Etim Esin whose career was cut short in Belgium not least for acts of indiscipline, wore Nigeria’s N0 10 kit between 1988 and 1992. A diminutive midfielder with bags of tricks, Etim paved the way for the likes of Austin Jay Jay Okocha who preserved the tradition of the shirt in the National team.
In the same role and with the same shirt however, Chelsea’s Mikel Obi has been a laborious sight to watch with no forays into the box in the tradition of the great Number 10s of World football. And Etim Esin can’t bottle his feelings any longer; positing that Mikel has desecrated the shirt.
“Mikel was a big flop in Brazil. He wears Nigeria’s No.10 jersey but he did not show he is worthy of wearing it at the big stage like the World Cup,” Esin told NigeriaNewsWatch.
“He rose to the occasion in South Africa but in Brazil he was not committed and ended up as a monumental disaster.
“Look at how other players who wore No.10 jerseys for their respective countries have been playing including Messi, Neymar, Sneijder and the young chap from Colombia, James Rodriguez.
“He failed to carry Eagles along as the pilot of the team. Have you seen a No.10 that did not make a goal attempt let alone of scoring? Jokes apart, Mikel has not shown he deserves to wear our No.10 jersey.”
Etim Esin suggests that Mikel Obi should do himself a favor and watch past video clips of the great play-makers in Nigerian colors who reveled in the Number 10 kit.
“He should go and watch the video clips of Henry Nwosu and Jay Jay Okocha including my humble self and get some tutorials on how they played as Nigeria’s No.10. You must be special to wear the No.10 jersey and for me, has not done anything special.
“While Musa and Osaze were busy taking all the free kicks and corner kicks he was idle strolling in the pitch. As soon as Onazi was stretchered out, he was exposed (in the France game).
“I don’t have anything against Mikel, when he came into limelight I was one of the first persons that tipped him for greatness but I am amazed that he has yet to live up to expectations and I am highly disappointed.
“There is no doubt that he is a good player having shown his qualities in the past, but he has to raise his game at the moment considering the fact that he plays for a big club like Chelsea or he would continue to warm their bench. I am giving him this advice for his own personal interest,” he concluded.
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