We are ready for Ethiopia’s antics —Shorumnu

From ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorumnu has stated that though the World Cup qualifier first leg clash against the Antelopes of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa would be very tough, the Eagles technical crew are however ready for any antics their host would deploy this weekend.

Speaking to Daily SunSports in an exclusive interview in Abuja, the Nigerian ex-international said he would bank on the personal experience he gathered when Samson Siasia led the team to Ethiopia to confront the team in Nations Cup qualifiers.

Enumerating the challenges facing the Super Eagles in the first leg against Ethiopia, the former Eagles first choice keeper,said: “It is going to be a very difficult match. Having passed through the experience in the past when Samson Siasia was in charge, we saw many tricks they played against us but thank God we managed to pull a 2-2 draw result.

“I know that this game is going to be very tough because it is a World Cup qualifier encounter. The fact that every country wants to participate in the World Cup makes it even more difficult and challenging to us. We should expect pressure from everywhere.

“We should be aware of their intimidating supporters, but we have tried as much as possible to psyche the major players like the backroom staff and the players. I can tell you that we have our own plans on our shelves. We will see how far they could work out in Addis Ababa.

“We are ready for their antics and good enough, the players know what to expect in an away game in the continent. They should be up to the task first because, they are African champions and secondly because many of them have tested the situation in the past,” he assured.

Shorunmu equally defended the decision of the Eagles technical crew to invite the same crop of players for the crucial game, admitting that those that prosecuted the game against Malawi in Calabar were really impressive.

“In a way, I’m not suppose to answer the question because it is question for the big boss, but all I can say is that we want to continue from where we stopped in the last qualifier game against Malawi. The most important thing is that we were so impressed with the reactions we saw in the players during that game,” he noted.

On why he benched Enyeama in Kaduna in the friendly against Burkina Faso, he said: “I would say that it was partly a technical decision and our resolve to give everybody chance and opportunity. We cannot boast we have reserve goalkeepers when we don’t test-run them from time to time. We are conscious not to be stranded should anything happen to the main man.”