Amidst uncertainties surrounding the fate of Gernot Rohr as Nigeria manager, Benedict Akwuegbu has posited that working first under a tested coach like Dutch tactician, Jo Bonfrere, can make Joseph Yobo a great Super Eagles coach, Completesports.com reports.
Akwuegbu spoke to Completesports.com Thursday afternoon from his base in London, United Kingdom, UK.
“That’s the norm in Europe. Yobo can equally do it here in Nigeria. He played at top level, won several trophies and enjoyed the respect of his national teammates, as well as officials,” Akwuegbu said.
“All that he requires now is to work first under a sound tactician like Jo Bonfrere at the Super Eagles so he can pick some practical experience to add to his UEFA Coaching License.
Also Read – NFF: National Teams’ Coaches Appointments, Except Eagles, in February
“Of course, when the foreign coach eventually leaves, Yobo will then take over. That was Westerhof’s plan with Christian Chukwu and Bitrus Bewarang during his five year tenure with Eagles(1989-1994).
“But unfortunately, when Westerhof left, the idea was discarded and this was the beginning of our downward trend in football,” Akwuegbu nicknamed ‘Austria ‘Bomber said.
He reckons there is still room to right all those wrongs once again.
“We can still make things work by doing the right thing – by getting our former internationals involved, starting with Yobo,” he added.
11 Comments
Why does this report have ‘Segun Odegbami’ written all over it…? Lolz
Anyways I’d like to share this response by a respected sports analyst, marketer, and administrator to Uncle Segun’s campaign for Yobo on another national sports media.
“….If your campaign manages to deliver this Greek gift I can assure you it will end in tears. Super Eagles sure use training grounds, but it is not training ground for Nigerian coaches. Forget it……. Last time you campaigned for one Samson Siasia, it ended in tears. I am available for a public debate with you anywhere anytime…”
Chief Odegbami is not only ridiculing himself in the eyes of his numerous ardent followers, he is beginning to ridicule himself in the eyes of his colleagues (both locally and internationally) too.
Yobo is in no way close to Vincent Kompany in any way, infact he cant sit on the same table with Kompany whether in footballing qualities or Leadership qualities, yet we all saw how Kompany struggled as coach of Anderlecht earlier this season and had to just leave that role and focus more on being a player. This is one who played under Mancini, Pellegrini, Martinez, Wessels, and almighty Guadiola. Had his football education in europe and won laurels as City’s legendary captain and already has a UEFA Pro license.
But it is Yobo that is being primed to lead us to the World Cup in 2022. I dey laugh o (apologies to Baba OBJ).
This campaign of calumny has to end. And if it is Yobo himself who is sponsoring the campaign merely using Chief Odegbami as a proxy, I’ll advise him to save his money and go develop himself elsewhere. The senior national team is indeed not a training ground for coaching. Rather it is where you bring a lifetime of coaching experience to bear. If playing career accolades alone make outstanding coaches, the likes of Pele, Maradona, Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera, Ronaldo de lima and Ronaldinho should by now be successful handlers of their national teams.
Enough said on this matter.
Good one @ Drey. Our local league teams are begging for ex- internationals, especially those, like Yobo that have played in Europe to come coach them but it’s SE, already in accendancy under ROhr that tickles their fancy. Very cheap way to want to announce oneself.
Abi o. The hypocrites are there yelling that Rohr MUST stay back and ‘develop’ the league as if he will coach all 20 teams or train all 20 club administrators with his presence, when our so-called ex-internationals are scattered all over the place coaching u17 kids in Europe. Why not tell these ex internationals to come home and administer clubs or coach teams…? But its very simple, most of them have nothing to offer. Okocha is/was in Delta state FA for a while now, Ikpeba and Garba Lawal have been in that silly technical committee of morons in the NFF, This Akuwegbu that is making fallacious assertions from his parlour in the UK was manager of one league club in the east for a few months, Mobi Okparaku is at Heartland, Tijani Babangida was at FC Taraba, Mutiu Adepoju has been frolicking with 3SC for a few years now, even Segun Odegbami was manager of Gateway FC…….What value have all these people added to the game on the homefront…??? NIX…..NOTHIONG…..ZERO.
Ex-internationals my foot…..!!!
Ode, Omon9ja and now, Akwuegbu are the enemies of Nigeria’s football progress. Dr Gray, l beg, you said it all. Let those who wants to know and learn the facts read your factual article again.
yobo should coach club side and show himself before given Eagles coach, Amunike is tested coach more than yobo, yobo can start with Nigeria under 15, lets see how he can fish out taent
I have tried to understand why this call of Yobo all of a sudden.
