SHOLA SET FOR NIGERIAN CALL?

Nigerian-born Shola Ameobi is to be invited to play for his fatherland, according to Jo Bonfere, coach of the Nigerian national team. "After our match against Sudan I will go to England to watch Ameobi closely. If he's interested, I'll invite him to play for Nigeria," the Dutchman announced.

Nineteen-year-old Ameobi, who moved to England with his parents at the age of five, has scored twice in nine appearances, including the third goal in Newcastle's 3-1 defeat of Leeds United on Saturday.

Bonfrere explained it was important to explore the possibility of using Nigeria's legion of talent playing at overseas clubs in the national team.

The manager implied that if Ameobi was interested, he could make his international Nigeria debut in next month's proposed friendly against Trinidad and Tobago - although those details haven't been finalised.

The Super Eagles have a busy programme of World Cup and African Nations' Cup qualifiers this year, but they're currently third in a tight qualification group.

Ghana and Liberia head the standings, in a group where only the winner will progress to the 2002 Finals in South Korea and Japan.

(Great - the last thing we want if for Shola to be called up for a heap of games for Nigeria when we need him here)

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

Answers

I had the same initial reaction but I think it would do the lad good. He's not going to feature much when Shearer or Cort or both return.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

If we can keep Shearer and Cort fit then there is no reason why we can't stay with an attacking four of Lua-Lua, Ameobi, Cort and Shearer.

I see no point in shoving either Ameobi and Lua-Lua back into the reserves and this will only hinder their education. Take West Ham's approach to involving youth players and not Arsenal's (Matthew Upson is the prime example).

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

I wasn't suggesting that we "stuff him back in the reserves" just that we would have the luxury of letting him go for a couple of weeks every now and then.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

Sorry Geordie I was making a general point and I agree that we could aford to lose Ameobi for a week every now and then. Hopefully we could get to the stage when Cort would be called up by England and he would have to be missing. That would leave us a bit bare but that's what the reserves are for!

I fear that Cordone has had his chance and is now well down the pecking order. Good business at the time but a lack of opportunities have hindered his performances and he is now consigned to the 'could have beens'.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

From the lad's personal viewpoint - has he a realistic chance + ambition to play for England? If not, then surely he would want to take the chance of playing at international level - perhaps in a World Cup, with Nigeria. It will complicate matters for us somewhat but ultimately Shola has to come first in his own decisions.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

Playing for Nigeria is certainly no poor option. They have some excellent players who could show Shola a thing or two and it would certainly do him no harm to get involved in the the international scene.

The African Nations cup does mean, however, that players are called away during the season and we could end up with a situation similar to Solano's. I would agree that we can't hold him back if he wants to go down that road.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

We need to think what he'd gain from playing with the likes of Kanu etc, though. Aaron has played for NI since he was about 18, in fact long before he was a first team regular for the Toon.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

(from teamtwaddle today)

Ameobi to choose England? Teenage striker Shola Ameobi is once again being courted by Nigeria amid mounting pressure for him to decide where his international future lies. TEAMtalk told you last September that Nigeria, where Ameobi was born, had made it clear to him that an immediate place in their national squad was his if he chose them. But we now understand that Ameobi has been told he is also close to an England Under-21 international call- up next month after a string of impressive displays for Newcastle in the absence of Alan Shearer and Carl Cort. Nigeria's national coach Jo Bonfrere is aware that he faces competition for a 19-year-old who has lived all but the first couple of years of his life in England. Bonfrere has made it clear that he would be interested in the youngster playing for his Super Eagles side. But Ameobi's father, John, has already admitted: "I do not know if Shola would like to play for Nigeria or England but I suspect that having grown up here he would like to play for England." After two goals in six games in senior football, Ameobi's chance may come far sooner than he had hoped.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Dumb question I expect, but do the Club get paid any form of compensation for losing a player to international duty? More importantly, does the Club take out any sort of insurance for injury to players on international duty? I mean with players costing what they do, and the serious problems which injury could cause the Club, it`s quite a big issue. (:o)

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

No and No.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Gal,
I think England carry insurance for the players when they represent their country - not 100% sure, but fairly certain I read that somewhere.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

It does seem odd doesn`t it? Bit like loaning someone an expensive car and risking never being able to drive it again. Oh well, what do I know! (:o)

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

It must be a tough decision for the lad. Put yourself in his place. His ethnic origin is Nigerian, culturally he is probably more than 70% English. I'm sure he feels a loyalty to both. Then there is the football to consider. I presume that he stands more chance of playing for Nigeria than England (I could be wrong there!) so if he's keen to play in a World Cup (and who wouldn't be?) then the pull of Nigeria must be strong.

At 19 years, that sounds like a very difficult choice for a young man to have to make. Good luck Shola.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Isn't the biggest problem for the South Americans the jet lag thing ? I wouldn't imagine it would be so much of a problem for Shola playing for Nigeria - they can't be that much further E/W than we are, but I can't be ardse to check. Ok, it still takes yonks to get there but the old body clock doesn't take so much of a battering.

I'd be inclined to the conclusion it would do more good than harm, but it really depends on how set he is on trying for an England place - he might regret choosing Nigeria and finding that he's come on well enough to play for England by right, but can't because he's already committed.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

He'll bide his time and play for his adopted homeland..... Geordieland

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

How are the plans for the Devolution of Geordie's coming along?

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

The costs associated with internationals are covered by the clubs, the players wages and insurance.

This is why Arse and Leeds etc complain when Kanu, Viduka etc are absent from the club for 2 -3 weeks for African Championships etc. They are still paying with no input by the foreign national associations. They (ARSE) wanted Kanu to play and be paid by his country while he was away because they were sick of his call ups to play every game.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001