NFA Names Amodu As Eagles Coach

After months of failed attempts to name a substantive manager for the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) board rose from its meeting yesterday and named coach Amodu Shuaibu as replacement for sacked German coach Berti Vogt even as it sets a quarter-final target for the new four-man technical crew. 

Amodu who qualified the country for the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea but failed to lead the team owing to some problems with Sports Ministry officials was named alongside Ex-Super eagles attacker Daniel Amokachi and former Green Eagles Fatai Amoo as assistants one and two respectively, while Aloysius Agu, ex eagles safe hand bags the job of the goalkeeper trainer. 

NFA chairman, Alhaji Sani Lulu, who announced the decision said Nigerians should hold the board responsible for its choice, which he stressed, was arrived after due process and broad consultations. 

While the coaches are yet to agree terms, with NFA he said the Head Coach has accepted to work with the named assistants and urged all Nigerians to give maximum support for the crew. 

Lulu said “on our part we have resolved to give full support and enabling environment to the crew. We believe an indigenous coach can do it if supported and this we have resolved to do". 

Aside qualifying the Super Eagles and taking them beyond the Round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Amodu and his men are also required to qualify for the Nations Cup as well pilot the team to the Semi final of Angola 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. 

For their pains Lulu said the new helmsmen who would be unveiled at a future date will not be paid any sign-on fees but will be on monthly salaries. 

Meanwhile the NFA has expressed gratitude to the world soccer ruling body FIFA for its decision to grant the country assistance for the construction of an astro turf.  

He disclosed that the National Sports Commission has on their part allocated a plot of land within the National Stadium complex for the project. NFA took possession of the land on Friday. 

 

NP/MICHAEL