ABUJA – Kashimawo Laloko,a former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Technical Director, on Monday in Abuja commended the country’s football house for the appointment of indigenous coaches to handle the various national teams.
Laloko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the action of NFA would augur well for the development of football in the country.
Laloko was a resource person at the ongoing NFA-CAF organised C-License coaching course in Abuja.
“It’s a very good sign that the NFA has recognised that we need to concentrate on our local coaches and use our own men; economically it’s good, socially it’s good and technically it’s good.
“My only appeal is for the Nigeria Football Association to make sure that we continue doing it so that we can improve the employment rate along the sports line.
“I am sure that we are going to make some success out of this and from there we are going to get more people to develop our football.
“We trained all those in the national team here; we trained them for the license B which is more advanced than this and Keshi by all parameters is doing well with his colleague Amokachi and co.
So, we have to emphasise and work more on this to get better result,’’ Laloko said.
He explained that the ongoing C-License coaching course would help develop the country’s football from the grassroots.
Laloko, however, expressed regret that some neighbouring countries were ahead of Nigeria in terms of coaches’ development.
“We are running this programme to help our coaches who wants to improve.
“I think we have done two C-Licenses, this is about the third one; we have done two B-Licenses we are doing another C-Licensing in another two or three months and an `A’ (category) later.
“It’s going to help our football to develop especially in the grassroots where they, the coaches, come from.
“There are lots of countries that have done more than us; Ghana is boasting of about 1000 coaches now at this level.
“Ghana is only a third of Nigeria if they are up to a third or a quarter.
“So, if we are able to train more coaches, they will have more jobs to do. It’s an aspect we have to look at; these youths once they are licensed, they will have a job.’’
No fewer than 80 coaches are taking part in the course which has been scheduled to hold between April 7 and April 20.
The event is taking place at the FIFA Technical Centre located at the National Stadium, Abuja.
Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles coach; Manu Garba, of the Flying Eagles; and Emmanuel Amuneke are some of the indigenous national team coaches appointed by the NFA. (NAN)