To succeed in sports and to become a champion, as in life generally, is hardly ever a tea party. It is never easy. It takes discovering talent early, hard work, patience, perseverance, plenty of time to train and practice, discipline, commitment, focus, failures and disappointments, plenty of luck, and a good guide.That’s why I join in the ongoing celebration of a new coach for Nigeria’s Super Eagles. It is great news.
I had thought that the ‘birth’ of this new Black nation in 1960 would steadily, thereafter, vaporize the remnants of any inferiority complex, including in the simple act of coaching Nigerian talented youngsters to play a simple game of football. It is not rocket science. Nigeria was stuck in this worthless and senseless vortex of a mentality that promotes mediocre foreign coaches, discriminates against qualified Nigerians, and perpetuates the racketeering that has been going on in broad daylight in Nigerian football.
Now, he brings all of that and adds to them what foreign coaches would never have in a million years – the deep knowledge of domestic Nigerian football, understanding the psyche of Nigerian players and their football culture of all-out ‘attacking football’ driven by unique skills honed on the bad training grounds all over the country.
I do not know. What matters is that he is one amongst a generation that has earned the right to start the football coaching revolution in Nigeria. It actually started with Stephen Keshi. That generation is special. It has all the essential ingredients. Samson Siasia was doing a marvelous job as a national coach until he fell into the trap of international swindlers. With his suspension served, he may soon bounce back.
He must not embark on this journey alone and must have assistants that will add value to the technical team.