As Manu Garba begins his assignment of  Producing a new set of U17 boys for the country, our man SAB OSUJI takes a critical look at the appointment at this point. Box 18 is reproducing the opinion

In terms of experience, Manu has it. In terms of versatility of the terrain, Manu is a veteran. Check it out, Manu Garba was in charge when the Eaglets won the FIFA U17 World Cup in Dubai, UAE in 2013.

But time appears changed. Its no longer at ease with the country at youth tournaments globally. Let's recall 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. That's the last four four editions. Where and how has Nigeria fared? 

And has anyone taken time to find out what has gone wrong, where we may have gotten it wrong and in doing so, fathom a possible solution? I don't think anyone has. And I'm being tempted to conclude that failure to plan, is a clear plan for more failures.

This obvious impending failure is one we could have possibly avoided. Yes, avoidable failure. The talents are much more in abundant supply. The galvanising factor, Coach, is even in excess supply. Then, question is, why the plan for failure.

In attempting to guess, let's recall Ladan Bosso's excuse for failure at the All African Games in Ghana. '50-50', as Bosso is fondly called, told Nigerians to their faces that lack of adequate preparatory time was reason for his team's disappointing performance in Ghana. And if we are to spare Bosso for the 'Kumasi Show of Shame', who now bails the cat? 

Do we continue on same tricks and tracks and yet expect different return? That's the point. NFF are at it again and Manu Garba is set to script similar lyrics. Yes, Manu is already rehearsing Bosso's tunes. Of course, it's a soft landing for Manu as provided by NFF. Otherwise, how can the FA appoint a coach for a team that has its qualification games in less than one month from now? U17 Golden Eaglets is a unique team, just like the U20 Flying Eagles. Unlike the Super Eagles where the coach can sit in the comfort of his room and select all the best players available to the country from all over the World, the Eaglets is a complex team. You need enough time to transverse the country, may be the World too, for youngsters of the required age. The coach will need more than enough time to screen the players, build his team before going through the qualifiers. 

With the qualifiers kicking off next month, methinks Manu Garba does not have enough time to see potential young players, invite them, screen them before building his team. It's obvious Manu Garba is sitting on a keg of gun powder. The Bosso/Flying Eagles experience at African Games in Ghana is immenent. And if it happens, no one should blame Manu but NFF, yes, NFF because they know time is not on Manu's side because you don't expect a competitive Golden Eaglets in less than one month of building from the scratch.