Ekeji, Onigbinde, 4 others to screen foreign coaches

Category: Sports Published on Saturday, 13 February 2010 01:00 Written by Ismaila Lere & David Ngobua Hits: 807

Trustsports can report authoritatively that the Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Chief Patrick Ekeji, a former international and Green Eagles coach who doubles as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Eagles, will be leading five other members to London to have preliminary discussions with the foreign coaches who have been shortlisted by the NFF technical committee for the job.

Coming along with Ekeji from the side of the presidential task force are former internationals Chief Segun Odegbami and Austin Jay-Jay Okocha.

Joining Ekeji fro the NFF will be NFF technical committee chairman, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, former international Dominic Iorfa and former Green Eagles Coach and NFF consultant on technical matters, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde who is going to serve as the secretary of the screening team.

Barring visa hitches, the six –man screening   committee will meet with the shortlisted coaches on Thursday in London to drill and extract relevant information which would guide it in making a list of those who would be interviewed in Abuja on February 26.

The active participation of members of the PTF in the screening exercise is not unexpected as head of NFF technical committee, Chief Ogunjobi had hinted that at least two members of the presidential committee would be invited to join the NFF committee in carrying out the assignment.

He had told brilafm.net that since the PTF will be picking the bills for the incoming technical adviser, it is only constructive that they should play a part in the screening exercise and render advice where necessary.

“PTF have to be part of it because government is going to fund the technical adviser that we are bringing. So, we want them to be part of it. They need to be there and listen and advise” Ogunjobi submitted

Although the list of foreign technical advisers who have been shortlisted for the Eagles job keeps changing and increasing, names like current coach of Republic of Ireland, Giovan Trapattoni, Sven Goran Eriksson, former England coach, and Klaus Toppmoeller are some of the latest inclusions in the list.

Speaking to Trustsports yesterday on condition of anonymity, a member of the London bound team from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said visas and flight hitches may change the venue of the screening from London to somewhere in Italy.

He explained that yesterday, he was asked to make available his passport for visa into Italy which to him is an indication that it is either going to be in London or Italy.

According to him, the actual interview would be done here in Abuja on February 26 and so those who are getting set for another round of criticism must not lose track of the fact that the exercise in London is nothing more than preliminary discussions with the coaches.

“Yes, we are going to London. However, I was asked to submit my passport for Italian visa. What we are going to do in London or Italy is preliminary discussion with the coaches.

“When we are through with them in London, they will still come down to Nigeria for the actual interview. As you are aware, the shortlisted coaches will be interviewed in Abuja on February 26. We hope to do a thorough job” he assured.

However, in his reaction, former Gombe State FA Chairman, Alhaji Shaibu Gara-Gombe said what the committee is going for in London is nothing but a needless jamboree which would consume time and tax payers’ money.

He said what is happening is nothing new as the leadership of NFF had on several occasions demonstrated its ineptitude and lack of vision in administering the game of football in the country.

Gombe said it was the same situation when the present NFF traveled to Europe to interview Berti Vogts right inside his house but in the end, the German did not perform.

He expressed disappointment in both the NFF and PTF for opting to go in search of the coaches who should be eager to come down to Nigeria, if they are really keen on coaching the Super Eagles.

“It is so funny that in Nigeria, we go after applicants to interview them. The other time, certain individuals from the NFF went begging to interview Berti Vogts. When he noticed that they never knew what they wanted, he came and messed up the whole country. We are at it again” he said

Gombe maintained that what is a source of serious concern to him is the tax payers’ money that is going to be wasted again on another wasteful trip in search of a foreign coach.

“It is nothing more than a ploy to pocket huge estacodes in foreign currency. Just watch and see what will happen in the end”.