The Nigeria Football Federation will offer retired Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, a coaching education as a goalkeeper trainer and then offer him a role in the technical crew of the Senior National Football Team.
According to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communication department, signed by the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, the Federation is in contact with Ikeme, who announced his retirement from the game on Friday afternoon, with a view to training him as a goalkeeper coach.
“Carl Ikeme was an embodiment of absolute dedication, commitment and patriotic fervour in the games that he played for the Super Eagles,” Sanusi revealed in the media statement.
“The circumstances of his retirement from the game are somewhat depressing, even as we thank God for his life.”
“The Nigeria Football Federation will find the resources to send him on a coaching course, and afterwards absorb him into the technical crew of the Super Eagles. That is the least we can do for such a dedicated patriot.”
Sanusi also revealed that the NFF was aware of Ikeme’s plan to retire from football.
“A few weeks ago, he had spoken on phone with the NFF President and 1st Vice President of CAF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, to intimate him on his (Ikeme’s) desire to retire.
“Even though he was sad about it, the NFF President commended his fighting spirit and respected his decision, and also said he would rather allow the player or his club to break the news.”
Ikeme was diagnosed with an acute leukaemia in July 2017 but entered into complete remission only last month, and then announced his decision to retire from football.
COMMENTS
These are one of the reasons why Nigerians everywhere fall in love with Amaju and Co. He is supper competent and forward looking Gentleman to the core. The whole African football is reaping from his deeper understanding of football Administrations at the moment. Ask FIFA. Nigeria is extremely lucky to have such an incredible son managing its football.
Giwa and Dalung, as we say in Edo State, Benin City in particular, “follow who know Road o”
Waoh! Just what I was thinking NFF should do for this guy who has dedicated himself for the country and whose future dedication was cut short by strange illness. Am so so happy with this decision. God bless Amaju Pinnick and the entire NFF management that took part in this decision.
If he agrees to accept NFF sponsorship, let him decide if he want to be a goalkeeper trainer or full coaching course,no one can tell he might be a good coach in the future and all thanks to the NFF
What a good development. This is what needed in our football. I’m expecting NFF to find a smart young indigenous coach and do the same thing for him.
I said this few weeks ago that Peter Rufai should be our next goalkeeper trainer. Coach Saliu Yusuf and Coach Aloy Agu should please step aside.
Now, the problem of Super Eagles almost solved. For coach Rohr, NFF should let us know where we are going to on his issue because we need a coach who comprehends our language and our body language.
For example, coach Rohr was confused against Iceland and we told him the formation he would used and he tried it and he won the only match out of the three matches but fumbled in the remaining two matches. This pain is hard to swallow.
NFF should wake up and take action if they don’t want Eagles to fail to qualify to the Afcon tournament. We don’t want a coach who only believes he can beat any team in Africa but at world stage, he lets his players and the nation down.
However, I’m pretty sure nobody would like to celebrate failure. F9 is F9, I don’t celebrate failure. I love my country so much and football is the only thing that unites us and I am begging NFF to act very fast on this issue because, we must qualify to the next Afcon. I’m stopping here for now because a word is enough for the wise. Do have a blessed week my people. God bless Nigeria!!!
You never explained the reason why salisu and alloy should be out and why Peter should come in
What a good gesture by the NFF lead by Amaju Pinnick. I just can’t bear this man’s absence in the NFF board. He’s just so good
We told him the formation to use against Iceland’ some people are so funny. Imagine a fans talking like this, well is a gibberish free world why dont you apply for the job and see how you will fare instead of this gibberish
@Tayo don’t mind @Omo9ja. He is just like that seeing himself as the supposed Super Eagles coach. I have severally advice him to try and get Gernot Rohr phone number so that he can call end let them discuss deal as the unofficial off stadium adviser. He just wasting his talent protesting and recommending to the NFF to sack the coach with pay. I beg talk about Carl Ikeme and the largeheartedness of Amaju Pinnick with his able lieutenants. This NFF board will always be supported by the generality if Nigerians from the presidency to the man on the street. Kudos to them.