A Nigerian has been named head coach of the Ethiopian national team. When Iffy Onuora was asked how a Nigerian came to be the coach of Ethiopia, he told SuperSport.com: “I was interviewed for the job of head coach in Nigeria for the Kwara Football Academy (KFA). I did not get that job but a few days later I was also interviewed for the Ethiopian job; fortunately I got through on that and here I am.”

He was listed for the jobs at the Ethiopian FA and the Kwara Football Academy by Danjan Sports, a sports consultancy outfit which also contacted John Barnes and Steve Staunton for the job.

David Omigie, Head of Danjan Sports, felt that Iffy was the right man for the job and at the interview in London the former Gillingham centre-forward got the job.

Under the contract he is expected to receive a monthly salary of $13 000, free accommodation, a car, two free air tickets and phone service. His salary and other expenses will be covered by MIDROC Ethiopia, a company owned by Ethiopian-born billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi.

As a player, he scored 133 goals in nearly 500 matches. In 2007 he obtained the Uefa Pro Licence, which is the highest coaching qualification, and is one of only 111 coaches to have obtained the qualification.

Prior to accepting the Ethiopia coaching job, he was assistant manager at Lincoln City and acted as manager when Peter Jackson was absent due to illness.

For a man who has spent his professional life in Europe and has coached Swindon Town in the football league, there was no culture shock when he arrived in Ethiopia to meet the FA and the players.

“I have spent a few weeks there and have interacted with the players, met the FA and spoken to them about my ideas.

“We are prepared to work together and part of my job remit is to improve the standard of, not just the playing, but the coaching, across the board of the national teams. That is very exciting and challenging for me.”

Speaking about his new charges, he said: “As usual, what strikes me with African players is the athleticism, the high skill level on the ball and the deep willingness to learn. Now what we need to do is put into them the tactical awareness needed in matches. There is plenty of raw material to work with.”

His first competitive game in charge will be the Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea. “We have arranged a few friendly matches before the match and we aim to use those to help fine tune our plans for the proper matches in the qualifiers.”

When asked about the prospect of coming up against the country of his parents’ birth, Nigeria, he said: “I was really pleased with Nigeria in that group as that is what any coach would like -- a big football nation so you can pit your wits against them and see how far you have come.”

He added: “I am a professional and my emotions will not come into it, so if I need to knock them out for Ethiopia to progress, then so be it -- my parents will understand.”

Iffy Onuora was always known as a gentleman when he played. Regarding the future after Ethiopia, he said: “I am an ambitious man and in coaching terms I am a young man. I believe that if I do a good job here I can go on to better things and by that I mean bigger football places, which is not in any way disrespectful of my present employers. My focus is to take Ethiopian Football to new heights.”