A former President of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, Amaju Pinnick throws his weight behind the decisions of coach Finidi George to opt for a foreign assistant; npflupdates.com reports.
Finidi was recently announced as the new Super Eagles head coach following the exit of Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro.
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The former Ajax Amsterdam winger who took charge of the three-time African champions on interim basis some weeks ago is expected to oversee his first game as the new permanent coach.
Speculations in Nigeria has it that the Enyimba FC gaffer, is not interested in having former teammates Emmanuel Amuneke and Daniel Amokachi as his assistants. Instead, he registered his intentions of having an expatriate assistant.
The decision has generated a lot of reactions from football heads in the country.
Amaju Pinnick who’s a member of the FIFA Council is upbeat the Finidi can succeed with best hands by his side.
What Pinnick said about Finidi getting an expatriate assistant
“For his assistants, it is very tricky. It is normal for him to demand foreign assistants if he desires one. Bonfrere Jo was foreign assistant to Westerhof and later took over the job. Oliseh had foreign assistant, Siasia had foreign assistant. It is not new and it is not also bad for him to demand same,” Pinnick told Arise TV.
“Finidi is well equipped; he played for Ajax and they over there have developmental football mentoring in kicking the ball, trapping and all that. I think he is well positioned for the job.
Speaking about the decision of the federation to hand the job to Finidi instead of Amuneke; he said, “For Amuneke, he is also technically sound but I am talking of the seamless transition from Peseiro; it will benefit the team much for Finidi to have the job and thank God he is there.”
He continued, “Backroom staffing is more scientific right now. If he says he needs three back room assistants, perhaps one for goalkeeper training, the others are for other positions.
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“The assistant coaches are the engine room of the success of any coach because they see what the coach can’t see.
“But then, it depends of funding from the federation but I think it is not out of place. Finidi should be allowed to do what he wants to do. But if there is paucity of funds, they can discuss it with him.”
