Former national team goalkeeper, Joe Erico, has called on Super Eagles first choice goal-tender, Vincent Enyeama, to see his award, Best African Player in the French Ligue 1 for the 2013/2014, as a challenge for more work.
Joe Erico
“In fact, the award is coming at a very right time with 25 days to the FIFA World Cup billed for Brazil this summer.
“It is a challenge for him to keep up the track and work harder for the task at hand. I know him to be go-getter and level-headed player,” Erico said.
Erico, who was also a former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, disagreed with the notion that Enyeama will be carried away with the award and lose focus ahead of the World Cup.
“He is not that kind of player. I have been following him for a long time and I know the kind of player he is. He will rather see the award as a booster for him and for the team rather than being carried away,” Erico assured.
Enyeama was, on Monday, named the Best African Player in the French Ligue 1 for the 2013/2014 season.
The 31-year-old Lille goalie beat Ivorian defender, Serge Aurier (Toulouse FC) and Cameroun’s Henri Bedimo (FC Lyon) in the Radio France International (RFI) and France 24 poll, according to Lille’s official website.
The Nigerian number one choice put up a splendid performance this year with Lille, helping the club reach third place of the French table behind heavy-spenders, Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Monaco.
He maintained 11-game clean sheet this season before he was finally beaten by Bordeaux, after a total of 1,061 minutes. The French top flight record is set by Gaetan Huard of Bordeaux in the 1992/93 season.
Enyeama finished second in the Ligue 1 keepers rating behind Salvatore Sirigu who claimed the league title with PSG.
He succeeded Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now at Dortmund, who won the award last season while at Saint Etienne.
Meanwhile, Enyeama has thanked Nigerians for the support he has received from them, noting that it made it possible for him to be named the best African player in the French Ligue 1 this season.
He expressed delight at the award, adding that he has been totally enthralled by the huge support from Nigerians, promising not to fail the country in Brazil this year.
“Now the season is almost over across the world and all of us have a new focus, which is the World Cup. We will go there and enjoy ourselves and also excel for ourselves and the country.
“I can’t wait for the World Cup to start,” he said.
Enyeama leads three others namely Austin Ejide, Daniel Akpeyi and Chigozie Agbim as goalkeepers invited to the Super Eagles camp by the coach, Stephen Keshi, ahead of preparations for the World Cup.