I don’t want to be too forward but the name dropping of Bonfrere Jo ,shows how far behind Akwuegbu and his cohorts clamouring for such are..
A Bonfrere Jo,Yobo isn’t what the Super Eagles need right now..
The Super Eagles is no child’s play. I think Benedict and the rest of the ex internationals should understand that the Super Eagles has grown more than when they left it, we are on the right path.
That point is even buttress more by the fact we got quality clubs clamouring for the signature of our players right now; as we speak, Ighalo is been talked to by both Manchester United and Tottenham.
This is a man Rohr managed considerably well..
So please,let’s allow Rohr continue on this right trajectory.
If Yobo want to learn,he should get his license, then maybe the NFF could make him an “intern” as part of the coaching crew of Rohr.
If not,he should let all dogs lie.
Yobo is not fit for the job at all. I cant agree with anybody on this. Rohr is not that bad to be replaced by yobo or amunike. I suggest amunike for rohr asistant. If rohr must leave it should be an expact. There are many good coaches in italy and serbia and netherland. We can do better like mr hush said eagles have grown in high reputations a team that has participated in all but one worldcup since 1994. Only the bigger boys in football can boost of that. I urge nigerians rich men like dangote and so others. Instead of donating free money to our ungratefull players after winning wat they where innicially payed for to win. They should rather use that money to get eagles with a big gaffers like frank richkard. Luciano spalleti. Even arsene wenger. For eagles and let us see if qater nor go hear am hot
Well spoken Mr. Akwuegbu. NFF have to change their mental strength to do this.
Everyone is coming out to say enough of foreign coach. We have to get it right before the next world cup and Afcon.
NFF need to get our ex players involved. The new generation of our young ex players are multi talented and experienced.
There’s nothing wrong to pear Yobo with coach Rohr.
In fact, NFF can do it this way,
Coach Rohr head coach
Amunike assistant coach
Yobo to under study them.
Goalkeeper trainers
Peter Rufai
Ike Shorumu
Ikeme.
Or our made in Nigeria ex players should be given a chance to lead Super Eagles to both
Afcon and world cup.
Starting from Amunike.
I know, coach Rohr fans are so emotional.
Coach Rohr is winning now which is good but when it is matter most he will fail.
Let’s join hands together my people to make Super Eagles great again.
I love coach Rohr and I will like him to work with our ex players.
NFF should stop playing politics game. We are tired of Imama and Agu.
Nigerians love to see new generations of young and experienced Nigerian coaches in the Super Eagles.
Algeria and Senegal opted for their ex players, we saw the result. What do you waiting for NFF?
Happy weekend my people. God bless us all. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Well spoken Mr. Akwuegbu. NFF have to change their mental strength to do this.
Everyone is coming out to say enough of foreign coach. We have to get it right before the next world cup and Afcon.
NFF need to get our ex players involved. The new generation of our young ex players are multi talented and experienced.
There’s nothing wrong to pair Yobo with coach Rohr.
In fact, NFF can do it this way,
Coach Rohr head coach
Amunike assistant coach
Yobo to under study them.
Goalkeeper trainers
Peter Rufai
Ike Shorumu
Ikeme.
Or our made in Nigeria ex players should be given a chance to lead Super Eagles to both
Afcon and world cup.
Starting from Amunike.
I know, coach Rohr fans are so emotional.
Coach Rohr is winning now which is good but when it is matter most he will fail.
Let’s join hands together my people to make Super Eagles great again.
I love coach Rohr and I will like him to work with our ex players.
NFF should stop playing politics game. We are tired of Imama and Agu.
Nigerians love to see new generations of young and experienced Nigerian coaches in the Super Eagles.
Algeria and Senegal opted for their ex players, we saw the result. What do you waiting for NFF?
Happy weekend my people. God bless us all. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Do all these gentlemen omon9ja mentioned above have what it takes to be a coach at all. In other words, have any of them obtain the coaching certifications from the FIFA license’s courses required
Omon9ja and cohurts may be indirectly misleading these men into big trouble like what happened to Siasia who was now banned from even watching football matches and no one has come to his aid, not even Omon9ja who was his #1 fan not too long age. Yabo should not listen to omon9ja, Ade or Akwuegbu or they will to put him in trouble with FIFA.
Yabo, you are expected to do the right thing first. Obtain your proficiency Certificate in coaching, beg for trial with U15 or with a Club in the National league and lets the whole World see what you can offer
The same people will abandon you tomorrow if any thing happen to you just as they now abandoned Siasia. Omon9ja was his number one fan that was pushing him in those days. Today omon9ja will tell you he has never heard about Siasia in his life even to talk of helping him in any way possible.
God forbid he will not fail