Amuneke hails Nwakali on Huesca promotion

Former Nigerian winger and cadet coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised former Nigerian cadet attacking midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali following the promotion of Nwakali’s club, SD Huesca, to the Spanish top-flight, LaLiga. Huesca finished 70 points ahead of closest challengers, Cadiz, in the Spanish Segunda Division.

Amuneke previously handed Nwakali the captain’s armband of the Eaglets side when the young Nigerian squad won the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup in Chile. Nwakali emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that tournament.

Amuneke, who is the Sporting Director of Egyptian Premier League side, Misr El Mikkasa, also charged the Nigerian youngster to make hard work his watchword ahead of the tough LaLiga challenges in the 2020/2021 season.

“I’m happy for him and his club. He (Nwakali), called me to inform me of his club’s promotion to the Spanish top flight, LaLiga.

“I congratulated him, at least for his efforts in driving his club to the LaLiga. It is important he realises that hard work is the key, especially as they campaign in the tough LaLiga.

“I have been communicating with them, (Samuel) Chukwueze, calls me regularly. He chats often and I always let him know that discipline and hard work leads to career success,” Amuneke told Nigerian sports reporters from his base in Egypt.

Amuneke said the potential of his 2015 U-17 world-conquering side is yet to fully realised.

“When we were preparing for the Fifa tournament in Chile nobody gave us any slightest chance.

“We were written off by our own compatriots. They said the team was not good, probably because those they expected or wanted to be in the team were not there.

“But in life, everything we do had been predetermined by God, in His hands lies the success or otherwise, of our efforts. Once you make honesty and hard work your watchword, success is bound to come.

“Today, everybody is talking about Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Nwakali. They are the same players that were written off before we went to Chile. They did not only went, saw and conquered the world in Chile; the rejected players have become the major talking point of our senior national team, Super Eagles.

“Of course, there are still others like Kingsley Michael who is in Italy with Cremonese, a Serie B side on loan from Bologna and Orji Okonkwo who plays for Montreal Impact on loan from Bologna, among others.

“Hopefully, they will get the opportunity to blossom on the big stage like others,” said the former Tanzanian national team coach.