Following the impromptu sack of embattled Super Eagles coach
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi; the one fans and foes alike fondly refer to as ‘’Big
Boss’’, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed the appointment of
Sunday Oliseh as the new man in charge. Oliseh a former captain of the Super
Eagles just like erstwhile Boss Stephen Keshi was a defensive midfielder for
the Super Eagles, fans would always remember him for his two venomous long
range strikes that earned him accolades at various tournaments.
Sunday Oliseh
also had an illustrious career that spanned from Ajax AFC in Holland to Juventus
in Italy and down to Borrusia Dortmund in Germany. In 2004 he was sacked by
Dortmund for that infamous punch on Vahid Hashemian while playing on loan at
VfL Bochum. He retired in 2006 after playing for Belgian Club KRC Genk.
Theoritically Sunday Oliseh comes with a lot of promise,
having acquired UEFA’s Pro Coaches License which is one of the highest and most
respected coaching qualifications in the world, UEFA ''A'' (Advanced) Coaches Diploma, UEFA ''B'' (Basic) Coaches Diploma, and since 2013 has been a member
of FIFA’s Technical Study Group. Oliseh is known to be strong willed and
passionate, a trait which had never endeared him to the Nigeria Football
Administrators in the past and had been a stumbling block in previous attempts
to clinch the top coaching job. He is eloquent and has a sound football mind,
he understands the game of football.
However, his lack of practical experience in football
management has been his brief stint with semi-professional football club, RCS
Verviers and a period coaching the Youth team of RFC Liege in Belgium. This is
the area that has kept many football lovers uncomfortable and is the factor
which has left many guessing at this swift but contentious appointment by the
NFF. Much as we would love Oliseh to succeed as coach, he is very much a green
horn on the technical bench with just his knowledge and determination going for
him. Only time will tell if the trust and confidence placed on him by the Amaju
Pinnick led NFF board.
Nigeria seems to have a more professional and proficient Football Administration under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick and it is our hope that Sunday Oliseh would be able to show his true worth with the active support of NFF. Oliseh takes up the job with Jean Francois Losciuto, a Belgian who also holds a UEFA license as assistant coach. His proposed job description includes a mandate to draw up a five-year development plan for the restructuring of the game in Nigeria. He will work with local coaches to draw up policy and a homogenous playing philosophy for Nigerian football at all levels.
Comments
Post a comment
Leave a comment
Pls Note:Views expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent that of Naijacynth