Two former coaches of the Super Eagles, Adegboye Onigbinde and Christian Chukwu, have commended President Goodluck Jonathan on his decision to reverse the ban on the national teams from international competitions for two years.
The Federal Government on Wednesday banned the national teams from all international competitions following the Eagles’ poor performance at the World Cup. It also set up a caretaker committee to reorganise football in the country. But FIFA frowned upon the decision and threatened to sanction Nigeria if the decision was not reversed.
Both coaches, who admitted Nigeria needed a reformation in the sport, told our correspondent in separate telephone interviews on Monday that the FG‘s decision to reverse the ban was right.
Onigbinde said, ”I have confidence in our leaders that they will put the interest of the nation before any other thing. The reversal is good for our football.
”Inasmuch as some people see it as a way to improve grass roots football, I think the damage would have been severe.
”The FG‘s decision should not be mistaken for cowardice. It must have been taken after seeing that the Nigeria Football Federation could be reorganised.”
Chukwu, who shared the same opinion with Onigbinde, said he was not expecting FIFA to sanction Nigeria.
He said, ”I was not expecting FIFA to ban us because the FG has not interfered with the structure of the NFF. The decision to ban our teams would have had a serious negative effect on our players and we will be the ones to suffer.
”It is not compulsory for us to play in every competition. We could say there was no money but the decision to reverse the ban is a good development.”
By Kazeem Busari
The Federal Government on Wednesday banned the national teams from all international competitions following the Eagles’ poor performance at the World Cup. It also set up a caretaker committee to reorganise football in the country. But FIFA frowned upon the decision and threatened to sanction Nigeria if the decision was not reversed.
Both coaches, who admitted Nigeria needed a reformation in the sport, told our correspondent in separate telephone interviews on Monday that the FG‘s decision to reverse the ban was right.
Onigbinde said, ”I have confidence in our leaders that they will put the interest of the nation before any other thing. The reversal is good for our football.
”Inasmuch as some people see it as a way to improve grass roots football, I think the damage would have been severe.
Chukwu, who shared the same opinion with Onigbinde, said he was not expecting FIFA to sanction Nigeria.
He said, ”I was not expecting FIFA to ban us because the FG has not interfered with the structure of the NFF. The decision to ban our teams would have had a serious negative effect on our players and we will be the ones to suffer.
”It is not compulsory for us to play in every competition. We could say there was no money but the decision to reverse the ban is a good development.”
By Kazeem Busari
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