Ifeanyi Eduzor
Following the recent appointment of former Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, as an assistant coach of the national team, former Super Eagles player, Yisa Sofoluwe, has described it as a welcome development.
The NFF Wednesday, announced Yobo as one of the assistant coaches of the national team, replacing Imama Amakapabo. Sofoluwe believes it will give Yobo an opportunity to prove himself, having served the country meritoriously on the field of play.
According to the former defense master, the appointment of the former Everton of England and Ferneberche of Turkey defender, is an indication that football administrators in the country are beginning to have faith on ex- international’s ability to handle the various national teams, saying that such appointments should be sustained, as is done in other countries of the World.
READ ALSO: http://Why you mustn’t love your kids more than your spouse
“It’s a welcome development because apart from creating jobs for ex- internationals, it will enable them contribute their quota towards the development of Nigerian football, especially now that many Nigerians are clamouring for ingenious coaches to handle our national teams,” began Sofoluwe, who was known as Defence Minister during his playing days.
“ Your’e also aware that for sometime now, the players union in the country have been making case for the involvement of ex- players in running the country’s football and I think this is a good step by the NFF.
“Apart from this, Yobo played football at the highest level and was capped 100 times by Nigeria. He played for the best club sides in Europe and participated in many African Nations cup and World cup and is eminently qualified for the job but all now depends on him to prove himself and convince Nigerians that his appointment was not a mistake”, stated Sofoluwe who represented Nigeria at the 1984 and 1988 African Nations Cup.
On insinuations in some quarters that the former Eagles skipper does not have a coaching experience to qualify him for the position, Sofoluwe noted that it is now left for him to prove his critics wrong and avoid the mistake of Imama Amakapabo whose failure to qualify the U-23 team for the Japan 2020 Olympics led to his sack.
“ It’s true that Yobo does not have a coaching experience but his ability to deliver is what matters most. I know he is going to take it as a big challenge and prove his critics wrong and avoid making the same mistake Amakapabo made during his stay at the national team,” he concluded..
