By Halimah Olamide
Vincent Okumagba, President of Super Eagles Supporters Club of Nigeria on Thursday urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to consider appointing an indigenous coach to lead the Super Eagles.
Okumagba gave the advice on Thursday while speaking on the next line of action to move the Super Eagles forward ahead of next qualifying games.
The senior national team of Nigeria currently has no substantive gaffer.
German Bruno Labbadia,who was expected to coach the Super Eagles after the resignation of Finidi George,rejected the offer, following a botched contract.
Former Super Eagles defender and Technical Director of NFF, Austin Eguavoen, is in charge of the team in the interim.
Okumagba urged the NFF to look inwards and get the best local coach to secure the World Cup and African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tickets for the country.
He pointed out that the reliance on foreign coaches over the indigenous one to do the magic had overly failed.
The number one Super Eagles supporter said that current situation of the economy had had a negative impact on sporting activities.
He said that bad management, coupled with insecurity, were barriers to finding a foreign coach to lead the Super Eagles.
“Any coach that is worth his sort or any high profiled coach will not actually want come to Nigeria.
“So if you ask for my candid opinion, it is better to look for a local coach to turn things around for the Super Eagles.
“Looking for a foreign coach may not be the best approach because a local coach will undoubtedly have a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the team,” Okumagba said.
He added that it would take years for a foreign coach to.understand Nigerian football ,saying through years former coaches, Clemence Westerhof and Joe Bonfere took years to understand the Super Eagles.
“It could be said that foreign coaches have set a high standard of excellence in this field, which has perhaps placed local coaches under a certain amount of pressure.
“Super Eagles coaches could be chosen locally, ideally those who have played at the highest level and demonstrated capacity, can be effective coach.
“Eguavoen’s performance as interim coach has been well received, and it offers encouragement for younger local coaches ,” he said.