The former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has backed the decision of the newly appointed coach of the Super Finidi George to go for foreigners as his assistants instead of indigenous coaches.
Finidi was appointed as the substantive coach of the Super Eagles following the exit of Jose Peseiro as coach of the team after the expiration of his contract in February. He was the second assistant to the Portuguese for the 20 months he was in charge of the team.
Trusted as an indigenous coach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Finidi has however looked abroad for his assistants after he was given the free hand by the football house to pick his assistants. Like we reported he has forwarded the names of three foreigners to work with him as physical trainer, first assistant and match analyst.
His decision hasn’t gone down well with a section of the media who feels he should have looked inwards for his assistants, the same way he was trusted for the role ahead of other foreign coaches. However ex president of the NFF Amaju Pinnick thinks otherwise.
“Backroom staffing is more scientific right now. If he (Finidi) says he needs three backroom assistants, perhaps one for goalkeeper training, the others are for other positions. We have huge talents in Nigeria both on and off the pitch; you cannot but see that Nigerians are everywhere”, he said on Arise News.
” But the assistant coaches are the engine room of the success of any coach because they see what the coach can’t see. They call his attention to things that he cannot see even before games. It is the backroom staff that makes up the team.
“The coach is just like the leader, he harmonises and streamlines everything that they tell him and puts it to use but it goes beyond that.
“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 because we have critical matches”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
