Mikel Obi is a kid, it’s degrading to argue with him – Sunday Oliseh

Former Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has criticized John Mikel Obi after the ex-Chelsea midfielder questioned his coaching ability on his podcast.

Oliseh, who led the Nigerian national team for eight months from July 2015, resigned amid various controversies. Recently, Mikel Obi, a senior player during Oliseh’s tenure, described him as a great individual but lacking in coaching skills.

In an interview with Elegbete TV, Oliseh responded sharply to Mikel Obi’s comments.

“I think the kid (Mikel) needs help, to be honest,” Oliseh said. “There’s something I’ve not really shown much; I won the best coach for the first period of the Jupiler League, which is in the Dutch league. That was not voted by the press but by the players and the coaches of the league.”

He continued, “I’m the only, and the first coloured man from Sub-Saharan Africa to ever win this title with a club like Fortuna Düsseldorf, who had very average players who were able to qualify from the second division from last position to the first division, where they still are now.”

Oliseh emphasized that he doesn’t need to prove his coaching credentials to Mikel. “I don’t need to justify myself being a good coach or anything to the kid. I call him (Mikel) a kid because my son is 27 years old. 

“When he made this statement, I heard about it, but I couldn’t go on television and start arguing with someone like him. It’s degrading as a coach; you don’t go into the media and start arguing with your player.”

Oliseh concluded with some advice for Mikel, “But I would like to help the boy because I think he needs some help. You cannot become a legend with your mouth. You cannot achieve what you were not able to achieve on the pitch outside the pitch by talking on a podcast.”