The decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to hand the job of the U17 team to Manu Garba is one that has generated lot of discussion, with a lot of question centered on the rationale behind handing him the job again, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Manu will officially begin his third spell as coach of the team since leading them to the U17 World Cup title in 2013. He was at the helm in 2015 and also 2019. Only three other people in Emmanuel Amuneke, Fatai Amoo and Nduka Ugbade has handled the team since Manu in 2013.
Speaking on the decision to hand the Gombe born tactician the job, a top executive member of the NFF said critics of the appointment know little or nothing about the antecedents of the coach.
” People don’t know who Manu Garba is and what he has done is criminally underated and understated. No coach has produce the number of players he has who have made it to the Super Eagles from U17. Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho top the list”, he said.
” Manu is someone who has eyes for talents and if given the necessary support without interference he will no doubt deliver. U17 is developmental just like U20. We want to see players progression not winning the title even though that isn’t bad. If you are using that parameter then he is the best U17 coach ever”.
On the timing of the appointment, which is coming less than a month to the start of the WAFU tournament which is the qualifiers for the AFCON, he said only an experienced coach like Manu can deliver within such a short frame.
” That a failing on our part because we should have made the appointment public a lot earlier. But Manu isn’t new to the job and he knows how to go about it and deliver within the shortest possible time. He is the man for the job”, he concluded.
