Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu

[Tobi17]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

[Lolly]

I am sorry, they are part of the problem.

Ogunmodede engineered the selection of Victor Collins whom he sent out on loan because he wasn’t good enough for him at Remo Stars. He was the only NPFL player in camp for our AFCON qualifiers.

[danfo driver]

I just taya for this fanbase.

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

Korruption no gree Tobi see again. Abeg, when were they announced as assistant coaches?:laugh:

[anointed]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

Is it the same Ilechukwu that was already condemning Osimhen before he was invited to an assistant coach in SE?

Or Ogunmodede that would invite Remo Stars players that are on loan, rather than the ones on the roster, to the SE?

[anointed]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

Is it the same Ilechukwu that was already condemning Osimhen before he was invited to an assistant coach in SE?

Or Ogunmodede that would invite Remo Stars players that are on loan, rather than the ones on the roster, to the SE?

[bret- hart]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

What? Those 2 are the reason why rubbish HB players are in the SEs. They are part of the problem.

[Gotti]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

Not sure what Ikechukwu’s role is other than cheerleading…

Nevertheless, I substantively concur that they’ve both seem to have seamlessly fitted into and contributed to Chelle’s staff and of course seemed to have worked well together with CHAN team. Long may such opportunities be accorded to DESERVING LCs.

[Cellular]

I'm not the type to typically give local coaches their plaudits considering how largely disappointing they have been. But I've got to recognize and score Ogunmodede and Fidelis top marks for how successful they have been working together in that coaching staff set up with Chelle so far. Even at the CHAN qualifiers, both guys easily eased past a tough Ghanaian side and outclassed them in both legs. I won't be crazy to say we might have a coaching future in both of them if they continue to do well at the league and continent...who's to say the future of local coaching looks promising with Ogunmodede and Fidelis working as a perfect duo?

Not sure what Ikechukwu’s role is other than cheerleading…

Nevertheless, I substantively concur that they’ve both seem to have seamlessly fitted into and contributed to Chelle’s staff and of course seemed to have worked well together with CHAN team. Long may such opportunities be accorded to DESERVING LCs.

And the opportunities are well deserved.

The folks nitpicking are doing what they do best.

Maybe he should have hired all foreign-born and foreign-based assistants.

Perhaps it is not a good idea to hire Naijarians who have institutional knowledge of the NFF and an understanding of what makes Naijarians tick.

[iworo]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

[Cellular]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

Bloody native.

Why don't you bring expatriates to run the sectors you listed?

Na football we no fit conquer to the point natives like you are clamouring for expats even as assistants.

[iworo]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

Bloody native.

Why don't you bring expatriates to run the sectors you listed?

Na football we no fit conquer to the point natives like you are clamouring for expats even as assistants.

You're talking like a true loudmouthed Nigerian.....full of pride, light on facts (conquer ko conquer ni ) and always ready to defend mediocrity just for the sake of "we too can do it".

I’m not against Nigerians running things and i wasn't talking about supporting roles (i.e. assistants). I’m against incompetence, local or foreign. If the best qualified coach is Nigerian, great. If not, I’m not going to sacrifice performance just to massage our national ego. It’s funny how people like you suddenly find patriotic energy when it’s about football, but stay quiet while local talent underperforms or gets sidelined in health, education, engineering, etc.

You asked why I’m not calling for expatriates in other sectors, you must not be paying attention. We already bring them in, because we know when we’re out of our depth foreign medical/military consultants, architects, civil/chemical engineers, even tech advisors. Nobody complains then, because lives and money are involved. But when it’s football, suddenly every uncle wanna be a coach or technical director. Let’s stop deceiving ourselves. Pride won’t win tournaments. Competence will!

[Gotti]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

Yaaaawwwwnnnn….

Can’t be bothered to deconstruct this drivel premised on the obtuse notion that so-called “merit” (assuming it’s non-subjective) lies only with certain nationalities and/or skin color. The sad folly of the supposedly “educated” African. SMH

[aruako1]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

[iworo]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

Yaaaawwwwnnnn….

Can’t be bothered to deconstruct this drivel premised on the obtuse notion that so-called “merit” (assuming it’s non-subjective) lies only with certain nationalities and/or skin color. The sad folly of the supposedly “educated” African. SMH

Ah, the classic deflection….reduce a merit-based argument to a racial or colonial struggle because it’s easier than dealing with uncomfortable truths.

Nobody said merit lies with a nationality or skin color. That’s your own insecurity doing overtime. I simply said, pick the most qualified option, local or foreign. But it seems you’d rather cling to lazy nationalism than face the fact that our obsession with “homegrown pride” often produces underwhelming results.

If we truly believed in local competence, we’d back it up across the board…..in health, education, tech, infrastructure, but no, we import expertise in those areas daily, quietly. It’s only in football, where sentiment trumps output, that people suddenly start sounding like Malcolm X on steroids.

