The decision by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has termed his decision to hand Benjamin Fredrick his competitive debut in the world cup qualifiers at the expense of team’s captain William Troost-Ekong as the bravest move of his coaching career so far, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
In May last year Chelle stumbled on Fredrick who was a player of the U23 of English Premier League side Brentford during the Unity Cup, which took place at his club’s stadium.
Fredrick fresh from being voted as the club’s U23 player’s player of the season was handed a call up to the Nigerian team, after captain Ahmed Musa left the camp for Nigeria.
The 20 year old acquitted himself perfectly in the final game against Jamaica, but many were surprised when Chelle threw him in from the start in the world cup qualifiers against Rwanda in Uyo.
Chelle started the young defender who around that time joined Belgium side FC Dender on loan at the expense of Ekong. A move he termed as the bravest considering Nigeria had to win that game to keep their qualification hope alive.
” We spoke about it and he termed it the bravest decision of his career because it was a game that Nigeria can’t afford to lose. Imagine if it had gone wrong with Fredrick at fault for the result. It could have ended his reign as coach of Nigeria and probably destroy the boy”, a source close to the coach said.
” He (Chelle) was sure of his conviction even when senior players in the team felt otherwise and protested the decision. He stood by his decision believing that it was the best for the game”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
