ensure he stands up to the NFF’s antics, that frustrated his predecessors in the past. He has proven that he possesses an impressive analytical mind and it must shine through in the five-year plan, he has been tasked to produce.
When Oliseh leaves the job, I hope he leaves with his head high. Young, wide-eyed coaches always seem to clash against the establishment. For instance, what many don’t know, is that Barcelona sapped Pep Guardiola. We must not kill Oliseh.
We have stoned Stephen (Keshi) to death. Now, step forward, Moses. And show us the promised land.
Comments