Meet German star Jordan Torunarigha who is on Gernot Rohr's wish list for Russia 2018 World Cup
As countries continue preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, new players are being scouted by various national teams to dump their adopted nation for their fatherland when hostilities commence in the eastern European nation come June.
Among the growing lists include Nigeria-born 20-year-old German U21 star, Jordan Torunarigha, who is being offered a chance to play at the World Cup in Russia by Super Eagles’ Franco-German manager, Gernot Rohr.
However, as the debate ranges on whether the Hertha defender would accept the switch of allegiance offer, various stakeholders have come out to express different views for and against the move.
Torunarigha's adviser Tomas Zorn set the ball rolling after confirming that eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) alongside Eagles’ coach have their sights set on the youngster’s switch of nationalities ahead of the Mundial.
"It's true. We have such a request from the NFF,” he opens up, even as he was quick to admit that, “former Bundesliga pro and today's Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr (64) has been trying for months to win Torunarigha for his team. Now he lures with a squad place for the World Cup,” he noted.
However, on the other divide, DFB- U21 national coach Stefan Kuntz is hoping that the 1.89 m tall Hertha Berlin defender rejects Nigeria’s tempting offer.
"Jordan is a top player, who absolutely convinced me. He has a great left foot and his development is far from over,” the top coach stressed.
Jordan who was born in Chemnitz and grew up in Berlin qualifies to switch allegiances to Nigeria, for whom dad Ojokojo(48) earned 12 caps for the Super Eagles in the 1990s.
Interestingly, Jordan joined Hertha as a child in 2006 and signed his first professional contract on 19 December 2016 started football as a striker before Hertha's U-15 coach Ante Čović convinced him to switch into a defender.
READ ALSO: Nigeria eye Hertha defender Torunarigha
The left-footed player has already, earned 17 caps for the German youth sides’ between2012–till date and has also been penciled down in the junior Die Mannschaft side to tackle Kosovo on March 27, 2018 in an U21 European Championship qualifying match during the ongoing international period ahead of the 2019 tournament in Italy.
Reacting on the latest development regarding Jordan, Hertha coach Pal Dardai believes the forthcoming 2018 World Cup in Russia might be too early for the youngster who is still learning the rope.
"The World Cup is certainly a great opportunity for him. But maybe it is better for the development, if he goes through the U21 at the DFB. Maybe then it works out with the German national team,” he submitted.
However, with less than three months to the World Cup, it is still unclear if the NFF, Torunarigha and FIFA will have enough time to sort out issues surrounding switch of allegiance before the kick-off date of Russia 2018 football fiesta in June, remains to be seen.
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Source: Naija.ng