President , Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick , has given reasons for Joseph Yobo’ s appointment as Super Eagles assistant coach .
Mixed reactions have trailed the decision of the NFF to pick Yobo , a former captain of the national team , as Gernot Rohr ’ s assistant .
Even some of Yobo ’ s fellow ex -internationals questioned the 2013 AFCON winner ’ s experience and qualification for the Eagles job .
But Pinnick , in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH , said Yobo’ s appointment was a unanimous decision of the NFF ’ s Executive Committee .
“ The NFF is very excited with his appointment and will take it as a responsibility to ensure that he gets the requisite ( coaching ) qualifications at the highest level , ” Pinnick stated .
“ That ’ s how Stephen Keshi started. Who says Yobo can ’ t be the next Nigerian to win the the AFCON as player and coach ?
“ FIFA stipulates that the head coach and first assistant coach must have coaching licences . Yobo is not the first assistant coach .
“ The idea is that we want to nurture and condition him to provide leadership and mentorship for the young team , using the Nigerian factor, which Gernot ( Right ) cannot provide .
“ He ’ s played for some of Europe’ s big clubs , won the AFCON and he is one of our most -capped players ever . So , we should back him to succeed . ”
Pinnick added that Yobo’ s former teammate at Everton , Mikel Arteta , began coaching immediately on retirement in 2016 , despite not having the experience , and rose through the ranks to become Arsenal’ s manager .
He said , “ When Yobo was at Everton , Arteta was on the bench . But he began his coaching career as an assistant at Manchester City when he retired . Today , he is the Arsenal manager and one of the top coaches in England . So , we should learn to support our own.
“ Are we going to keep relying on foreigners all the time ?”
Source:- Punchng
