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Rohr sweats over injured stars
By: Sammy Wejinya | 08 Jun | 16:36
© supersport.com
© supersport.com
Gernot Rohr © Shengolpixs
Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr said he will have to tinker with his squad for Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations clash with South Africa against the backdrop of key personnel who will miss the game due to injury.
Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and centre half Leon Balogun will both miss the game alongside captain John Mikel Obi as a result of injuries.
Rohr knows the trio are extremely important members of his squad and was quick to acknowledge that he has to tinker with his squad on Saturday to get the better of Bafana Bafana in Uyo.
“It is important to win the first game of course. We'll play the game without some of our important players like our captain, John Obi Mikel who is injured,” Rohr told assembled media at a press conference in Uyo on Thursday.
“We also miss our goalkeeper (Carl Ikeme) who is also injured (and) we also miss our important central defender, Leon Balogun,” he revealed.
Rohr then took the time to pour praise on Bafana Bafana as h emphasised their lengthy unbeaten run which spans two years.
“We have to make do with what we have and try to beat South Africa who have not lost a game since 2015.
“The last defeat of South Africa was in October, 2015 against Angola.
“They are unbeaten for the last 17 games. They have recorded nine victories and eight draws so this tells you we are up against a very good team,” he said.
The experienced tactician rounded up by insisting that the formidable record of the South Africans does not put any extra pressure on his side as they prepare to face the 1996 African Kings at the ‘Nest of Champions’.
He also sought to clear the air over his perceived preference for overseas-based talent over their locally-based counterparts.
“There are two types of pressure as regards selecting locally based players and those based overseas but we don't face any kind of such pressures.
“We are used to this because we are professionals.
“Also, when you play with pressure, you cannot play well so we are relaxed.
“I select the players and it's my job to monitor them at their different clubs.
“I'm not the only one who does that as I believe every coach of every national team in Africa does that.
“We see videos of their games and also communicate with the players.
“For the local players, we do it with the assistant coaches.
“We work as a team and there's no pressure for us at all.
“Everybody knows that this match is very important as it is the first that we'll play in the 2019 Afcon qualifiers,” he concluded.
Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and centre half Leon Balogun will both miss the game alongside captain John Mikel Obi as a result of injuries.
Rohr knows the trio are extremely important members of his squad and was quick to acknowledge that he has to tinker with his squad on Saturday to get the better of Bafana Bafana in Uyo.
“It is important to win the first game of course. We'll play the game without some of our important players like our captain, John Obi Mikel who is injured,” Rohr told assembled media at a press conference in Uyo on Thursday.
“We also miss our goalkeeper (Carl Ikeme) who is also injured (and) we also miss our important central defender, Leon Balogun,” he revealed.
Rohr then took the time to pour praise on Bafana Bafana as h emphasised their lengthy unbeaten run which spans two years.
“We have to make do with what we have and try to beat South Africa who have not lost a game since 2015.
“The last defeat of South Africa was in October, 2015 against Angola.
“They are unbeaten for the last 17 games. They have recorded nine victories and eight draws so this tells you we are up against a very good team,” he said.
The experienced tactician rounded up by insisting that the formidable record of the South Africans does not put any extra pressure on his side as they prepare to face the 1996 African Kings at the ‘Nest of Champions’.
He also sought to clear the air over his perceived preference for overseas-based talent over their locally-based counterparts.
“There are two types of pressure as regards selecting locally based players and those based overseas but we don't face any kind of such pressures.
“We are used to this because we are professionals.
“Also, when you play with pressure, you cannot play well so we are relaxed.
“I select the players and it's my job to monitor them at their different clubs.
“I'm not the only one who does that as I believe every coach of every national team in Africa does that.
“We see videos of their games and also communicate with the players.
“For the local players, we do it with the assistant coaches.
“We work as a team and there's no pressure for us at all.
“Everybody knows that this match is very important as it is the first that we'll play in the 2019 Afcon qualifiers,” he concluded.
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