Legendary Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama recently stirred the pot with his comments on Lagos Talks FM, following his recognition as Africa's best goalkeeper ever by the IFFHS.
While acknowledging the value of foreign coaches, Enyeama emphasized the need to prioritize and empower local coaches in Nigerian football.
Enyeama's concerns stem from a perceived lack of respect and support shown towards indigenous coaches.
“I don't have a problem with foreign coaches, but I have a problem if you don't take care of our own local coaches,” he said.
He believes these coaches possess the potential to excel, but their success hinges on adequate treatment and resources.
His statement, “The only player respected back then was the late Stephen Keshi. Siasia also got a fair share thanks to his choice of players,” exemplifies his point.
Enyeama makes case for locals as Nigeria coach
These coaches, he suggests, commanded respect due to the autonomy and support they received.
Enyeama proposed a multi-pronged approach to address this issue.
He advocated for providing local coaches with proper training, timely compensation, and access to refresher courses.
The former Lille of France goalkeeper acknowledges the systemic challenges at play, stating, “It's not that hard, we just have a dysfunctional system that is not limited to just football but some other sectors in the country.”
In the same realm, he emphasized the need for a systematic overhaul that transcends individual appointments.
Look inwards for Nigeria coach and then complement
However, Enyeama, who played 101 times for the Super Eagles doesn't advocate for complete exclusion of foreign expertise.
He concluded with a balanced perspective, “I am not saying we shouldn't get a foreign coach, but we can look inwards.
“We can start by nurturing and empowering local coaches, Nigeria can unlock its domestic coaching potential, while still remaining open to collaboration with foreign experts when necessary.”
Enyeama's comments have sparked a national conversation, prompting Nigerians to re-evaluate their approach to coaching in the beautiful game.
Whether his suggestions translate into concrete action remains to be seen, but his voice adds to the growing chorus advocating for a more holistic and sustainable approach to football development in Nigeria.
If, and when the Nigeria Football Federation decide to call Enyeama to link up with the Super Eagles, he will surely bring his wealth of experience to help the current crop of goalkeepers in the national team set up.
