Ahead Angola 2010 Nations Cup
IK Uche eyes quick recovery, Kanu queues behind Amodu
SUPER Eagles' injured striker Ikechukwu Uche believes that with a little bit of luck, he will be fit for the Africa Cup of Nations slated for Angola in January 2010, just as his captain, Nwankwo Kanu, has thrown his weight behind the embattled coach Shaibu Amodu.
In a chat with local radio station, Brila Fm, the recuperating Real Zaragoza star revealed that his time on the sidelines was coming to an end, having already started physical exercise to regain strength in his muscles. Uche, however, said he was not thinking of the date for his return and could not really put a hand on it for now.
"I don't know, I just have to take it easy day by day," he said. "I just have to keep working hard. I don't really want to think about the months they said before. Everyday is a new day. I just have to take it as it comes. I don't have to think of how many months.
"Even if you ask me, I don't know. It depends on how fast everything is going. When you come back and when you will not come back, I don't know. I can only tell you that everything is going well and the exercises I have been doing, everything has been good."
Uche was Nigeria's leading goal scorer in the successful campaign for the joint 2010 Nations/World Cup tickets before an injury he sustained while playing for his new club, Real Zaragoza, knocked him out of action. The Getafe former striker's season was feared over after he ruptured his cruciate ligament in his left knee during Real Zaragoza's 1-4 loss to Sevilla early in the season.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles skipper, Kanu, has revealed his support for coach Amodu to lead the team to next year's World Cup. Kanu sees in Amodu, who the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) gave a vote of confidence on Wednesday, as the right man to guide Nigeria at the mundial, saying that agitation for his sack was unnecessary.
The Portsmouth of England star said the agitation for Amodu's removal was not unusual, but believes that the coach is competent to take Nigeria to the World Cup. Kanu said: "If you ask me, I don't give up on people. The country we are in is a country where people tend to forget things. The only thing we know is that it must go our own way.
"We only know one way. I'll give you an example: The coach of the U-17, everyone is praising him. Tomorrow he goes to U-20, he plays three games and loses, everyone will be shouting.
"We have gone through a lot of things. The ticket is here, the coach has delivered the ticket. So, let's just support him."
