Nigerian Football
Amaju Pinnick backsforeign assistants for Finidi George
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and member FIFA Executive council, Amaju Pinnick, has called on the Glasshouse to give the newly appointed coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George, its full support with his desire to having foreign personnels as back-room staff.
After weeks of speculations, George, was announced as the Super Eagles’ handler, succeeding his former boss, Jose Peseiro, who left the position after 20 months.
However, the intrigue of composition of assistant coaches has been another debate for now with the former Super Eagles winger opting for foreign staff ahead of fellow contestants for the plum job in Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke for the role.
Speaking to Arise TV on Thursday, Pinnick noted that the former Ajax star should be allowed to pick his preferred choice of coach to assist him, citing instances of those who have done so before him.
“For his assistants, it is very tricky. It is normal for him to demand foreign assistants if he so desires.
“Bonfrere Jo was a foreign assistant to Westerhof and later took over the job. Oliseh had a foreign assistant, Siasia had a foreign assistant. It is not new and it is not bad for him to demand the same,” Pinnick pointed out.”
Samson Siasia was cited as a Nigerian who opted for a foreign assistance while in charge of Nigerian teams – the Flying Eagles and later the Super Eagles.
He had Simon Kalika, a Dutchman as his assistant. Earlier, there have been reports that the NFF could not afford a foreign-based coach as the first team head coach but could afford a foreign-based assistant coach, which they opted for with a local head coach.
Meanwhile, in appointing a foreign coach as Finidi’s assistant, Pinnick is of the opinion that it is within the capability of the NFF.
“If there are not enough funds to achieve that, it can always be discussed with Finidi.
“Backroom staffing is more scientific right now. If he says he needs three backroom assistants, perhaps one for goalkeeper training, the others are for other positions.
“The assistant coaches are the engine room of the success of any coach because they see what the coach can’t see.
“But then, it depends on funding from the federation, but I think it is not out of place. Finidi should be allowed to do what he wants to do. But if there is a paucity of funds, they can discuss it with him,” he added.
Reports shows that NFF has recently approached US-based Nigerian coach Michael Nsien to be an assistant to George in the management of the Super Eagles team.
However, he has reportedly rejected the offer from the NFF which is based on being paid per game. He wants the Nigerian football body to match his US-based salary before he can agree to the terms.
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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