By Joe Apu
Erstwhile Super Eagles goalkeeper and media officer to the team, Idah Peterside has called on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to ban Napoli of Italy striker Victor Osimhen from the team to serve as a deterrent to other players for his viral video rant on Coach Finidi George.
Idah, who played for several years in the Nigeria domestic league for Sharks of Port Harcourt, Rangers International of Enugu, BCC Lions of Gboko before heading out to to South Africa where he manned the sticks for Temba Classic and Moraka Swallows in a video made available to Daily Sun Sports stated that Osimhen’s insult on Finidi is an insult to all ex-stars of the Super Eagles noting that the Eagles coach is a legend of Nigerian football.
“Osimhen’s rant against Finidi is uncalled for. No English player will insult an England legend in the likes of Allan Shearer, Michael Owen the way Osimhen did.
“It’s quite shocking that a player of his calibre does not have control and as a superstar, a whole lot of people are looking up to him. My caution is not just to Victor Osimhen but also to other younger players who think that playing for Nigeria is forever. Every star today will come and go like others before them. We have seen stars and mega stars – the great Christian Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala, Henry Nwosu, Okocha, Amokachi, Odion Ighalo. People have sacrificed and given their lives for the country. So, this insult must stop.
“Osimhen’s action is very irresponsible and he needs to come out and apologize publicly because what he did is an insult to all of us. Finidi George is a legend. Victor need not pour insults on him like that because he too has served the country meritoriously. If he had issues with the Coach, he should pick up the phone and call him and not go the way he did. The national team is sacred.”
Peterside, who was a regular analyst with SuperSports argued that failure of the NFF taking action against Osimhen will encourage indiscipline in the team.
“Sanity must be restored in the national team and those in authority must ensure this. The NFF President, General Secretary and other members as well as the Sports Minister must show purpose and call these young players to order. Players can’t just because they have phones and record themselves post what they like on the internet because they have followers. Insulting Finidi is an insult to all of us that have played for Nigeria.”