Home Eagles goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim tells IZUCHUKWU OKOSI that January 11 International friendly game against Angola will help the team to improve

The home-based Eagles have played a couple of tune-up games in Abuja. Would you say those matches were good enough to measure the team’s preparation ahead of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers?

 The local teams we played gave us some good tests. Because they were playing a national team, you could see the hunger in them to impress. The matches were tough which reflected in the score lines because we could not score as many goals as possible.

 Were you satisfied with your personal output in those test games?

 Well, I did my best. It is now left for the coaching crew and journalists to rate my performances in those three matches. In the first match, Moses Ocheje replaced me while Paul Danjuma was brought in for me in the second game.

 Coach, Stephen Keshi, has now decided to prosecute the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda with at least eight home-based players instead of the five he earlier announced. How confident are you in convincing the coach to include you in the team to Kigali?

 I'm doing my best every day, working on my game to improve. Hopefully, I should make it. I just don’t want to rely on the past glory that I've been receiving invitation to the national team. I'm doing my best to impress both in training and in matches too.

 The Super Eagles are billed to play Angola in a friendly game against scheduled for January 11. How are you looking forward to that game against a team that will feature in ANC?

 It's a good test for us. I mean playing Angola can only help us more to strike understanding in the team. They will be playing in the Nations Cup and they have very good players both in Europe and on the continent.

  There is a general feeling that the home-based players should be given more opportunities in the first team of the Super Eagles. How do you fancy your chance against the trio of Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba and Austin Ejide?

 All the goalkeepers you mentioned have paid their dues in the national team. Everybody has his chance and mine would come. I respect those guys but I'm not ruling out the fact that I can get my chance in the team. But it requires patience and hard work really.

 How has it been working with the team’s goalkeepers' trainer, Ike Shorunmu?

 He's a good coach. I've learnt a lot working with him and I'm happy that he is still part of the squad.

 Shorunmu was part of the last technical crew of the Super Eagles headed by Samson Siasia. Would you say it’s good for Nigerian football that he is still in that position?

 It doesn't matter who trains the goalkeepers, it could be any coach. But it must be said that continuity pays in football. The coach (Ike) has represented Nigeria in the past and so he is vastly experienced.

Any other former international who played to the highest level can also do well in that role.

 How do you see Nigeria's chances in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup qualifiers?

 On paper, it could be said that we have fairly good draws, but in football these days, there are no minnows and so we must guard against complacency when playing the likes of Kenya, Malawi and so on.

 We don't have to underrate our opponents and we just have to pick our points both home and away to avoid waiting till the last day for qualification. What we have been experiencing in the past regarding the manner of our qualification or non-qualification must not be allowed to happen again! We made some silly mistakes in the past and we must not be disgraced again. We must work together to be in the 2013 Nations Cup and 2014 World Cup.

 Vincent Enyeama currently commands the first choice position in the Eagles. What is your relationship with him and other goalkeepers?

 Enyeama is a thorough professional. He is the kind of person that wants perfection and he is also very dedicated to his job on the pitch. He is a motivation to up-and-coming goalkeepers like me. He once said that I have a very bright future as a goalkeeper and told me to keep it up. Don't you feel sorry for him that he is not getting enough playing time at Lille?

 When he signed for the French team, he met a goalkeeper in the team who is a national team goalkeeper, but his time will definitely come.

 Who would you say is Nigeria's best goalkeeper in history?

 I didn't watch Emmanuel Okala, but I saw some of his videos and he was great between the posts. I would therefore pick him as my all-time best goalkeeper in the history of Nigerian football.

 What about the present generation? Who is your pick after Okala's time, and also your best in the world?

 My best goalkeeper in Africa now is Vincent Enyeama, while Edwin van der Sar is my best choice in Europe and the world.

 Could you tell us your toughest game in the 2010/11 league season?

 It was a home game against Rangers. We won 1-0 but it was very tough. I was happy with myself for stopping their strikers.

  How would you rate the standard of the league in the concluded season?

 The standard was okay. It was very high because every club wanted to play on the continent. The top four clubs merited their positions in the end.

 It's a pleasure speaking with you Chigozie…

 Thank you, you're welcome.