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D’Tigers captain Michael Eric revealed exclusively to Pulse Sports the emotions he felt about his late father and former Super Eagles assistant coach Joe Erico not being alive to witness his first game in Nigeria.
Nigeria began the 2023 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lagos with a defeat to Senegal, much to the surprise of everyone associated with the D’Tigers.
After the 93-87 loss at Eko Convention Center, team captain, Michael Eric had some words exclusively for Pulse Sports on the game and also quite interestingly, the emotional angle of his late father.
Michael Eric on his late father Joe Erico
Most Nigerians remember Joseph Bassey Eric, aka Joe Erico as a former Super Eagles assistant coach and proponent of the ‘Jogo Bonito’ style of football.
The late great Joe Erico is also the father of Michael Eric, Nigeria D’Tigers captain who revealed exclusively to Pulse Sports that his dear father was in his thoughts during the game.
“Oh yea, 100%. I was even thinking of him yesterday when Jay Jay Okocha was celebrating his birthday downstairs, I saw those things and I remembered when he used to bring me to Eko Hotel for the Super Eagles camps and all those things, it's normal, I always thought of him, I hear his voice, I hear him when I’m doing something,” Michael said.
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Joe had spoken publicly in the past about his dream of watching his son play for the D’Tigers on Nigerian soil but he unfortunately was no longer around to watch it happen when Michael led Nigeria against Senegal at the Eko Convention Center as the 72-year-old passed away in January 2021.
Michael Eric promised to channel that energy towards the next game and be fuelled by the emotions he felt about his father.
“In reality though, I think I’d do better tomorrow because I didn’t perform well myself today, so tomorrow I will do better for myself,” Michael said.
Michael Eric looking forward to D’Tigers’ next game
Having expressed disappointment in his own performance, Eric promised to play better when Nigeria play Mali in a make-or-break game.
“More of just playing together, play defence together, make sure that we can contain each player and also rebound the ball better than we did tonight and also box out well,” Eric responded on what the team needs to do differently in the next game.
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He gave further assurances of an improvement on his own part, “I expect to play better, I’ll conserve myself and keep strength, it's what I do best.”
Nigeria still have a chance to qualify for the next round of the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament but they need to win against Mali, anything other than a victory on Tuesday, August 15 means the D’Tigers are out.
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