Epic movie buffs will remember Mel Gibson’s classic performance as William Wallace in the ‘Brave Heart’, his enthralling harangues before leading his men to battle, however, Eric Chelle is channeling his inner Wallace.
It has been over 3 decades since the silver screen gifted us that hair raising speech in Wallace’s final battle, and now sitting inside the press conference room at the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria’s head coach.
Eric Chelle’s battle charge to his Super Eagles players was one of strong emotional evocation.
Sitting calmly, with a smile on his face that belied the man’s desire for a Rabat invasion, Chelle delivered a passionate harangue in his pre-match presser ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal against Morocco.
It has been a grueling two weeks for the 48 year-old, who celebrated his one year in charge of the team with a dominant 2-0 quarter-final victory against Algeria in Marrakech.
When he was asked about the team’s mental state as they prepare to face the host nation inside the 65,000 capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Eric Chelle paused, drew a deep breath before declaring his most riverting lines yet at this tournament.
“We don’t know what will happen after the game; if we win or lose, because this is football, but, I’m so proud of my players.”
“Like Alex said, we’re like a family; we laugh together and suffer together; because we’re a family.”
“I already won because I will end this tournament with 28 brothers. They have my respect and I have theirs too.”
“I am happy when I wake up every morning and I find them smiling. So, for my little brothers, I give my best for them, and I really want them to win this trophy,” Eric Chelle said.
Nigeria and Morocco will face off for only the 6th time in the competition’s history and though the Atlas Lions have only a marginal edge, at this stage in 1980, the Eagles triumphed 1-0 marching on to win their first AFCON title.
“When I took this job, the reality was that I was a fan of this National team since maybe the World Cup in 1998. I bought the jersey and every game I would travel to watch their games.”