FYI, merit isn’t a Western conspiracy. It’s just a standard. If we ever want to be taken seriously, we need to stop treating every criticism of our own performance as some colonial insult. SMH right back at you.

[iworo]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

Fair enough. Nobody’s saying local coaches can’t or shouldn’t be considered. But they must be evaluated by the same standard as any other coach….track record, tactical nous, man management and the ability to consistently deliver results at the top level.

Yes, winning a league title is a plus, but not all leagues are equal my brother . Coaching in NPFL is not the same as managing in Ligue 1, Serie A or even CAF competitions. We can’t pretend they offer the same pressure, scrutiny or level of competition. If we want to be taken seriously on the world stage, sentiment alone can’t be the deciding factor.

On team selection, agreed, the final list is the manager’s call. But that’s precisely why the right manager matters. We’ve seen coaches local and foreign get manipulated by NFF or make questionable calls. That’s why competence and backbone matter just as much as credentials.

If Chelle is convinced a player deserves a call-up, no problem. But if people raise concerns based on what they’re seeing (or not seeing) on the pitch, it’s not anti-local bias. It’s accountability. Merit cuts both ways.

[aruako1]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

Fair enough. Nobody’s saying local coaches can’t or shouldn’t be considered. But they must be evaluated by the same standard as any other coach….track record, tactical nous, man management and the ability to consistently deliver results at the top level.

Yes, winning a league title is a plus, but not all leagues are equal my brother . Coaching in NPFL is not the same as managing in Ligue 1, Serie A or even CAF competitions. We can’t pretend they offer the same pressure, scrutiny or level of competition. If we want to be taken seriously on the world stage, sentiment alone can’t be the deciding factor.

On team selection, agreed, the final list is the manager’s call. But that’s precisely why the right manager matters. We’ve seen coaches local and foreign get manipulated by NFF or make questionable calls. That’s why competence and backbone matter just as much as credentials.

If Chelle is convinced a player deserves a call-up, no problem. But if people raise concerns based on what they’re seeing (or not seeing) on the pitch, it’s not anti-local bias. It’s accountability. Merit cuts both ways.

I agree that the NPFL is not the best league. But an NPFL winner should be at least in the running for an assistant role on merit. I am never too keen to accuse anybody of lack of integrity without evidence but I am not blind - I know the system is rotten.

And some of the callups have rotten. I'm not even talking of the likes of Tanimu or Sodiq as they are, or were top NPFL players. There have been several who were not even decent in the NPFL.

Chelle needs to stand his ground and not ruin his legacy. Our best players are abroad. However, if Chelle wants to use local players (to briaden the pool perhaps), the selections cannot be as wildly random as they have been in the last few years. He must decide on his approach (which may even be not to use local players) and stand by it

[iworo]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

Fair enough. Nobody’s saying local coaches can’t or shouldn’t be considered. But they must be evaluated by the same standard as any other coach….track record, tactical nous, man management and the ability to consistently deliver results at the top level.

Yes, winning a league title is a plus, but not all leagues are equal my brother . Coaching in NPFL is not the same as managing in Ligue 1, Serie A or even CAF competitions. We can’t pretend they offer the same pressure, scrutiny or level of competition. If we want to be taken seriously on the world stage, sentiment alone can’t be the deciding factor.

On team selection, agreed, the final list is the manager’s call. But that’s precisely why the right manager matters. We’ve seen coaches local and foreign get manipulated by NFF or make questionable calls. That’s why competence and backbone matter just as much as credentials.

If Chelle is convinced a player deserves a call-up, no problem. But if people raise concerns based on what they’re seeing (or not seeing) on the pitch, it’s not anti-local bias. It’s accountability. Merit cuts both ways.

I agree that the NPFL is not the best league. But an NPFL winner should be at least in the running for an assistant role on merit. I am never too keen to accuse anybody of lack of integrity without evidence but I am not blind - I know the system is rotten.

And some of the callups have rotten. I'm not even talking of the likes of Tanimu or Sodiq as they are, or were top NPFL players. There have been several who were not even decent in the NPFL.

Chelle needs to stand his ground and not ruin his legacy. Our best players are abroad. However, if Chelle wants to use local players (to briaden the pool perhaps), the selections cannot be as wildly random as they have been in the last few years. He must decide on his approach (which may even be not to use local players) and stand by it

I totally agree with you on the assistant coach’s merit as an NPFL winner, no argument there. But my point is really about the senior national team coach and what that role and the team should represent.

I think where we differ is in how we see the purpose of a national team. To me, the senior national team isn’t a development academy. It’s meant to showcase the best talent the country has to offer at any given time. The stakes, continental success, global credibility and national pride are too significant to let sentiment or political considerations drive selection.

