Nigeria’s football legend, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has expressed his disappointment regarding Eric Chelle’s appointment as the Super Eagles head coach.
Okocha said the inability of the team to win any major title over the years is because of several politicians’ involvement in the appointment of coaches, and Eric Chelle is one of them.
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He said, “The Super Eagles may not win any trophy until the current NFF officials are dissolved or reformed.
“You can’t appoint politicians to manage football. They will turn it to politics, and that’s what is happening today.
“We have the best players in the world, yet we have no trophy to lay our hands on, not because of the players, absolutely not.
“Changing a coach isn’t just as it sounds to the ear. It’s harmful to the players; they will lose focus, except the players on their own demand for a better coach.
“Before you consider changing a coach, get some key players and interview them; seek their opinion because most of the players’ performance is based on the good relationship they share with their coach.”
Not just Okocha; several ex-Nigeria internationals like Nwankwo Kanu and others have also cited their disappointments at Eric Chelle’s appointment.
Victor Ikpeba, who is a member of the NFF Technical Committee and Okocha’s former teammate, has blasted Okocha and other critics. He emphasised that the ex-Nigeria internationals were nowhere to be found when Victor Osimhen and Finidi George were having issues.
However, Okocha has said he is not apologising for his statement. He said, “If their decision is to take me to court, so be it.
“We can’t continue to keep quiet while things continue to spoil.
“I have received a series of messages to apologise to NFF, and my question is, ‘for what? For demanding a better committee?’ No, I can’t apologise.”
Eric Chelle has been given the mandate to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup, or he risks being sacked.
