The duo of Prof. Solomon Braide of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, and Chief Ernest Elochukwu, one time captain of Tennis Port Harcourt club 1928, Tennis section, has advised Nigeria Football Federation to respect coaches contracted to handle the country’s senior national football team.
Saying, less interference to the coach job will give the coach a relaxed mind to carry on his job, as the coach needs a relaxed state of mind to achieve result.
Prof. Braide is one time President of Goldashe International football club of Port Harcourt, said, the problem of Nigeria football is from the top, and advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to regard any coach saddle with the responsibility of coaching the Eagles, the desired freedom and support for the coach to record result.
He noted that the Nigeria Football Federation should always bear it in mind that once a coach is contracted or appointed to coach the Super Eagles, the coach is carrying the responsibility of producing result for the rest of Nigerians, at such, he needs the support and prayers of all Nigerians including the Nigeria Football Federation to succeed.
He reminded the Nigeria Football Federation that the coach is a human being like themselves and also has his personal family and individual responsibility, adding that, the coach position of the country makes him responsible to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians, while taking care of his family and immediate personal responsibility.
For Chief Ernest Elochukwu, he said, Nigeria football problem is lack of professional administration from the Glasshouse (NFF).
He therefore admonished the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to bring to bear proper administration while having less interference with any coach contracted to handle the Super Eagles.
The outspoken sports enthusiast further admonished the NFF to go back to the drawing board and do total overhaul as to bring on improvement to Nigerian football.
Chief Sir Elochukwu believes that there are people who can turn things around for Nigeria football professionally, such people should be sought and entrusted with turning Nigeria football around without interference.
Meanwhile, he has also appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to discriminate any coach contracted to coach the Super Eagles either white or black.
He frown at the way and manner Stephen Keshi was treated, the NFF and Nigerians always interfering in his job, saying the coach either white or black should be regarded the same way and the way the white will be treated the black should also be given the same treatment, the black should not be made inferior to the white he admonished.
He also said, unless Nigerians stop treating black coaches that coach the Super Eagles with inferior mentality, Nigeria will not measure up with other football developing nations. ###