I have no issue with scouting from the domestic league, but the bar has to be clear….. merit, ability and current form. That standard should be applied across the board, without compromise.

The national team isn’t where we test raw talent or satisfy internal interest groups. That’s the job of the U-23s, U-20s, and the CHAN squad. Those teams exist to develop players and give them exposure. The senior team, in contrast, is the final stage, where performance, not potential, should be the key metric.

[Damunk]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

Fair enough. Nobody’s saying local coaches can’t or shouldn’t be considered. But they must be evaluated by the same standard as any other coach….track record, tactical nous, man management and the ability to consistently deliver results at the top level.

Yes, winning a league title is a plus, but not all leagues are equal my brother . Coaching in NPFL is not the same as managing in Ligue 1, Serie A or even CAF competitions. We can’t pretend they offer the same pressure, scrutiny or level of competition. If we want to be taken seriously on the world stage, sentiment alone can’t be the deciding factor.

On team selection, agreed, the final list is the manager’s call. But that’s precisely why the right manager matters. We’ve seen coaches local and foreign get manipulated by NFF or make questionable calls. That’s why competence and backbone matter just as much as credentials.

If Chelle is convinced a player deserves a call-up, no problem. But if people raise concerns based on what they’re seeing (or not seeing) on the pitch, it’s not anti-local bias. It’s accountability. Merit cuts both ways.

I agree that the NPFL is not the best league. But an NPFL winner should be at least in the running for an assistant role on merit. I am never too keen to accuse anybody of lack of integrity without evidence but I am not blind - I know the system is rotten.

And some of the callups have rotten. I'm not even talking of the likes of Tanimu or Sodiq as they are, or were top NPFL players. There have been several who were not even decent in the NPFL.

Chelle needs to stand his ground and not ruin his legacy. Our best players are abroad. However, if Chelle wants to use local players (to briaden the pool perhaps), the selections cannot be as wildly random as they have been in the last few years. He must decide on his approach (which may even be not to use local players) and stand by it

I totally agree with you on the assistant coach’s merit as an NPFL winner, no argument there. But my point is really about the senior national team coach and what that role and the team should represent.

I think where we differ is in how we see the purpose of a national team. To me, the senior national team isn’t a development academy. It’s meant to showcase the best talent the country has to offer at any given time. The stakes, continental success, global credibility and national pride are too significant to let sentiment or political considerations drive selection.

I have no issue with scouting from the domestic league, but the bar has to be clear….. merit, ability and current form. That standard should be applied across the board, without compromise.

The national team isn’t where we test raw talent or satisfy internal interest groups. That’s the job of the U-23s, U-20s, and the CHAN squad. Those teams exist to develop players and give them exposure. The senior team, in contrast, is the final stage, where performance, not potential, should be the key metric.

Nobody could have said it better.

[aruako1]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

Fair enough. Nobody’s saying local coaches can’t or shouldn’t be considered. But they must be evaluated by the same standard as any other coach….track record, tactical nous, man management and the ability to consistently deliver results at the top level.

Yes, winning a league title is a plus, but not all leagues are equal my brother . Coaching in NPFL is not the same as managing in Ligue 1, Serie A or even CAF competitions. We can’t pretend they offer the same pressure, scrutiny or level of competition. If we want to be taken seriously on the world stage, sentiment alone can’t be the deciding factor.

On team selection, agreed, the final list is the manager’s call. But that’s precisely why the right manager matters. We’ve seen coaches local and foreign get manipulated by NFF or make questionable calls. That’s why competence and backbone matter just as much as credentials.

If Chelle is convinced a player deserves a call-up, no problem. But if people raise concerns based on what they’re seeing (or not seeing) on the pitch, it’s not anti-local bias. It’s accountability. Merit cuts both ways.

I agree that the NPFL is not the best league. But an NPFL winner should be at least in the running for an assistant role on merit. I am never too keen to accuse anybody of lack of integrity without evidence but I am not blind - I know the system is rotten.

And some of the callups have rotten. I'm not even talking of the likes of Tanimu or Sodiq as they are, or were top NPFL players. There have been several who were not even decent in the NPFL.

Chelle needs to stand his ground and not ruin his legacy. Our best players are abroad. However, if Chelle wants to use local players (to briaden the pool perhaps), the selections cannot be as wildly random as they have been in the last few years. He must decide on his approach (which may even be not to use local players) and stand by it

I totally agree with you on the assistant coach’s merit as an NPFL winner, no argument there. But my point is really about the senior national team coach and what that role and the team should represent.

I think where we differ is in how we see the purpose of a national team. To me, the senior national team isn’t a development academy. It’s meant to showcase the best talent the country has to offer at any given time. The stakes, continental success, global credibility and national pride are too significant to let sentiment or political considerations drive selection.

I have no issue with scouting from the domestic league, but the bar has to be clear….. merit, ability and current form. That standard should be applied across the board, without compromise.

