Osimhen: An unnecessary outburst

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigeria’s current most celebrated striker, Victor Osimhen this Saturday hit the headlines for a wrong reason. He had a live video post on his social media handles and poured invectives on Finidi George, the erstwhile Super Eagles’ coach.

No matter the course he was attempting to crusade, he got it all wrong. He did not present himself as the model footballer for aspiring stars to look up.

No matter what Finidi George must have spoken against him, going to the social media to vent his anger and using foul languages are the least expected of a player of his standing and an African Footballer of the Year award holder.

Had it been his club coach, he would not have reacted the same way he has done now. If he does, he is aware of the consequences. Stars have been known to lose corporate endorsments owing to out of field attitudes and utterances.

A star player must be model who distinguishes himself in action and in character.

Coaches in the past have spoken one or two bad things about their players. But such players employed decent ways to express their displeasure.

Take for instance, when Mourinho’s views about the ages of African players escaped into the public domain and he particularly pointed at Samuel Eto’s who was then in Chelsea.

 Mourinho then was secretly recorded questioning age of Samuel Eto’o: ‘He is 32 years old, maybe 35, who knows?

Mourinho was preparing to speak to Canal Plus when he was filmed speaking to a Swiss businessman during a recent sponsor’s event, with the recording being made public on Monday.

As weighty as that could be, Eto’o reacted by saying: “And you may have noticed that the old man was better than the youngsters. Some believe I am going to retire in the United States or in the Middle East, but I have regained the joy of the Champions League and I am going to carry on playing in the Champions League.

He showed he had no hard feelings to Jose Mourinho over the Chelsea’s boss’s jibes about his age with a goal celebration mocking his ‘old-man’ status.

The Cameroon striker looked like a teenager as he raced on to to put Chelsea ahead against Spurs in the 56th minute of their 4-0 win And his goal celebration — walking like a hunched old man to lean on a corner flag, feeling his back — brought a smile to his team-mates and Mourinho.

He has made his point known. Osimhen would not have openly insulted any of his coaches in Europe.

What is wrong is wrong, no mater the status of the player. Osimhen needs to grow up and should be asked to offer apologies . It is Finidi George today as a national coach.

That position has been disrespected and desecrated by the player’s outburst. Tomorrow, the NFF president or even the sports minister could be the next target. Other players too, might take a cue from what Osimhen has done. Enough of this nonsense.