Coach of the senior national team of South Africa Hugo Broos is facing criticism over his decision to include defender Ime Okon in his preliminary list of players called up to the team for their upcoming world cup qualifiers games in September, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Broos in his preliminary list picked the 20 year old who has a Nigerian father and a South African mother in his team for the games against Lesotho and Nigeria respectively. He was raised by his mother after losing his father at a very young age.
In the past, the former SuperSport United said he was open to playing for Nigeria before he was handed a first time call up to the South African team by Broos.
Now at German second division side Hannover 96, he is widely expected to make the main team for a competitive game for the first times after two previous missed opportunities.
That said his inclusion hasn’t gone well with a section of the football community in South Africa, who feels the defender isn’t fully sold out on their project, but plays for them because he wasn’t considered by Nigeria.
They feel he isn’t committed enough to play in a such high profile games that will potentially decide their fate in the world cup qualifiers , but legendary goalkeeper and former captain of the team Andre Arendse feels different and praised the quality of the defender.
“Ime Okon is a super talent, but we better be careful we don’t lose him,” Arendse said. “He is definitely one for the future. I know what I am talking about because I’ve had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa.”
Ade Emmanuel
