Is Etim Esin faults Ike Uche’s exclusion

EX- International, Etim ‘Maradona’ Esin has faulted the exclusion of FC Villarreal of Spain striker, Ikechukwu Uche from the provisional 30-man World Cup list released on Tuesday evening by Super Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Keshi.

Nigerian football fans were jolted that despite the daz­zling form of the Abia State born player, Keshi stuck to his guns by shunning the services of the Villarreal FC top striker, whom he accused of lacking tactical discipline to merit a call up to the mundial.

Intrestingly, out of favor player, Osaze Odewingie made his way into the list that boosts of five home based players.

In a chat with Daily Sun­sports shortly after the pro­visional list was made public, Etim described the list as a good one but regretted that Keshi shut the Brazil 2014 World Cup door on Uche.

Etim believed that ,Uche who has been consistently scor­ing goals in his club should have ben pardoned and given a chance to be among the Eagles squad to Brazil.

“I see no reason why Ik Uche who is consistent in one of the best leagues in the world should not have been included in the list.

“I know Keshi as a strong advocate for discipline, I expected him to have had a change of heart by pardoning the young lad. This is World Cup we are talking about and we need our best legs for it.

“Osaze was smart enough to have aplogised to Keshi. It is all about unity and I think that is what Keshi wants to bring to the team.”

Commenting on Yobo, Etim stated that: “Stephen Keshi as the Captain of the 94’ Sqaud under Clemens Westerhof was in the same delimma as Joseph Yobo, and his inclusion of Yobo’s name in the list might be on compensational ground.

“I believe that Yobo’s name appearing on the list is on com­pensational ground because in 1994, Keshi was in a similar situation as captain.

“If not Westerhof, Keshi wouldn’t have gone to the World Cup. Yobo is Keshi’s captian when he lifted the na­tions Cup in South Africa may be Keshi is banking on the luck from Yobo to make history in Brazil.”