Posted by Tunde Odesola, Osogbo on
A cross-section of Nigerians has criticised the Nigeria Football Association over the appointment of Frenchman, Philip Troussier, as the coach of the senior national team.
A cross-section of Nigerians has criticised the Nigeria Football Association over the appointment of Frenchman, Philip Troussier, as the coach of the senior national team.
Speaking with our correspondent in separate interviews, soccer administrators submitted that Troussier was not the messiah needed to revamp the dwindling fortunes of the Super Eagles.
The Publisher, Today Sports, Mr Paul Bassey, declined to comment on the suitability or otherwise of Troussier for the job, lamenting that it would be calamitous if the national team failed to qualify for the World Cup holding in Germany.
Bassey said, 'I am less concerned about who the coach is, for now. You can go to the end of the world and bring a coach; if we do not qualify, what does it matter? It is most unfortunate that we have allowed our fate to slip off our hands. Our fate lies in the hands of Angola now.
'The whole set up that brought us to this sorry pass stands condemned. If we win our next two matches and Angola win theirs, we are out.
'The thought of a World Cup without Nigeria is really excruciating."
The former Osun State Commissioner for Sports, Youths, Information and Women Affairs, Mrs Remi Wilson, the Chairman, Osun State Sports Council, and the Press Secretary to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Mr Kayode Oladeji, were unanimous in their condemnation of Troussier's appointment.
Wilson said, 'We seem not to learn any lesson from our football past.
'What did Troussier achieve during his first coming? Did members of the NFA go abroad to interview Troussier for the Eagle's job? Something is terribly wrong somewhere."
Olaoye added that circumstances surrounding Troussier's departure eight years ago should be revisited. He said, 'Is Troussier better than our local coaches? We have good local coaches, who know the mindsets of these players. This is a crucial period in the qualifiers when we can't afford any slip.
'This is not the right time to appoint a foreign coach, everything should have been left till after the qualifiers."
The PUNCH, Tuesday, July 26, 2005