Rohr Will Roar Louder Than Westerhof, Says Ike Shorunmu

BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA

Former Super Eagles goal keeper, Ike Shorunmu, has expressed delight over the magnificent impact that the technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, has brought to bear on the Super Eagles.
Ike, who once served as national team goal keeper trainer likened Rohr to, Clemens Westerhof, the Dutchman who handled what has been labelled as the golden generation of Super Eagles of Nigeria.
To Shorunmu, the golden generation is gradually being revived.
Shorunmu was Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan before he gave way to Vincent Enyeama.
He told Sports Village Square that “Rohr has shown readiness and commitment to the Super Eagles’ job.
“I see him as one of the best coaches to have handled the Nigerian national team. He has done a great job by giving young lads opportunity to showcase their talents.
“I think he has come to stay and based on technicality, he deserves the job. At times I compare him with Clemens Westerhof. Although he is yet to grab the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup tickets to match Westerhof, I think he can achieve that if given free hands to operate.”
“The players are ready to play for him and I see him as a disciplinarian. It takes time to build and maintain a winning team, but with the set of players he is introducing, I think he will certainly get it right.”
“Looking at the ways the goalkeepers are currently battling for shirts and his principle in selecting players, I see them chasing the record of the 1990 to 1994 set of Super Eagles”.
Shorunmu last featured for Nigeria during the 2002 FIFA World Cup group match with Sweden.