By Daily Sports on February 17, 2020

When the news of the appointment of Joseph Yobo as the Super Eagles assistant coach by the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee board, led by Amaju Pinnick broke, I jumped up saying that this is a step in the right direction.  This is as long as the ex-international has the right qualification. However, my fears that he may not possess the necessary coaching certificate were confirmed before last week rolled off as disappointing reactions and counter-reactions started pouring in. The ones that caught my attention were those of Edema Fuludu, Taribo West, Babayaro and others, all ex-internationals and Joseph Yobo’s teammates.

The ex-internationals raised grave concern on the way and manner the Federation is being administered of late, describing it as frustrating. I don’t know what their grievances are but there is this palpable anger against Amaju Pinnick and his style of football administration which I assume has excluded the core people. It has been trending and sadly it will be treated with a pinch of salt as usual by the very arrogant leadership of Amaju Pinnick.

Based on the disclosure, I was speechless for upward of five minutes, wondering what informed the appointment of Yobo who does not have coaching certificate of any colour, not to talk of experience.

I never quarrelled with the replacement of Imama because he has not shown enough capacity but was aided to stay on until he got the boot. The non-performing sweat merchant stayed thus far because Amaju Pinnick is the kind that listens only to himself.

A coach that failed in Rangers International, El- Kanemi, U-23 Eagles, etc, was enough ground for him not to find his way into any national team’s assignment but despite such obvious pitfalls, Amaju Pinnick and his gangsters offered and sustained his job as an assistant coach in the Super Eagles. He was drafted to handle the U-23 Eagles team, where he again failed woefully. We all knew why he stayed on despite his below standard performance and let the rest be history dear readers.

Now that it has dawned on Amaju Pinnick and his rubber stamped board to relieve Imama of his position, why again did they go for a rookie like Joseph Yobo to man that sensitive position next to the team’s technical hand, Gernot Rohr. He was a good player though during his prime days and years in the national team but is yet to cut his teeth or prove his mettle as a coach in even a grassroots football team level.

My sincere take is, though I don’t have anything against Joseph as an individual, however appointing him straight to that topmost team of the nation smacks of very high irresponsibility and insensitivity on the part of Amaju and his fellows in the executive committee.

To be honest with you, I have read the reasons why Yobo was chosen even above the trained coaches. I was never surprised because this is a country where things are upside down and best practices have no place here. To put it very mildly, this is a country without a defined system and working code. In short, an animal kingdom where survival is only for the fittest.

The choice of Yobo remains one explanation Amaju Pinnick and his executive committee members owe Nigerians on such an extreme case of national interest and importance.

It will be difficult as he would never say anything on that issue because impunity is the order of the day here, where disobedience reigns supreme.

Amaju Pinnick, as usual, would feign deafness and move on and whether Yobo has a certificate in football coaching or not does matter, after all such is synonymous with the larger Nigeria where you don’t need any colour of certificate to rule the country. Yobo was an ex-international that plied his trade abroad with notable club sides and captained the country’s flagship team. He is more civilised than some of them that are in positions of power today.

It is a sad commentary that the country has learnt nothing and forget nothing. The beat goes on. Yobo is not the first without certificate where he is being employed.

A fine gentleman, unassuming. he would fit perfectly into the system and even instantly earn the command and respect of the players. Some of the boys have even jumped up for joy and congratulated him since the announcement of his appointment came last week.

Methinks that people should let the Rivers State-born Super Eagles assistant coach be. He can commence training as a coach since he loves the job. I presume that he would make a great coach and loyalist too.

He should be rallied round and encouraged to soldier on. I have met Yobo several times when he was on duty for the country and remained until his retirement one of the very few players that would give you attention for interview unlike his numerous arrogant teammates, ex- and present.

Let me point out here that Omeruo stands out among the the present crop of Super Eagles that is disarmingly unassuming in terms of player/ sports journalists’ friendliness.

I will appeal to Edema, Taribo West, Babayaro and other aggrieved ex-internationals to rally round Yobo as one of their own for the national assignment.

He can do it and to the glory of all of us. My candid appeal would be that the fireworks that greeted the appointment last week cease forthwith. If it is anything to hang on to, then it would be safe to say that the ex-internationals and some of his teammates are angry. We must all see reason and throw our weight behind Yobo for the good of the game. The beautiful game must grow here and fresh ideas like that of Joseph Yobo and others must be encouraged to start the process.

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Source Daily Sports

Posted February 17, 2020

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