SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has advised his newly-appointed assistant Joseph Yobo to acquire his coaching qualifications in the immediate future if he wants to go on to become a great manager.
Earlier this week, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) surprisingly appointed Yobo as one of Mr Rohr’s assistants, replacing long–serving assistant manager Imama Amapakabo. Under the terms of the contract the NFF and Mr Rohr have, the federation is allowed to appoint one of his assistants and yesterday, it decided to do this.
Pointing out that he was surprised with the appointment Mr Rohr said that despite this, he will seek to make it work. He advised Yobo to get a coaching licence if he wants to succeed as a coach
Mr Rohr said: “The NFF has the right to pick one assistant coach for my staff, so they are the ones to communicate the reasons for the appointment, not myself. I was informed by Amaju Pinnick, in a telephone call, before it was made public.
“I have the responsibility to develop coaches from Nigeria as agreed with the NFF and I am more than happy to do that. Joseph Yobo is welcome to the team, of course but I have heard that he has no coaching diplomas, so I will talk to him, about this.
“If what I have heard is correct, I will tell Yobo that he needs to do the training required, to grow as a coach. I don’t know why Amapakabo has been removed as I worked very well with him and he did a very good job with me.
“I regret his departure but since the NFF has the right to take this decision, there is nothing that I can do about it.” Yobo is expected to be on the bench when the Eagles host Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next month in Uyo.
