12th March, 2012
Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA, Dr. Tijani Yusuf, has described the planned recruitment of Belgian Tom Sainfiet as the new Technical Director of the NFF as a mistake.
Yusuf said a country that has the likes of Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, who is a respected figure in world football as FIFA/CAF Instructor, the appointing Sainfiet, who once coach Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, is a slap on the faces of Nigerians.
“I think plans by the NFF to appoint this Belgian coach as our Technical Director is very unfortunate because we have a lot of people who can deliver better than Sainfiet.
“We have qualified people like Chief Onigbinde, who has good credentials that even surpass that of Sainfiet,” he said.
Dr.Yusuf noted that it would be counterproductive for the NFF, which is complaining of lack of funds to now commit its lean resources to pay an expatriate.
“I don’t think the NFF is serious with what they want to do on the appointment of Sainfiet, who will be paid out of the federation’s lean resources,” he said.
Meanwhile, P.M.Sports gathered that President of NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has called an emergency meeting of the board today to deliberate on the recommendations of the Technical Committee on the appointment of the Technical Director, coaches for the Flying Eagles and that of the Super Falcons.
The meeting is also scheduled to discuss other urgent matters that affect the country’s football.
—Taiwo Adelu