Why Taiwo failed in Milan – Iroha

Posted by admin Headlines Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

23, 2012

Taye Taiwo line up with his Eagles teammates
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Former Super Eagles’ left wing-back, Ben Iroha, has attributed the poor outing recorded by Nigerian defender, Taye Taiwo, at the Italian Serie A giants, AC Milan, to frustration, solitude, bias and gang-up from his teammates.

Speaking to Daily Sunspoorts in an exclusive interview in Abuja recently, the former Golden Eaglets assistant coach, commended Taiwo’s loan move to Queen Park Rangers (QPR), expressing confidence that the transfer deal would bring out the confidence and best in him.

“I remember when I spoke about his transfer prospects when he was still with Olympic Marseille, I said that since Liverpool had a makeshift left back then, the best thing for him was to join the club. He did not do well because you know that the Italians have their own system and mentality. Again, the language barrier was already a minus for him.

“Any of our players in London would feel as if he is almost in Nigeria. They would easily adapt with everything in England because there are many of our players there. From Shittu to Osaze to Mikel, any new player would certainly feel at home easily. When I was in Holland, I was almost alone until Tijani, Finidi, Alloy Agu joined me. I build up confidence when they joined me.

“You know the Italians, the president and manager of the club might want you in the team, but the players might not want you because they prefer their own person. He was isolated and not happy over the situation because he was not having fun. Now, look at him in QPR, he was already bubbling,” the former Nigerian international noted.

Speaking further, Iroha, said: “Taiwo has regained the confidence, composure and smiles have returned to his face. Whether we accept it or not, Taiwo has done well. It is not easy for somebody to keep a starting shirt in the national team for the past six or seven years. For the fact that nobody can challenge him means that he is a good player.

“If he were not good, why did he play almost every game for Marseille and the Super Eagles? I don’t want to compare him with myself because we cannot be the same type of player. He has his own pattern of play entirely different from mine. I could roam up and down but he equally has something better than me,” Iroha stressed.

-Sun

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