Sunday Oliseh, ex-Super Eagles captain and coach has endorsed the transfer of striker Victor Osimhen to SC Napoli even as he offered the former FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner tips to survive in the highly competitive Italian Serie A.
Oliseh holds the distinction as the first Nigerian ever to play Italy following his transfer from Belgian side RFC Liege to A.C. Reggiana soon after he star for the Super Eagles at the USA’94. He would later played for Italy’s Old Lady (Juventus) after stints in the German Bundesliga with FC Köln and Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax.
“Thanks for reminding me and as the first Nigerian to play in the Serie A, I will say that Osimhen’s transfer to the Serie A from the French Ligue 1 is a good one,” said Oliseh who played as a centrocampista (midfielder) in his heyday. “The Serie A is a good league for him to play especially at this moment because it has changed from what it used to be during our time when it was ultra -defensive.
“Then, the result can be a s a little as 1 -0 with only Juventus always dominating.
“I also think the mentality of the country as a whole has changed too and this will enhance his (Osimhen) quick integration into the group.”
The 45-year-old Oliseh who scored one of the best goals at the France 1998 World Cup with a ferocious shot that earned the Super Eagles the winning goal in the 3-2 defeat of Spain in group stage match against Spain in the 1998 World Cup, said Osimhen will be judged by the number of goals he scored for the Gli Azzurri (The Blues).\
Oliseh counselled Osimhen:“ For Victor to play well in the Italian league , he has to integrate himself with the team and must have a good understanding with the coach.
“He already has an advantage because he has been bought with expensive price and I won’t be surprised they would do everything to put him in a good playing situation.
“My advice is that he must continue with his hunger for goals because as a striker in Italy, the assumption and expectation of everybody is not that you played well but that you scored goals.
“That is why you see players like Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero and others were monumental stars in Italy during their playing days because of the number of goals they scored,” noted Oliseh.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
