Former Super Eagles’ captain, Joseph Ikpo Yobo has declared that he will be banking on the several years of experience he gained playing the game at the highest levels for club and country, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although many Nigerians are critical of his appointment as an assistant coach in the Eagles’ technical crew, as he has no record of working in any such capacity before getting the plum job, Yobo insists he knows how to go about it.
There is also the attendant talk that he lacks a coaching certificate but, while keeping mum on that aspect of criticisms trailing his appointment on Wednesday by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Yobo stressed that he already has an idea of how to stand as a bridge between the players and officials on one hand as well as with other coaches in the national team’s crew.
Having already been named as the man to replace highly unsuccessful goalkeeper-turned-tactician, Imama Amapakabo, who won the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with Enugu Rangers in 2016 by failed with the home-based Eagles and under-23 national team, Yobo knows a lot is already being expected of him.
However, rather than get anxious about proving doubters wrong, the former Michelin of Port Harcourt, Standard Liege of Belgium, Olympique Marseille of France, Everton and Norwich City of England as well as Fernebahce of Turkey defender-turned-analysts promised to mingle well with other members of the Eagles’ backroom staff.
Yobo promised: “I will bridge the gap between the players and the coaches. My experience as a player and knowledge of the game will help me. I was once a player and now I will be on the other side.”
