By Emeka Obasi
Andrew Uwe captained Flying Eagles to their first ever global laurel, a bronze medal, at the USSR 1985 FIFA Under 20 Championships. Nearly four decades later, the field giant is offering his services as coach of the team.
” Nigeria is my country, as a former captain of the Flying Eagles it is my wish to help with football development if offered the opportunity to handle the team. I began from the grassroots, so I understand what it means to groom future stars,” Uwe told me in an intercontinental chat.
That bronze medal at the Central Lenin Stadium, Moscow came in spectacular fashion. The Nigerians had lost 2-1 to the Soviets in one of the group matches. The hosts bubbled with confidence when both teams met again in the Third Place match.
Coach Paul Hamilton withdrew goalkeeper Aloy Agu and introduced Christian Obi. The game was decided through penalties after regulation and overtime failed to produce a winner. The Flying Eagles won 3-1.
That was not the first time Uwe led the team to an out of this world result. On the way to the global event, Cameroon proved tough, defeating Nigeria 3-0 in the Yaounde first leg. The Central Africans were blessed with stars like Emile Mbouh and the Biyik brothers, Omam and Kana.
The return leg in Lagos highlighted Monday Odiaka, who got a hat – trick and right winger Michael Dominic, who took the place of Ndubuisi Okosieme, just as Mark Anunobi displaced Friday Elaho on the left wing. The Flying Eagles froze their opponents 5-1.
Uwe moved on to bigger dreams. In 1988, his goal for Iwuanyanwu National against Setif of Algeria in Ibadan, made it the first time a Nigerian club would win the home leg of the CAF Champions League finals. Rangers lost to Hafia in Lagos in 1975, Shooting slumped to Zamalek in 1984.
Uwe won two African Nations Cup silver medals with the Green Eagles, played in the finals of the African Winners Cup with Leventis United and did the same with Iwuanyanwu National in the CAF Champions League.
The towering defender who began from small fields in Lagos, first felt national touch in the 1981 Ramat Cup, sponsored by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON). Some of his mates were Bremner Alladah, Muyiwa Motajo and MacMillan Ogbomo.
From Nigeria, Uwe moved to Belgium for a professional career which also took him to Germany and the United States. At the end, coaching was the attraction after studies at Trinity University, Texas. He also qualified as a referee.
Uwe holds the UEFA B Licence, the German Elite Licence, the highest for Age Grade teams. Also part of his profile is membership of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Rich resume, no doubt.
The coach never forgot his background. Always following developments in Nigeria, he flew back home to join the Vandrezzer Academy as Chief Coach. And his marks are still etched in the hearts of the boys he groomed.
Former Captain, Daniel Emmanuel, who currently plays for SOBEMAP FC, in Benin Republic, pointed out Uwe’s virtues.
“We call him Daddy. He was not just our coach, he is a father figure in and off the pitch, a mentor, life coach, adviser. He never got tired of his players. He welcomed ideas from players and we were ready to play for him, anytime,” Emmanuel said.
The NFF is searching for the right man to handle the Flying Eagles. Uwe has shown interest. This is not the first time he is applying to coach one of the national teams. The last attempt could not get him a place on the bench of the Golden Eaglets.
Samson Siasia was Uwe’s team mate in 1985. The striker has had the luck of coaching the Flying Eagles, the Dream Team and the Super Eagles. The present coach of the Eaglets, Manu Garba, was a Flying Eagle in 1983.
Nicknamed Seeler, after German legend Uwe Seeler, the coach recalled his meeting with his idol.
“I felt good when I met Seeler some years ago in Germany. I was with my Under 17 boys in a German Regional League game,” Uwe said.
I believe the Flying Eagles need a father figure like Uwe, a man who jumped molue in Lagos, jumped stadium walls to watch Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami and Emma Okala and ended up playing for the Green Eagles, like the Big Boys.
And I must add that emphasis should not be on a coach who will use old players to win youth tournaments. The best is to hire one that can help turn out good materials that can fit into the Super Eagles.
