Former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro has said that while he welcomes ex-players being involved in Nigeria coaching set-up he questions Joseph Yobo’s credentials.
His comments come after his former international team-mate and ex-Everton star Yobo was appointed as assistant coach of the Super Eagles two weeks ago.
Babayaro, who won an Olympic gold medal with Nigeria at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, said any such appointment must be backed by requisite qualifications.
The duo were in the Nigeria squad at both the 2002 World Cup and two years later at the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia
“From my point of view as an ex player I think he is a good appointment probably done in a wrong way,” the 41-year-old, who is now an agent, told BBC Sport.
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“I’m not sure if he’s got his badges but if you are trying to appoint someone you make sure they’ve got the right credentials before you appoint them.
“I don’t care if it’s an ex (player) or whoever, make sure you appoint the right person that knows the job.
“Yes Joseph Yobo has been a captain for Nigeria and he has done well, if you want to give him that sort of position make sure he gets the right badges.
“If he hasn’t got his badges send him somewhere. It takes a few months or less than a year.
“Get the right badges, get the right papers and make him whatever you want to make him.”
Yobo’s appointment divided opinion when it was made with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) coming out to defend its choice of assistant for Gernot Rohr.
“The concept behind this is to nurture and condition former captain Joseph Yobo to provide leadership and mentorship for the young team,” NFF boss Amaju Pinnick said at the time.
8 Comments
Truth o!!!!!! It is a shame that some people blindly support his appointment up to this day. What is wrong with Nigeria????? Why is it that people who ought to have known better behave as if they don’t know the rules???? I said this earlier here, if they had the plans of bringing him in to the coaching cvew set up, they should have easily sent him on a course (which is not their responsiblity but that of yobo if he really desired to be a coach in his life) that doesn’t take much time to get the necessary qualifications and badges, but it appears some powers that be just pushed him into that position to execute their sinister plans against rohr, he was not prepared for the job from all indications. But remember, Karma is a bitch and doesn’t not look at faces when it starts work. Very soon, This plan would backfire and he (yobo) would regret it for the rest of his life and career.
@Oakfield, some might seem to have supported albeit not necessarily because sometimes in life, you allow foolish people to dance to their own drumbeat of foolishness.
You’re right @glory…….
Absolutely my my brother!
Celestine Babayaro. You are out spoken like me, the country Nigeria is a failed nation, Yobo was a good player I still question those Rif Rafs that appointed him. Where in this part of the world you put in someone without credentials? Thumbs up Babayaro….
I would have expected Yobo to turn down the sinister offer … but human nature. He played into the hands of master schemers. The other day he was babbling about getting the badges ….Was he waiting to be used asa pawn before doing the right thing? I wonder what instructions he’d be giving the players.
One thing about all Nigeria ex football players is that when you retired from football no body hear from you again you dont take up coaching courses oh work with the Nff now Yobo is employed as assisted coach Celestine you there shouting he hasn’t got license Nff will never employ some one without license to coach any of the national team , yobo will not come to you that his got a licence .
Bros Baba I am with you , fine . but this is my own option yobo not have any licence in coaching that make him not qualify , hmmm I can sence politics . pinnick my chairman. If you fail I am sorry you will not be spare because we love SE don’t toy with it . I already know the plan yobo deputy sack rohr make yobo main coach that is the finish of SE . but please let finish CAM 2021 and Qatar 2023 before you sack Rohr because I know SE will qualify with easy in both