Posted by By Fidelis Ebu on
The issue of hiring foreign Technical Adviser to pilot the National soccer teams to major international championships has been finally put to rest.
The issue of hiring foreign Technical Adviser to pilot the National soccer teams to major international championships has been finally put to rest. Sports and Social Development Minister, Dr Saidu Samaila Sambawa put the final nail on the hiring of foreign Technical Adviser yesterday during his maiden Media Briefing at the Abuja National Stadium.
Apparently elated at the performances of the Austin Eguavoen-led technical crew so far, Sambawa said plans are now at an advanced stage to improve the standard of the National Institute for Sports where he believes, top class coaches in virtually all fields of endeavour would be produced.
"I am aware that some sports lovers in this country have for sometime been agitating for the appointment of foreign technical adviser to effectively handle the Super Eagles considering the Team's performance over time under the Christian Chukwu's led technical crew. Based on these agitations, my predecessor in office explored the possibility of the engagement of a foreign technical adviser as a long term strategy to handle the National Football Team" Saidu Samaila Sambawa said.
Continuing, the Sports Minister said, "May I seize this opportunity to explain why we decided to engage the services of the indigenous coaches for our National Teams. Above all considerations, it is to encourage, expose and develop the coaches in line with international practice so that we will have internationally recognized coaches. You will agree that a good number of honours have been won for the country by some of these coaches both at continental competitions and world cup championships in the age group level.
"We are confident that in the near future our coaches would get the endorsement of FIFA, CAF, other African countries and Clubs who would engage their services. It was our indigenous coaches that took Nigeria to the last editions of the Africa Nations Cup and the last Senior Male FIFA World Cup Championship.
Similarly, all victories won by the Female National Team were under our own coaches", he said. Sambawa added that the decision to stick to indigenous coaches was in line with the government policy.