BENJAMIN AMOGU
Bonfrefre Jo, the former coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has said that the country is not lacking in talent but that several factors have continued to undermine the various national teams in terms of performance.
The coach who spoke to SportsDay on the sideline of an event in Lagos on Friday noted that there has not been concise efforts from the authorities to make sure that players are in synergy and play as a team for optimal performance.
The coach who guided the country to win Africa’s first Olympic gold medal in football, a feat he achieved with the dream team at the Atalanta Olympic Games in 1996, said during his time with Nigeria, he tried so much to build unity and oneness in the team and made sure that the players played for him and the country.
“Nigeria is blessed with abundant talent. Nigerian players are skillful, strong and very ready to give their best but I don’t seem to see the same thing right now.
“The players are very committed but they are not always like that when they are playing for the country and I think the authorities should look into this.
“During our time, we have this unity and the players were very happy to play and get the result for the country.
“We had our own challenges before going for the Olympic Games but we managed the situation very well to make sure we are achieved what we achieved.
“Until the players are build unity and play as one, the team may still be struggling.
“Also, they should develop the local league very well so that it will build players from the grassroots,” he said.
The Dutch was in Nigeria for the Qnet/Man City Coaching Clinic, where young talents were trained for future career in Abeokuta.
