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Former home-based player Anayo Iwuala lifts the lid on what it feels like to train with foreign-based stars like Victor Osimhen and William Troost-Ekong in the Super Eagles.
Former Enyimba FC player Anayo Iwuala has opened up about his experience training with foreign-based stars in the Super Eagles camp, specifically highlighting the differences he noticed compared to his time in the Nigerian league.
In a recent Eagles Tracker video shared on social media, Iwuala expressed that being part of the national team felt like a "lifetime dream," especially after his shock transition from the NPFL to international play.
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Iwuala, who earned four caps with the Super Eagles starting with an AFCON qualifier against the Benin Republic in 2021, noted that the training environment was markedly different.
"When we went there, it’s clear that we were different from the rest," he stated.
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He emphasised that while he might have been a standout player at Enyimba, the level of play and training methods among foreign-based players like Victor Osimhen and William Troost-Ekong were on another level.
“When we went there, it’s clear that we were different from the rest. Every angle, we (the home-based players from the NPFL) were different (from the foreign-based players). Everything we were different. And we knew we were different, you know we came from Nigeria, Enyimba to be precise.”
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He described the training sessions as involving "two, three touches without touching the ground," contrasting this with the more casual style of play he was accustomed to in Nigeria, which he referred to as "playing ‘jojo’."
To adapt and learn, Iwuala often observed his teammates during practice, despite some perceptions that he and other home-based players were isolating themselves.
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“Sometimes I stayed to watch so I could learn. But pictures came out that we were isolating ourselves from the rest but you need to look at what people are doing so you can learn so you don’t mess up. I might be a superstar in Enyimba but that was Enyimba.”
He acknowledged the support he received from former coach Gernot Rohr, who encouraged open communication and a welcoming atmosphere for all players.
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“But kudos to Gernot Rohr (then coach) he tried giving us open hands, then spoke to us to be open and free,” he added.
Currently playing for Al-Arabi in the Kuwait Premier League, Iwuala continues to shine in his career while reflecting on his journey from the domestic league to representing Nigeria on an international stage.
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