The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) yesterday announced Finidi George as the new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria on a permanent basis, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
In the announcement made yesterday by the football house, the 51 year old was given the role to replace Jose Peseiro whom he worked with as assistant coach at the AFCON, where the team finished second behind the host Cote d’Ivoire.
Peseiro left his role upon the expiration of his deal in February declining to extend his stay despite meeting the target for an extension which is getting to the semi final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
One key thing missing in the announcement of Finidi as coach was the area of his assistants. No one was mentioned in that capacity and a member of the executive board of the NFF in a chat with OwnGoalNigeria.com explained why his announcements didn’t come with that of his assistants.
“We have to empower the local coaches, when Paseiro was announced it was unveiled he will come with his assistants, So why not also give Finidi the same privileged and or atleast be part of the selection process for his assistants”, he said.
“If we (NFF) annouced him with assistants, we have already weakened him as the assistants would start feeling like they too are appointed by NFF like him and it may even lead to sabotaging him, but any assistant that comes in with the coach’s agreement would be loyal and will stand to always support the coach to succeed”, he stated.
On reports that the NFF has recommended some coaches for the role of the assistant he said that is a possibility, but any process will involve Finidi having the final say. ” We can do that but Finidi will be part of the decision making and will have the final say”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
