Posted by By Patrick Omorodion on
Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and member of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Sani Toro has called for support for the Super Eagles technical crew headed by Austin Eguavoen in the discharge of their duty.
Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and member of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Sani Toro has called for support for the Super Eagles technical crew headed by Austin Eguavoen in the discharge of their duty. Alhaji Toro who spoke at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium, venue of the Vmobile Basketball Challenge said that Eguavoen and his assistants, Samson Siasia and Daniel Amokachi have all it takes to handle the Eagles in the remaining two World Cup qualifying matches. 'The involvement of our ex-players in coaching our national team is long over due.
When I was there (NFA), we wanted the ex-players to come and coach the team but they never came up to take up the challenge. I think (Stephen) Keshi has come out to show them the way and it is a good development for our football", Toro said, adding that he has always maintained that the country doesn't need a foreign coach.
The former Bauchi State Commissioner for Sports commended the efforts of the Sports Ministry and the NFA in appointing a consortium of local coaches, stressing that what the trio of Eguavoen, Siasia and Amokachi need now 'is motivation, total commitment and the support of all Nigerians".
He disclosed that it was the committee set up by the former Sports and Social Development Minister, Col. Musa Mohammed of which he (Toro) was a member that recommended that Siasia and Amokachi be drafted to join Eguavoen because all of them played alongside some of the present players and would understand them better.
'If the coaches and these players are well motivated, by the grace of God Nigeria will qualify for the World Cup. I want Nigerians to believe that the Eagles will win their remaining matches and qualify because I see Angola having a problem on the way", Alhaji Toro said.
He stressed that if the recommendations of the World Cup committee are implemented, the team will qualify because 'every player wants to be at the World Cup. They know what is at stake and if well motivated, they will qualify. Part of our recommendations is that the players should sit with the minister and the NFA chairman who will then ask them what their problems are and then go on to solving the problems". Alhaji Toro said the NFA should begin by ensuring that competent hands are hired to man the various departments because a situation where all the departmental heads are on acting capacity will not augur well for the NFA and the national team as those acting now do not know their fate and will not put in their best.