Sunday Mba: No fear for foreign pros
New Eagles hero Mba
Keshi: Kaita not injured
Warri Wolves forward is now the name on many lips in Nigeria after
his two goals last week against Liberia.
He tells MTNFootball.com coach Stephen keshi has instilled so much confidence in the players in the domestic league and as such, he does not expect any of them to be intimidated by their foreign-based counterparts ahead of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Rwanda next Wednesday.
MTNFootball.com: Most Nigerians only know Sunday Mba as the player who scored two goals against Liberia last week. So, tell us a little more about yourself.
MBA: I’m 23 years old and I have played for several clubs like Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, Dolphin and I’m currently with Warri Wolves.
What is your preferred position?
I can play either as an attacking midfielder or behind the main striker as a support striker. Coach Keshi has played me as a support striker.
How have the expectations being on you since your goals in Liberia?
It’s normal to see people come around you if you are doing well. But I’m not under any pressure. I knew I would score in that game and I told some of my friends as much, but after the goals I didn’t even remember to celebrate as I had promised.
I believe in myself but I’m not carried away by my goals because I know I can do even more.
But most certainly the goals have helped you.
Yes, they have done a lot to my confidence.
In that case, how confident are you that you will be among the 11 players from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) who will be picked for the final squad for next week’s Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda?
It’s the coach who picks the team but I hope to be one of those selected for this game.
What should Nigerians expect of the Eagles in Rwanda?
They should expect a good game, which we hope to win and score more goals.
Players from the domestic league have been hailed recently, but there are those who say that when the foreign-based pros arrive, these players will be intimidated and so no longer give out their best. Do you agree?
No. Football is the same everywhere and I believe we will play what we know how to do best. I believe we will be equal to the task this time because the coach has instilled so much confidence in us.
You are part of the Nigeria U17 team who crashed out in the first round of the African Junior Championship in Gambia in 2005. How has it been for you with the various national teams since then?
It was not a bad experience in Gambia, then I was a much younger player. But thereafter I featured in some qualifiers for the U20 national team under coach Godwin Uwa and later I was also part of a home-based Eagles led by coach Okey Emordi.
He tells MTNFootball.com coach Stephen keshi has instilled so much confidence in the players in the domestic league and as such, he does not expect any of them to be intimidated by their foreign-based counterparts ahead of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Rwanda next Wednesday.
MTNFootball.com: Most Nigerians only know Sunday Mba as the player who scored two goals against Liberia last week. So, tell us a little more about yourself.
MBA: I’m 23 years old and I have played for several clubs like Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, Dolphin and I’m currently with Warri Wolves.
What is your preferred position?
I can play either as an attacking midfielder or behind the main striker as a support striker. Coach Keshi has played me as a support striker.
How have the expectations being on you since your goals in Liberia?
It’s normal to see people come around you if you are doing well. But I’m not under any pressure. I knew I would score in that game and I told some of my friends as much, but after the goals I didn’t even remember to celebrate as I had promised.
I believe in myself but I’m not carried away by my goals because I know I can do even more.
But most certainly the goals have helped you.
Yes, they have done a lot to my confidence.
In that case, how confident are you that you will be among the 11 players from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) who will be picked for the final squad for next week’s Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda?
It’s the coach who picks the team but I hope to be one of those selected for this game.
What should Nigerians expect of the Eagles in Rwanda?
They should expect a good game, which we hope to win and score more goals.
Players from the domestic league have been hailed recently, but there are those who say that when the foreign-based pros arrive, these players will be intimidated and so no longer give out their best. Do you agree?
No. Football is the same everywhere and I believe we will play what we know how to do best. I believe we will be equal to the task this time because the coach has instilled so much confidence in us.
You are part of the Nigeria U17 team who crashed out in the first round of the African Junior Championship in Gambia in 2005. How has it been for you with the various national teams since then?
It was not a bad experience in Gambia, then I was a much younger player. But thereafter I featured in some qualifiers for the U20 national team under coach Godwin Uwa and later I was also part of a home-based Eagles led by coach Okey Emordi.
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