‘Save Odemwingie’s Soul’

[Folami David]

The furore over embattled and wayward Super Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie has reached a critical point and there is need to help the player out of his present predicament which has seen him become a sort of 'fugitive and vagabond' both at club and national team.
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Since his inglorious Twitter rants that followed his failed bid to secure a last minute move to QPR during the last transfer window, the former Lokomotiv Moscow forward has continued to feature in West Bromwich Albions' fans' black book and it seem they are not ready to let the matter die off, despite coach Steve Clarke readiness to forget the past and forge on with the player.
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Penultimate weekend during the club's end of the season dinner, Osaz was made the laughing stock by ITV Sports Presenter, Adrian Chiles, who mockingly awarded him the club's 'Tweet of the Year Award'.
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However, Chiles has since apologised to the Nigerian international. And only last weekend during the Baggies 2-3 home loss to Wigan, coach Clarke confessed he was swayed by the fan's reaction not to bring in Odemwingie who was already warming up as a fan launched a verbal attack on the player when he briefly broke off his exercises to speak to his wife and child. That was going much too far and the question is, how long would we as Nigerians continue to laugh at the misfortune of one of our sons?
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While it is good that Odemwingie and West Brom have mutually agreed to severe relations at the end of the season, it wouldn't be out of place for Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to demonstrate a large heart by forgetting the player's antics and recall him to the Eagles. It will be a lifeline which will greatly help to salvage Osaz's career - that should be the motive. But will Odemwingie honour the invitation?