Players and officials of the Super Falcons started landing in France this week, ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated friendly against France.
Reports of injuries from online media outlets to some members of the squad might lead to fresh call-ups to any player on stand-by.
I maintain my original stance of this being a solid squad capable of solid displays. You have a blend of experience and youth mixed with highly professional home-based and foreign counterparts.
Coach Madugu comes across as a strategist who places square pegs in square holes. I remember vividly Oshoala producing one of her most exciting performances in Super Falcons' colors in a while when this coach played her on the flanks to use her raw pace to terrorize.
He might be a makeshift appointment but I have no doubt he has his eyes on the prize - being made the team's substantive coach.
And this match offers his ample opportunities to showcase his tactical wares in a market of possibilities.
The issue of who is capable of harnessing the huge potentials inherent in this team is a cause-célèbre (topic of heated debate) among Super Falcons fans. Some believe vehemently it should be an expatriate while others will gladly hand the role to an indigenous person with no concerns.
Me, I don't mind so long as the coach is competent and tactically sound. Our indigenous coaches, in my mind, are sound in the functionally/physically aspect of the game but they are lagging behind a little bit in the more modern scientific/tactical aspects. It's not entirely their fault, the way football is managed in our country can frustrate even Pep Guardiola if he handles this team.
But, you make do with what you get. Indigenous coaches unleash the Super Falcons to go toe to toe with oppositions - which I love, although it also leaves me frustrated when we lose. Foreign coaches play with caution which sort of rubs us of the opportunity to see our players individually "express themselves".
These are 2 extremes and a middle-ground between players express themselves and showing tactical caution is needed.
Is Justine Madugu the man to find that middle ground?
Comments