IKENWA NNABUOGOR tasks the newly appointed Super Eagles’ assistant coach Joseph Yobo to brace up for a tough task …
The Nigeria Football Federation pulled off a most audacious move by appointing former Super Eagles captain and centurion Joseph Yobo as the country’s assistant coach.
Yobo, 39, has replaced Imama Amakapabo in assisting Franco-German Gernot Rohr as he begins his coaching career in one of the hottest and most criticized coaching hot seats in Africa and even beyond.
Yobo becomes one of the few former Eagles’ players to transit from doing business on the pitch to shouting instructions from the dug outs.
Other notable names are Joe Erico, late Stephen Keshi, Fatai Amoo, Daniel Amokachi and Samson Siasia.
Having no previous coaching experience before this big baptism of fire, Yobo will have his hands full as well as have a lot of catching up to do.
From doing TV punditry to managing one of the most successful and biggest teams in Africa, Yobo will surely be guests of armchair critics and fans alike in the course of every game beginning from the AFCON 2021 qualifiers which kick off next month.
As tough and onerous his shock and surprise Eagles’ job will seem to be, one thing is sure for Yobo – the learning curve is big just as the job is.
He may have already bagged his coaching badges, but he lacks any coaching experience.
No doubt, his relationship with the players will always seem as well as appear good, and this will do his brand new Eagles’ coaching journey a world of good.
In as much as he will enjoy a seemingly good working relationship with the players some of whom he played with, Yobo must be prepared for the most scary attacks from the press, fans, fellow ex-internationals should a game go wrong.
But this is good for him and his boss Rohr because his experience and knowledge of the familiar terrain will be positive to his Eagles’ cause as well as the team as a whole.
One major thing that’s unclear about Yobo’s appointment is the terms of contract which have not been made public.
His terms of contract will also determine how Yobo will fare on his new job. The duration of his appointment is also not known.
Yobo, a thoroughbred professional is expected to sort this out before accepting this appointment and anything short of this, is not good enough for a professional of his standing.
No matter the terms of contract, this is welcoming Yobo to the Eagles nest.
