I can take Nigeria to Russia – Saintfiet

By Daily Sports on July 25, 2016

Tom Saintfiet has said that he is convinced that he has the quality to "take Nigeria to Russia" where the 2018 edition of the Fifa World Cup will hold.

Nigeria have been drawn in a difficult qualification group alongside Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia which Saintfiet has described as "a small World Cup" of its own.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has had a checkered past months with keeping hold of coaches for its men's national team, the Super Eagles, which have seen Stephen Keshi (now late), Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia take charge of the failed 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. Currently, Salisu Yusuf is saddled with the job of head coach pending when a substantive manager is named.

Even Frenchman, Paul Le Guen, who was recommended by the NFF technical committee for the job, has turned down Nigeria's offer but one of the three shortlists, Tom Saintfiet, has put up his hand saying he is the man for the job.

"I am convinced in my qualities and in myself as a coach. I can take Nigeria to Russia. I am convinced about the current crop of players. I first admired Nigeria in 1994 when Westerhof and since then I have followed the game in Nigeria. Remember I was appointed technical director of the (Nigeria) football federation in 2012 but the minister of sports turned it back after a few weeks," Saintfiet told supersport.com on Saturday from Dhaka in Bangladesh.

WHY SAINTFIET WANTS EAGLES JOB

However, Saintfiet has declared that he is ready to live in Nigeria if given the Super Eagles' head coach role and throws his hat in the ring as "one of the tactically sound coaches for the Super Eagles."

The Belgian is confident that the current group of Nigerian players can go places and believes that the country has a huge talent base to compete at the highest level of the sport in the world.

He added that his knowledge of the sport in Africa having managed the men's national teams of Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, Togo and Zimbabwe as well as clubs on the continent like Young Africans SC and Free State Stars gives him an edge.

"I've lived in Africa since 2008 and I know the players and teams quite well. During my two and a hlf years in Namibia, I stayed full time in he country and was able to watch over 200 matches to know more about the playing nature of the country. Apart from that, I believe I am one of the tactically sound coaches for the Super Eagles. I lived in Togo for 14 months and watched league games and even street games. I lived in Malawi and did same. It's not creating the team of best players but creating the best team - a team that will compete for their nation with honour and respect and fight for their country at every time," he further told supersport.com.

"Nigeria is my priority and that is why I have not taken up the Bangladesh job. I have postponed the signing and I want to go to the World Cup with Nigeria and not just that but to reach the semis of the World Cup because they have the quality to do so. I am ready to live in Nigeria."

He believes the talent base in Nigeria would suit his coaching abilities. Saintfiet feels self-assured that he can become the first coach to lead an African nation to the semifinals of the Fifa World Cup if he takes reins as Eagles head coach.

"Nigeria is one of the two African countries that can reach the semifinals of the World Cup or even become the first from the continent to win the World Cup. I am sure I can take Nigeria to Russia because they have a huge talent base of players in their league and also overseas," he said.

•Gotten from supersports.com. Photo Tom Saintfiet

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 25, 2016


 

You may also like...
Liverpool rocked as Coutinho carried off in crunchy...

Joshua ranked No 6 ahead Fury super-fight

Kingsley Michael pens 5-year Bologna FC pro deal...

WAFCON: Super Falcons bounce back, thrash Botswana

Guardiola’s Mother Dies After Contracting Covid-19

Watford boss hints at Isaac Success swoop, tips...

 

Latest News Anambra School Sports Festival Ends In Emotional Grand Style As Njikoka Emerge Champions Club W’Cup: Chelsea face travel woes after group stage upset Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion Adesanya eyes Strickland fight for UFC return Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger Brentford reject Man Utd's new £62.5m Mbeumo bid After 31 Years, FG Hands Over Houses To 1994 Super Eagles Heroes Ronaldo signs new deal with Saudi club Al-Nassr Leicester part company with manager Van Nistelrooy 'Wilder v Paul next? You wouldn't flinch' UFC fighters to receive up to $1m in settlement payout 17 States Confirm Plans To host Olympic Day

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,552 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,712 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,728 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,322 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,322 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,312 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,114 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,658 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,768 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,378 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,824 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,247 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media