Cooreman: How Kaduna Tamed Enyimba

Maurice Cooreman, coach of Kaduna United said hardwork and determination got his team victory over the fiery Enyimba International in the Federation Cup final decided at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Nigeria yesterday.

The Belgium-born coach told P.M.Sports after the match that he never expected anything less from his team because he had taken his time to groom them for the tournament.

Though he described Enyimba as a good side, Cooreman added that he never had the fear that the former African champions were going to defeat his team. He revealed that time and resources spent by his technical team and the Kaduna State government would not have been in vain.

According to him, his team came for the match fully prepared. , “We came to win. We worked for it; and  achieved our target which was the trophy.

“I groomed these young boys from the scratch and today, they have made Kaduna people and the government proud with their outstanding performance in the Federation Cup, which was gingered by the encouragement they received from the sports loving governor of the state, Ibrahim Yakowa.”

Cooreman, who did not hide his joy over the victory, also boasted that he has everything it takes to coach the Super Eagles, “that is my next ambition and I’m looking forward to it badly and if possible I hope to prepare the team for 2014 World Cup.”

According to him, Nigeria has a great potential of footballers, but needs the right people to harness the talents and lead them through in conquering the world.

To the Belgian coach, who is married to an Igbo woman, his 11 years experience in Nigeria as a coach has given him the opportunity to study Nigerian football landscape and it would be great for him to handle the national team and lead them into world victory.

“I have the pedigree to lead the national team of this country,” Cooreman boasted, adding that, “I have been in this country for 11 years, and I married an Igbo lady as my wife; more so, I am ready to die in this country, and if given the opportunity, I, will do my best to qualify the country for the 2014 World Cup; and possibly, reach the final stage.

“I also coached Jasper United for many years back and  understand Nigerian football because Nigerian players are very good.”

—Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano