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By Godwin Aikigbe
Former Nigeria midfielder Paul Okoku opines that the next Super Eagles head coach should have a proven track record of developing young talents and implementing a dynamic attacking style of play, PUNCH Sports Extra writes.
The US-based former U-20 assistant captain to the 1983 U-20 World Cup in Mexico, made this observation in a telephone interview with our correspondent, against the backdrop of the varied opinions of several Nigerian football stakeholders on who the next handler of the three-time African champions should be.
“Regarding the new coach for the Super Eagles, Nigeria could benefit from a coach with a proven track record of developing young talent and implementing a dynamic, attacking style of play,” Okoku, a member of the silver-winning Eagles squad at the 1984 AFCON, said.
He added, “Additionally, someone who can foster a positive team culture and effectively manage player relations would be invaluable.
“We want a coach who doesn’t feel entitled, who treats players with dignity and the utmost respect, realising that respect is reciprocated.
“We need a coach who is accountable to both himself and the nation, one who believes in recruiting talents from home-based players and allows healthy competition between professional and domestic players to flourish.
“Perhaps we should consider hiring an indigenous coach who is qualified for such a monumental role. Someone like the late Stephen Keshi, he was a no-nonsense coach who commanded respect from both home-based and internationally-based elite players.”
He added that Keshi believed in the ability of homegrown players to form a full squad despite criticisms. “He (Keshi) would emphatically say to me, ‘Is it not this country of ours, Nigeria, that produced the likes of Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amesiamaka, Godwin Odiye, Felix Owolabi and Thompson Usiyan? Therefore, the search for talented players internally should not be neglected by the team’s management.
“The chosen coach must be honest and trustworthy. We should avoid hiring a domestic coach based on favouritism but rather select one on merit, with a proven pedigree who isn’t looking to act as players’ agents.”