Real Mallorca youth team coach Finidi George has extended a come-get-me call to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) by disclosing he is ready and available to work with any of the country’s youth setup.
Nicknamed ‘gazelle’ during his playing days, the 42-year-old former Nigeria international, who appeared in the USA 94 and France 98 World Cup for Nigeria, said it would be another step forward in his career to ‘guide’ the nation to the Fifa World Cup.
“It will be a great thing for me if in the future I am able to be pointed as one of those who groomed players that represented Nigeria at the Fifa World Cup,” he said.
“There are many qualified ex-internationals like myself, Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi and of course Keshi with the senior team that we have to be tapped into to produce the future internationals.”
Finidi believes Coach Stephen Keshi has justified the course of indigenous coaches who work tirelessly to develop the African game by employing the African mentality, stressing those more good hands has to be on deck in other to foster the development of future talents.
“In 7 or 8 years’ time many of those playing now in the Super Eagles will have to be replaced so it is important that there are good quality ones available to take their places. Only good grounding with good coaching can deliver this,” the former Champions League winner with Ajax Amsterdam added.
He opined that football at junior level shouldn’t be a win, win situation as the experience which comes along is likewise vital.
“It is not important the results of the age grade competitions- I know that Nigerians like to win but the most important thing is that young footballers are exposed to tournament football for the experience of it. This experience will come in handy as they get into the senior teams.
“We can aim to compete with the likes of Spain and Brazil by doing the same things we have been doing in the past. We have to create a system of playing from the U-16 through to the senior side just as they do in those countries. I am ready to come and contribute my quota to this.”
