Former Nigeria U17 coach Emmanuel Amuneke has lifted the lid on his relationship with two of the players he discovered as coach of the Nigerian U17 team who have since gone ahead to blossom with their senior career.
Amuneke was coach of the Nigeria U17 team of 2015 that swept all comers to lift the Under-17 World Cup with the duo of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze among the star act in the team.
However while Chukwueze is still in touch with the coach who gave them their big break in football same can’t be said about Osimhen who hasn’t spoken with the coach since 2018.
“Well it has been long…I dont have his contacts. I think the last time I spoke with Osimhen, if I am not mistaken is 2018, then I was in spain and he was in Wolfsberg. I spoke and encouraged him. That was the last time we spoke. And like I said I wish them well”, Amuneke told Kingsley Ediale of nationaldailyng.com.
“It’s only Chukwueze that I communicate with most of the time. He sends me messages, I reply. Where I need to chip in advice I do. However I wish all of them success and that’s the most important thing. And my prayer is to see them go beyond what we have done as players”.
Despite the snub the former Barcelona left footed ace who last handled the national team of Tanzania is full of praise for the new Napoli record signing describing him as a player who has the ability to be one of the best in his position.
“One thing about Victor is he is a player that likes to win. That wants to play. He doesnt like losing. He is always ready for challenges. I knew he was going to make it. The issue now is people around him. What kind of direction, what kind of advice are they given him. Because football in Africa, when everything is going well for you, everybody is your friend” said Amuneke.
Ade Emmanuel
