FEATURE ARTICLE

Friday, April 26, 2024
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Belgium
VICTOR BONIFACE AND NATHAN TELLA: DESERVED "BUNDESLIGA" CHAMPIONS!

" The Super Eagles of Nigeria, have a bright future and can realise their immediate and long term ambitions, given the correct developmental environment." Cyril C. Nwokeji

" God gives success, we can only make an effort as humans." Cyril C. Nwokeji

" Good coaches are born, not made" Cyril C. Nwokeji

" Soccer nowadays has become a coach's game" A popular soccer wiseness

" Soccer nowadays has become a chess game of sorts, with both coaches at the opposite ends of the chess board directing/urging on their players to victory" Cyril C. Nwokeji

ours sincerely is indeed happy and very proud of the achievements of our courageous patriots: Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, for making Nigeria proud at the highest levels of world soccer, by winning one of the top five soccer leagues in Europe: The "Bundesliga", the elitist German soccer championship! It is indeed the first time since 2002 that a Nigerian player has won that championship. The last player was, Sunday Oliseh.

Their achievement is particularly noteworthy because this time around, after twenty-two years, the "Bundesliga" was won by the two aforementioned players! Their victory also came in style, as they won it with five matches to go! And dethroned to the 'bargain', the record champions of German soccer, FC Bayern Munich, which eleven year domination of the "Bundesliga" title, was 'overthrown', by Bayer Leverkussen. Bayer Leverkussen, as a consequence, won the "Bundesliga" title for the first time in their history!

Needless saying the aforementioned Nigerian players played a very key role in the conquest of the "Bundesliga", by Bayer Leverkussen.

Victor Boniface, with his eleven goals in eighteen matches and two assists and Nathan Tella, with five goals, two assists, in twenty matches, certainly have a huge share in the success of Bayer Leverkusssen, as the new German soccer champions of the elitist division. Congratulations to them on their enviable achievement!

Particularly gratifying is the fact that they are Super Eagles' players. And will certainly bring their talents to bear in the Super Eagles' campaign for continental and global honours.

Their success, particularly for Victor Boniface, puts him in contention to be : the "2024 African footballer of the year"! His chances would be further brightened by the prospects of also winning: the German FA cup and the Europa League; two competitions where Bayer Leverkussen are still very much in contention to win.

If Victor Boniface wins Africa's best player of 2024 diadem, he would follow in the illustrous footsteps of his fellow country man and Super Eagle, Victor Osimhen. This could potentially herald another period of a golden generation of Nigerian/ Super Eagles' players, whose success would certainly rub-off on the fortunes of the Super Eagles of Nigeria; with the potential concomittant consequence of more honours accruing to Nigeria! This is certainly desirable.

One cannot end this piece without acknowledging the enviable and important role played by their Spanish coach: Xabi Alonso. He certainly should take credit for not only assembling a team of fine soccer players, but, most importantly, moulding them into a formidable team that took the German soccer terrain by storm! Yes by storm, because Bayer Leverkussen, are no absolute top German soccer side. Yet they braved the odds and won the highly demanding "Bundesliga", over and above traditional favourites like : FC Bayern Munich, Bourroussia Dortmund etc.

Coach Xabi Alonso, has shown that in coaching soccer, it is not how long but how well! He, apparently, started his coaching adventure with Bayer Leverkussen, and in his first year as coach, won the highly competitive German "Bundesliga" ! He joins the likes of : Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Michelle Preud'homme, Frank Deboer, Filip Cocu, Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane, Xavi Hernandez, Samson Sia Sia, Emmanuel Amunike and the other beautiful and fantastic coaches, who started blazing the coaching trail in an impressive manner, shortly after starting off as coaches. It makes the point, in yours sincerely's considered opinion, that good coaches are born and not made! Coach Xabi Alonso has shown , like the aforementioned coaches, that he is hugely intrinsically gifted in coaching! Congratulations to him !

In conclusion, once more, a big congratulations to our patriotic heroes: Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella. It is very much hoping their success and statures as soccer players of the new German champions would rub-off on the fortunes of the Super Eagles of Nigeria!

UP VICTOR BONIFACE ! UP NATHAN TELLA! UP COACH XABI ALONSO! UP SUPER EAGLES! UP NIGERIA !!!!!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976765951/ref=sr_1_7…

and "Super Eagles of Nigeria in the New Era", also presently on sale on www. Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Eagles-Nigeria-New-Era/dp/B09P7MGP4P/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1641064306&sr=8-1

Also at the link below, one can come into contact with a number of items, needed to support the Super Eagles at "COTE D' IVOIRE 2023" !!!!!

https://teespring.com/stores/super-eagles-of-nigeria

The book "Super Eagles of Nigeria : Pride of Africa" and "Super Eagles of Nigeria in the New Era" can also be gotten through me using my e-mail address as contact point. [email protected]