FORMER Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Clemens Westerhof, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is committing a blunder by offering an untested Sunday Oliseh the job to coach the senior national team.
Oliseh, 40, was handed his Super Eagles debut by Westerhof in 1993 and the Dutchman feels that his former protégé has not gotten the requisite experience to handle such a difficult side with lots of egotistic players.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Ajax midfielder has only ever managed a third division Belgian side Vervietois as well as worked as TV pundit and a member of the Fifa Technical Study Group for the 2014 World Cup.
“No, no, no, no that cannot be, he can’t be Super Eagles coach. Oliseh cannot do it, no, he can’t,” Westerhof was animated as he said.
“If the Nigeria Football Federation is bringing Oliseh to handle the Super Eagles, then that is too bad because it is not right. It is not proper, he is not the right man for the job.”
The 75-year-old, who led the Super Eagles to their second African title in 1994, then reeled off the work experience he and recently sacked Stephen Keshi earned before being handed the Nigeria top job.
“Before I took over the Super Eagles in 1989, I was head coach of Feyenoord and we were champions after many years. I coached other top teams in the first division, Vitesse, MVV and came back to Vitesse again.
“Keshi was a top quality player in Belgium with Lokeren, Anderlecht, RC Strasbourg in France, Sacramento Scorpions and all that. He coached several other teams including Togo and Mali.
“Where did Oliseh coach? What is his coaching experience? Do you want to start learning how to coach with the senior national team,” he asked.
Westerhof also detailed the kind of problems likely to be faced by the new coach in the face of player egos.
“Coaching amateur teams is not enough to get experience of handling top teams like the Super Eagles.”
Players cannot respect him, you know, he cannot command their respect and influence as they loved and respected me, as they also respected and loved Keshi,” he said.
“What the players of the Super Eagles need is a coach who the players will love to respect, who has positive influence on the players and I don’t think Oliseh has these qualities,” Westerhof said.
Oliseh is expected to be unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja with a five-year contract that would see him set about bringing a blueprint for the development of Nigerian football.
If Jose Mourinho can be one of the best coaches in the world today, then we should just let Oliseh show us what he’s got to offer. Jose never even played football at the highest level, and no player dares disrespect him.
Football is mathematics. Football is PASSION ! Oliseh is an intellectual. And yes, ego plays a part. But no one, no one can query his heart for the game. If you know his background, from Festac town, LASU, Julius Berger……
What is ‘experience’ in football? Football is management. Its got less to do with how many clubs one has managed these days, and more with KNOWLEDGE of the game. Technical depth. Man Management. Analysis. A mind that is constantly deploying strategies.
Oliseh will stand up to anyone. Who is the 1 big time player in the Super Eagles today? ZERO! None! No one. So who can he not handle?
Life is about opportunities and taking them. Let him try…..where Nigerian football is now….we need to rebuild.
And a young upstart who will put his foot down and not run to Aso Rock when he has issues….
Westerhof should equally know that this recent world of digital information does not need an analogue register of previous achievements in order to succeed. #Giveolisehachance#