The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Imo State and AFCON winning chaplain of the 2013 Super Eagles team, Rev. Divine Eches has called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to appoint an indigenous coach for the Super Eagles, Silvernews.com.ng reports.
The CAN Chairman, who lifted the 2013 AFCON trophy upon presentation said that it is only an indigenous coach that can harness the skills and talents that abound in the country to rule the world.
Speaking on his experiences with the Super Eagles at the 2010 world cup as the chaplain of the team, he noted that the then NFF neglected his counsels which spelled doom for the team.
He also called on the management of Heartland FC of Owerri to resolve their issues amicably to save the club from impending doom adding that the players are equally complacent if they refuse to play for the coach.
“I want us also part of Enyimba’s victory in 2003/2004 in CAF Champions League and Super Cup. I was with them till 2009. The leadership of Enyimba came to Owerri for my wedding in 2009 because I worked with them.
“It was through the leadership of Enyimba that I got involved with Anyasi-Agwu and Amanze Uchegbulam. I was part of the team that stood for the qualification of Nigeria for the first world cup and I was with them for the world cup in South Africa but the only problem was that the management felt they have arrived and no need for backing until the failed. I told them what will happen that it is going to be a disaster and that is why the dissolved that NFF led board.
“I have been a very critical stakeholder in our nation. Until Nigeria gets it right by appointing an indigenous coach, if possible Emmanuel Amunike and other people, then we are not going anywhere. We have skills, talents and everything you can boast of to become world champions but until we appoint an indigenous coach, we will go nowhere.
“We have problems in our team but majorly we are having in-fighting. I don’t know how we are going to resolve it. It is not about the coach. If you have the best coach and have in-fighting, to the best of my knowledge, it was members of the team that plotted his going out.
“The players can refuse to play for you. They can play for themselves, play for a coach, play for the team and play for fun. There are many reasons players can play. They can play to sell themselves. A player can also play for money from opposing team. Players can play their lives for their coach. They can play for pride and their future. They can also play for the state. These are reasons people play it is not just one thing.”
