Brazil 2014: Mikel can inspire Eagles–Owolabi

Former Green Eagles’ prolific winger, Felix Owolabi, has tipped Nigeria international and Chelsea of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi, to inspire the Super Eagles to an impressive outing at the World Cup in Brazil scheduled to kick-off on June 12. Although Mikel enjoyed limited playing time at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourihno in the just concluded English Premier League season, Owolabi said that would not affect his game at the World Cup, stressing that it might turn out a blessing in disguise for the player and Nigeria, since he would have conserved enough energy for the mundial. “Mikel is a big player by any standard. It doesn’t matter whether he played many games or not for Chelsea in the just concluded season; he will always command respect on the pitch, and I believe his experience will count in the Nigerian team at the World Cup” remarked Owolabi, popularly known as Owoblow in his hey-day. On whether Keshi should continue to play the Chelsea midfielder in the attack as against the defensive role he is more familiar with at club football, Owoblow explained that it depends on the opposition at any given time and the player’s mentality. “Mikel is no longer a young player. He’s very mature with a lot of experience. Whatever role the coach wants him to play would depend on the opposition. He could play in the offensive against one team and as a defensive midfielder against another team. It depends on the formation the coach wants to adopt, which, of course, has to do with the quality of opposition” he explained. “For instance, I was a left-footer in my playing days, but at a time, my coach asked me to play from the left full-back position and I did it very well and even scored a goal. Sometimes, I was asked to play from the midfield” Owolabi recalled. He, however, advised Coach Stephen Keshi not to build his team around individual players, but rather raise a team with character that would give Nigeria good representation at the World Cup in Brazil. “What we need is a team with character, not one built around individual players. I believe Keshi should use the international friendly match against Scotland to give us a 23-man squad that would make Nigerians proud at the World Cup in Brazil” he said. ‘We’re not going to Brazil for a jamboree and I’m sure that Keshi knows that this World Cup is an opportunity for him to write his name in gold. God has shown him (Keshi) favour with such a rare privilege and I hope he makes the most of the opportunity” Owoblow averred