Atlanta ’96 Dream Team goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu has noted that too much pressure and expectations have been on Manchester City’s player, Kelechi Iheanacho.
Dosu warned that such unnecessary pressure from fans and the media could ruin the youngster’s career.
He said Iheanacho must be allowed to grow naturally in order for him to blossom for both club and country.
The young striker has scored four times for the Citizens in the league with three assists in 14 matches, nine of them as a substitute this campaign.
In an interview with New Telegraph in Lagos, Dosu, an Olympic gold medallist, urged fans to give the player the time he needs to excel at the club level which he said would also rub on his performance in the national team.
He said, “Iheanacho needs time to blossom to the peak of his career because he is just starting and we are expecting too much from the youngster.
“This might ruin his career just like the media and fans did to Barthelomew Ogbeche.
“Ogbeche started very early for the Super Eagles at the age of 18 and after sometime, we forgot and abandoned him.
“Even when he revived his career in Holland and was scoring goals week in week out, he was never considered because many felt he was too old not remembering the fact that he started early in the Super Eagles.
“Iheanacho as a 20-year-old player is battling with top strikers at Manchester City and many are not considering the fact that he has to rise through the ranks.
“Very soon, the same people who want him to deliver quickly will soon tag him a bench warmer and say he is not good enough for the Super Eagles.
“I think the media needs to educate the fans on how difficult it’s for African players to breakthrough into top European clubs.”
Dosu, whose career was cut short by injury, pointed out that Iheanacho will do well for both country and club if he is played behind the strikers.
