NSC, NFA okay Amodu for Eagles job

By Ade Somefun - 04.04.2008

Shuaibu AmoduERSTWHILE Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu has been given the nod by the National Sports Commision (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to tinker the Super Eagles team.
The Edo State-born coach, according to findings, is expected to be named as the new Eagles handler next week by the board of the NFA.

Amodu’s appointment is coming after weeks of speculations in the media that Samson Siasia will be named Eagles new coach after coming first in the aptitude test earlier conducted by the NFA for the vacant post after Berti Vogts resigned as head coach.

A top shot at the NFA secretariat in Abuja revealed to Tribunesports on Thursday that Amodu was the best choice given the present situation on ground.

The source noted that the technical committee, which was given the job of getting a new coach, came up with three names after the test and interview conducted for about 11 coaches.

The committee, it was gathered, later narrowed it down to two persons, Siasia and Amodu. And only on Monday, the two met with the NFA in another round of interview where Amodu finally got the nod to become the next Eagles coach.

It was further gathered that at the interview Siasia chose to remain with the Olympic team rather than resign and take charge of the Super Eagles, noting that his priority was to win the Olympic gold medal.

Against this revelation, the committee had no choice but to settle for the choice of Amodu, who, according to some members of the committee, was more experienced than Siasia going by his track record.

“We should give it to Amodu, his track record is okay. And don’t forget that he qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup. He is also a FIFA instructor. These are achievements which cannot be overlooked,” the source noted.

“I think we should look at the positive side of Amodu and not his shortcomings. We have four World Cup matches between now and the Olympic Games and there is no way Siasia can handle the two competitions successfully.

“We must not toy with the two, so Amodu will be given the task to handle the Eagles based on this premise. The NSC is aware of this and has given the NFA the go ahead to hire Amodu but the appointment must be on probation,” the source stated.

The chairman of the NFA, Alhaji Sani Lulu, told Tribunesports that the board would meet on Monday in Abuja to consider the report of its technical committee on the Eagles coach after which it would name Vogts’ successor.

He refused to reveal who would be named coach but added that the overall interest of the nation would be paramount in making the choice.

“We will pick the person best suited for the present moment. Time is not on our side, but I can assure you that the choice will be devoid of sentiments and personal interest. I can also reveal to you that whoever is picked would be on probation and must be ready to work with the NFA. His mandate will be to win the first four matches the Eagles would be playing,” Lulu stated.

“If he performs, then we will sit down and enter into a contract with him, but that is not to say he will not be given the support he needs. As a matter of fact, he will get all the needed assistance from the NFA,” he said.

Amodu once handled the Super Eagles in 2001 after the NFA leadership sacked Bonfrere Jo as technical adviser.

He took charge of the team and later qualified for the World Cup. He also handled the Beach Eagles to gain qualification to the 2006 African tournament in South Africa but opted out due to his differences with the NFA on financial matters.