There is a popular saying in Nigeria that “a prophet is not appreciated in his/her vicinity but highly rated outside”, this means Nigerians don’t appreciate their own, and growing up we had this notion that a product made in Nigeria would have an inscription “made in China” just because you want Nigerians to rate such product highly.
![Finidi George's Appointment as Super Eagles Coach](https://sportsintel.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FINIDI-300x241.jpg)
The idea that anything “foreign” means “better” is not only extended to product, but to personnel, and that is why some Nigerian football fans always root for a foreign coach whenever there is a vacancy for the position of coaching in the Super Eagles set-up. This discrimination is extended to coaches and players in the Nigeria Premier Football League, as some football fans believe our best players are playing in foreign lands.
Finidi George’s appointment as the new coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation is dividing opinion on why the Federation thinks the Enyimba coach is the right man to lead the 3-time African Champions ahead of others but this appointment not only allows Finidi to prove doubters wrong but also a chance for him to prove that there are talents in the NPFL, and, they can add something to the national team set-up.
Finidi’s Appointment: The Winners and The League
Finidi George’s appointment is a win-win situation for every ardent follower of the Nigeria Premier Football League because his appointment is an opportunity to prove what the local league can offer the National team. Local coaches have led Nigeria before, but none has directly moved from a league-based side to coach the Super Eagles since Chief Adegboye Onigbinde moved from Water Corporation to lead the then-Green Eagles in 1984 and Shuabi Amodu in 1995. Finidi had the honour of winning the Nigerian top flight in his second season at Enyimba and his team is currently placed third on the log, four points behind the table toppers with six matches left to play.
The former Super Eagles player can change the perspective on how people view products from the league if his tenure at the job is successful. Some years back, there were rumours that former NFF President Amaju Pinnick said he would never appoint a Nigerian as coach of the Super Eagles after the ill-fated tenure of Sunday Oliseh, and, after that, no Nigerian has gotten the job permanently except on an interim basis.
One of the excuses people have against local coaches is that they will not command players’ respect. In Finidi George, the Super Eagles have an ex-player who can command such respect from players since the Big Boss Stephen Keshi. Finidi played the game to the highest level winning the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and AFCON with Nigeria among other laurels, something players in the current set-up can’t boast of.
Finidi George’s Appointment: A Lifeline For NPFL Players
George also has the opportunity to change how people view players playing in the NPFL. When Jose Peseiro listed players for the 2024 AFCON held in Cote D’Ivoire, only one player (Ojo Olorunleke) from the league made the list, as ardent followers of the league believe two or more players from the local scene deserved a place on the plane to the West African country.
When Finidi took charge of the Super Eagles on an interim basis during the March international friendly games against Ghana and Mali, Benjamin Tanimu a player who as recently as January was plying his trade with NPFL side Bendel Insurance before he made a move to Tanzania side Ihefu S.C in February made his debut under Finidi George. According to Finidi, Tanimu is a player he tried poaching at Enyimba while he was still playing in the league. With a man who has the added advantage of seeing the best and worst of NPFL players at the helm of affairs, maybe NPFL players will be more than just “training materials”.
The late Stephen Keshi remains Nigeria’s most decorated local coach with the Super Eagles but he never coached in the NPFL, yet he trusted local players and a few of them played a huge role in winning our last AFCON in 2013. Finidi has an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his former National team Captain by propagating the gospel of “think local” with a successful stint as Super Eagles coach.
FINITO, over to you.