Erico Carpets NFF Over Saintfiet

Reactions have continued to trail the appointment of Tom Saintfiet as Technical Director of Nigerian teams by the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF.

The latest is coming from former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Joe Erico. He argued that foreigners are not better than Nigerian coaches.

Erico, one time Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, told P.M.Sports yesterday at the Agege Stadium, that Saintfiet, being an expatriate does not make him superior to the Nigerian football coaches.

Erico, popularly referred to as Jogobonito Exponent during his playing days said: “Those at the helm of affairs have done what they wanted to do and there is nothing we can do about it. But in my opinion, we don’t need foreign coaches to oversee football in Nigeria. It’s just that Nigerians keep clamouring for expatriates and when they come, they don’t perform better than we, indigenous coaches.”

“We’ve done a lot without them in this country so I don’t see why we cannot carry on with the job. Obviously those in power don’t like our faces, they have chosen who they want and that is all” Erico fumed.

Meanwhile the former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper trainer, hailed the congested Super Eagles’ June fixtures as a good development for the team, as it will help the players stay together for a longer time.

“It’s better for them to keep playing together for such a period of time. The only problem that may arise is that of proximity, especially with the Europe-based players. But the leagues should be on break at that time of the year as well” Erico concluded.

NFF confirmed the appointment of Belgian, Saintfiet as Technical Director of the various Nigerian teams on Wednesday, 28 March, 2012, and hinted that his salary is about $20,000 monthly in a four-year contract.

—Dare Okunola