Former Super Eagles’ captain, Joseph Ikpo Yobo has gained support from the president opf Nigerian Football Coaches Association, Ladan Bosso, who believes the ex-Everton of England central defender is very qualified to be an assistant coach in the national team, megasportsarena.com reports.
In contrast with insinuations and speculations running rife, since Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Yobo’s appointment as Eagles’ assistant coach on Wednesday, Bosso pointed out that the ex-skipper actually has a coaching license.
Bosso, who started as a physical trainer in the Nigerian cadet national team, Golden Eaglets, before becoming an assistant coach in the same squad and then head coach of the under-20 side, Flying Eagles, declared emphatically that Yobo even attended a coaching course as recently as last month, which he believes adds so much to the star’s lofty experience as a player.
The former military officer, who has also handled several clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), hinted that he was aware of the process that brought Yobo into the Eagles’ coaching crew, for which he believes the ex-player has two of three criteria required to work in the national team, as the only missing point is his lack of previous experience on the job.
Bosso told Nigeria Info FM: “I am supporting the process that brought Yobo in. He must have shown interest before accepting the job or gone for a course. He’s coming there as a second assistant coach not even the first. Salisu has a contract with the NFF except otherwise. Yobo has been a registered member of the coaching association in Rivers State.
“Yobo just came back from a course. Basically there are three criteria. The first one is your certificate, then the second one is your playing experience, then your work experience. He has two out of the three – playing experience and his certificate.
“Most of the Super Eagles players basically are based in Europe, he is used to those places. The Super Eagles players on ground will give him respect because he’s an ex-international, he has captained the Super Eagles. With time, nobody can tell (he may even become the head coach).”
