NFF must believe in local coaches- Paul Okoku

 

Former Super Eagles midfielder Paul Okoku says the Nigeria Football Federation  NFF) must believe in the indigenous coaches, respect them and give them equal treatment with their foreign counterparts for the betterment of the round leather game in Nigeria.

 

 

 

Okoku, reacting to Morocco’s victory over Portugal in the  2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Qatar today,  explained that he was proud of the brilliant performances of all the indigenous coaches in charge of African teams in this world cup, especially the Moroccon technical crew.

 

 

 

“From what I’ve seen, Moroccan coaches know what they’re doing.  You can see from the sideline how they were dishing out instructions, and their abilities to read the game is fantastic,”  he said.

 

 

 

The former Abiola Babes FC  of Abeokuta and Leventis United of Ibadan player said that for the Super Eagles of Nigeria to reach the semi-final of the world cup like their Moroccan counterparts,  the NFF must give our local coaches the nod to be in charge of the team without mounting pressure on them to win at all cost.

 

 

 

He added, “we have to encourage our coaches.  Please give them the same opportunity and make them sign the same contract as their foreign colleagues.  The NFF should stop giving unrealistic demands to Nigerian coaches.  Everybody is aware of how much we pay the foreign technical adviser, but we keep mute on the paltry salaries of our local managers,” he added.

 

 

” It is discriminatory to pay a foreign coach in dollars and pay your coaches in Naira.  As long as they’re doing the same job, they should be treated equally,” he continued.

 

 

 

Okoku,  however, believes that Morocco can qualify for the final of the world cup because, in football,  anything can happen.

 

 

 

The Atlas Lions will take on the winner of the England and France game in the semi-final.