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Nigerian legend, Emmanuel Amuneke, current head coach of Zambia’s Premier League side, Zanaco FC, talks about his experience playing for the Super Eagles, having to finish a match with one eye, his time at Barcelona, coaching in Zambia and more, in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD
How is the competition in the Zambian topflight league?
It has been very challenging, I must say, but you know that I’m not the kind of individual to run away from tough moments. When I joined the club, they were 13th on the log, but afterwards, we are now ninth, five points away from the fourth-place team and 14 points behind leaders Power Dynamos. Since I started my career, I’ve been open to challenges and I’m ready for them always, from my days with the national team in Nigeria till date. I don’t shy from challenges, just like I was when I was playing and I’m not scared to fail as well because it’s also a process.
What has it been like playing against the big clubs like Power Dynamos and Zesco United?
Those games have been feisty and memorable as well. We recorded a famous win over Zesco United last November, which came after a draw at home to Power Dynamos.
What’s the experience like coaching away from Nigeria?
The experience has been great, enticing and encouraging so far from everyone. My name is a household name in the game. I’ve been a coach in Sudan, Tanzania, Egypt and now in Zambia. It’s the challenge that excites me more and I live for moments like this. The important thing for me is to pass knowledge to the next generation, which I love doing now. It’s something I love doing and I’m happy for this fresh task here and I hope to grow better than I have.
Which of your coaching job do you regard as the toughest so far?
The coaching job is tough and that means that all the jobs I had in the past were tough with their challenges. But you know, I’m not scared to fail because that on its own is a learning process, which makes individuals better. Every coach who gets appointed know that once results are not going their way they are shown the exit door. So, I’m always prepared to be sacked when I get a new role, but I give my best always. I’m not always comfortable staying in my comfort zone. I love challenges and that’s why I’m enjoying my job here. As a player I was never scared of taking on defenders or tackles, so, now I’m into coaching, I’m not scared to stick to my philosophy of the game. Like they say, trouble takes you to the next destination. The experience gained has made me fit into different parts of the job. Like today, everyone is celebrating Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, but nobody gave them a chance when they started out. But look at where they are now eight years after they played at the U-17 World Cup. I’m privileged to have coached them and I’m planted here in Zambia to find the next Osimhen.
Barcelona currently tops LaLiga with your former teammate Xavi Hernandez in charge of the team. Do you think he can lead the Blaugrana to the title this season?
With the way they started, I think Barcelona can win the title. He (Xavi) is doing a great job with the team because of the opportunity he got and that is the difference between Africa and the western world. The western world invests in their people and are not so crazy whether you win or not. I’m very happy for Xavi being at the helm. When he initially came in there were doubts over his abilities to lead the team, but he is a player the institution called Barcelona created. But Nigerians love a quick fix and that is where we get it wrong. We want to win the World Cup by speaking big grammar and not to work hard. We need to ask ourselves some pertinent questions — which talents, individuals are they investing on to grow and work for them? In Europe, they identify talents for the next generation, so, why don’t we emulate such process to help our sports, not just football. One thing that excites me about Nigeria is that after every World Cup tournament, we gather and ask ourselves which way forward and towards the tournament we start dreaming about winning the World Cup.
The system must develop talents, make provisions not the 1994 generation alone but others after us. If we continue with being tribalistic and applying favouritism and the religion card, we won’t get there because they have turned to deceit.
The highlight of your playing career was winning the AFCON title in 1994 and the gold medal in the men’s football event of the 1996 Olympic Games. How do you feel scoring the winners in both finals?
It’s an amazing feeling to have scored such important goals for Nigeria to help win the AFCON title in 1994 and the Olympics in 1996. It consoles me each time I remember the struggles and pain I went through playing for the country; they remain the best goals I scored for my country. There was a qualifier I starred in against Algeria when the ball hit my eye. I could not see for seconds, but I was chasing the defender to retrieve the ball. We all knew we needed a point to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and we achieved that goal collectively. I ended up playing the game with one eye. Due to coach Clemens Westerhof’s tactical plan, I found myself on the bench from the first game at the 1994 AFCON until the final match. I did not expect that I would play the final but the chance came and I grabbed it, making the headlines. That team was made of great players, so, there was no reason to be annoyed. Instead, I was hungry sitting on the bench before the final. At the Olympics in Atlanta, I recall coach Jo Bonfrere telling me that there were calls for me to be dropped from the starting line-up for the final game. My reply to him was that he should play the players who would help the team win gold and not who he thinks deserves to play. If you decide that I should be on the bench, I will take my spot there and whenever you need me I will be ready. And it happened that I scored the winner. I was always honest with the national team throughout the years I spent there as a player and as coach.
How did you feel on the night when you knew you were joining Barcelona from Sporting Lisbon?
I was very excited joining the biggest team in Europe at that time and to play under Louis Van Gaal was one experience I was looking forward to. On the eve of the day I was to sign for Barcelona, I did not sleep at all and in the morning I was nervous when the entourage did not come on time to pick me. I thought the deal will fall through but they came and I was glad to have played for the team. I am glad to have played for Barcelona in my active days in football, but the present generation is far better than my era when the likes of Pep Guardiola, Ronaldo de Lima, Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo were the star players of the side.
When you look at this present generation, their mental speed is very high and gives them the ability to read their surroundings and make accurate passes on the field. When a group of players play cohesively and have field vision far greater than other teams, there is no doubt that they will be a terror to other competitors. Look at the likes of Gavi and Pedri, they are the future of the club. In my era, we had a collection of talented star players and played good football as well, but today these lads are ready to dominate with their accurate passes. If you press forward, you leave your rear exposed and they’ll dominate you greatly. It’s really a complex situation.