The decision of Eric Chelle to pick LASK defender Emmanuel Michael in Super Eagles provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations came as a surprise to a lot of people, when it was made public yesterday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Michael who completed a full time move to the Austrian side in the summer after one year on loan from Simoiben FC was the star of the Nigeria U17 team of Nduka Ugbade three years ago, when they won the WAFU B tournament.
In that tournament, he picked up three man of match awards in five games excelling from his left back role with three well taken free kick goals plus an assist in the final.
This season he has made five appearances for the team in the Austrian top division, but more importantly is how he has looked comfortable when he plays despite it being his first season as a professional footballer.
Chelle was taken aback by his technical level when watching him following a recommendation from one of backroom staff. The coach immediately got across to his contact in Austria who told him how highly rated the 19 year old is.
Originally a midfielder he was converted to a left back by the coaches of the Nigerian U17 team, and it’s probably why till date he is still very comfortable in possession and always make himself available when building up from the back.
Although still not certain to make the team for the tournament, Chelle is however given him a chance to feel he is under his radar by including him in his preliminary list with a view of handing him his debut in the nearest future.
Quick, strong, highly technical and also very combative he graduated from the same academy that produced Benjamin Fredrick owned by Ibukun Simon, the wife of Super Eagles star Moses Simon.
