By Baron Ike
Ahead of the encounter of Nigeria’s Super Eagles with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on June 10, the camp of the Super Eagles is already bubbling.
This is even made more manifest with the arrival of the last three players expected in the Super Eagles camp who were said to have joined others late Monday night.The players include – Elderson Echiejile, Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo.
Super Eagles in training
Half of the players found their ways to the Uyo camp from their various locations in Nigeria after they were given time off following the intensive camping they had in France.
No fewer than 12 players and technical crew flew from Abuja in the morning of Monday to Uyo.
They were apparently responding to the expectation of chief coach, Gernot Rohr who in an interview in September last year with a FIFA weekly publication “FIFA 1904”, expressed a major concern over African players response to camp invitations.
Rohr, a Franco German who had coached African teams like Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso had remarked: “Punctuality is not their strong point. My challenge is to find a diplomatic way that works.”
Meanwhile, South Africa’s English coach, Stuart Baxter, is blaming clubs for the high number of injured players he has in the camp.
Baxter is worried that adequate report on the medicals of the players have not been made available to him by the clubs after they were invited.
He said: “We expect that when they come [to Bafana] they are fit enough. The problem for me is I have a few (players) training and I would love to have all the players training properly. Not perfect, but we had a good meeting and the players are raring to go.
“When you have withdrawals, you have to respond. I am happy with the players who have come in. I am disappointed we lost key players, but that’s part of the game.”
Regardless, Baxter said that he has done his homework on the Super Eagles. “We respect Nigeria, but we are not going there to make up the numbers.”
He is now forced to alter his plans by replacing some of the injured players. Hlompho Kekana and Kamohelo Mokotjo had already been replaced by Tiyani Mabunda and Lebogang Phiri respectively.
The team doctor, Thulani Ngwenya is reported to have warned that more replacements are in the offing as the clock ticks to the Wednesday departure date to Nigeria.
The doctor revealed that Mulomowandau Mathoho has made good progress after he missed Kaizer Chiefs’ last game of the season against Bidvest Wits due to a concussion.
The South Africans had their first full training at the famous FNB Stadium on Monday, June 5 and the team is expected to depart for Nigeria on Wednesday, June 7.