Sports Development minister, John Owan Enoh, on Monday, in Abuja, rallied the support of critical stakeholders and Nigerians for Finidi George, newly appointed coach of Nigeria’s national men’s football team, the Super Eagles.
Speaking at the unveiling of Finidi George as the new Head Coach, Enoh observed that the appointment of George as the national team coach was well received by Nigerians, and expressed confidence in his ability to take the Super Eagles to new heights.
The new coach, he further stated, requires the support of all Nigerians to succeed and placed it on record that with his appointment, Finidi George has the responsibility to bring back liveliness and excitement into Nigerian Football.
Earlier in his remarks, President of Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Muza Gusau, stated that the appointment of Finidi George signalled a new dawn in the history of Nigerian Football. He said that his appointment was in line with the clamour of Nigerians for the appointment of an indigenous coach to handle the Super Eagles, adding that it was in deference to this yearning that the federation directed the technical team, saddled with the responsibility of picking the coach, to look inwards and choose an indigenous coach for the national team. Now that the choice of the coach has been made, he called on all Nigerians to support him to succeed in his new role especially with the the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers in sight.
He informed that the NFF gave Finidi George the freehand to choose his technical staff, stressing that the assistants will be paid on game-by-game basis to avoid crisis in the payment of their allowances that had bedevilled the process in the past. They will also be entitled to bonuses and entitlements enjoyed by players and coaches, he further stated.
In his response, Finidi George, thanked the NFF and Nigerians for his appointment. He promised to put in his best in the task of lifting Nigerian Football to the next level.
Former Nigerian international, Daniel Amokachi (Assistant Coach), Olatunji Baruwa( Goalkeeper Trainer), Chima Onyeka (Fitness Trainer) and Benjamin James were also unveiled as members of the technical team.