The national team isn’t where we test raw talent or satisfy internal interest groups. That’s the job of the U-23s, U-20s, and the CHAN squad. Those teams exist to develop players and give them exposure. The senior team, in contrast, is the final stage, where performance, not potential, should be the key metric.

We do not differ on the purpose. I would pick the best players. I'm only saying that I would not object if a coach picked players from time to time provided that there is a clear process and criteria - nowadays it is way too random and we don't know why players are picked.

While I agree that performance should be the key metric, potential can also be a metric in picking a limited number of players in non-crucial games like friendlies when the main team is very settled (it isn't at the moment). So I agree that in this period when we are in the middle of crucial WCQs, we should give potential a back seat.

I think we both agree that the current methods are not working, and that we need to get it right.

[aruako1]

I’ve never understood the obsession some people on this forum have with the local versus foreign coach debate . Coaching appointments should be based on merit, not sentiment for Christ sake! When you’re building a house, seeking medical care or choosing a school for your children, do you make your decision based on where the professional is from or do you simply choose the most qualified option you can afford? The same logic should apply to selecting a coach. Football is a results driven sport and there's no room for sentimentality when performance is at stake.

Interestingly, this "we can do it ourselves" mentality isn’t being championed in the critical sectors of our society.....like education, healthcare or infrastructure, but somehow becomes a fierce point of pride in sports. It’s misplaced and counterproductive.

If I am building a house in my village, I would consider local labourers, especiallythose with honours to their names. And even if you speak about merit, there is no place in the world where being a league winning coach is not a positive when considering merit for national team assignments.

People have pointed out their concerns about the coaches' potential influence on team selection but the buck for every team list must stop with the manager, whether you like him or not. It is up to Chelle to satisfy himself that a player deserves a call up.

Fair enough. Nobody’s saying local coaches can’t or shouldn’t be considered. But they must be evaluated by the same standard as any other coach….track record, tactical nous, man management and the ability to consistently deliver results at the top level.

Yes, winning a league title is a plus, but not all leagues are equal my brother . Coaching in NPFL is not the same as managing in Ligue 1, Serie A or even CAF competitions. We can’t pretend they offer the same pressure, scrutiny or level of competition. If we want to be taken seriously on the world stage, sentiment alone can’t be the deciding factor.

On team selection, agreed, the final list is the manager’s call. But that’s precisely why the right manager matters. We’ve seen coaches local and foreign get manipulated by NFF or make questionable calls. That’s why competence and backbone matter just as much as credentials.

If Chelle is convinced a player deserves a call-up, no problem. But if people raise concerns based on what they’re seeing (or not seeing) on the pitch, it’s not anti-local bias. It’s accountability. Merit cuts both ways.

I agree that the NPFL is not the best league. But an NPFL winner should be at least in the running for an assistant role on merit. I am never too keen to accuse anybody of lack of integrity without evidence but I am not blind - I know the system is rotten.

And some of the callups have rotten. I'm not even talking of the likes of Tanimu or Sodiq as they are, or were top NPFL players. There have been several who were not even decent in the NPFL.

Chelle needs to stand his ground and not ruin his legacy. Our best players are abroad. However, if Chelle wants to use local players (to briaden the pool perhaps), the selections cannot be as wildly random as they have been in the last few years. He must decide on his approach (which may even be not to use local players) and stand by it

I totally agree with you on the assistant coach’s merit as an NPFL winner, no argument there. But my point is really about the senior national team coach and what that role and the team should represent.

I think where we differ is in how we see the purpose of a national team. To me, the senior national team isn’t a development academy. It’s meant to showcase the best talent the country has to offer at any given time. The stakes, continental success, global credibility and national pride are too significant to let sentiment or political considerations drive selection.

I have no issue with scouting from the domestic league, but the bar has to be clear….. merit, ability and current form. That standard should be applied across the board, without compromise.

The national team isn’t where we test raw talent or satisfy internal interest groups. That’s the job of the U-23s, U-20s, and the CHAN squad. Those teams exist to develop players and give them exposure. The senior team, in contrast, is the final stage, where performance, not potential, should be the key metric.

We do not differ on the purpose. I would pick the best players. I'm only saying that I would not object if a coach picked players from time to time provided that there is a clear process and criteria - nowadays it is way too random and we don't know why players are picked.

While I agree that performance should be the key metric, potential can also be a metric in picking a limited number of players in non-crucial games like friendlies when the main team is very settled (it isn't at the moment). So I agree that in this period when we are in the middle of crucial WCQs, we should give potential a back seat.

I think we both agree that the current methods are not working, and that we need to get it right.

[Gotti]

Ah, the classic deflection….reduce a merit-based argument to a racial or colonial struggle because it’s easier than dealing with uncomfortable truths.

Nobody said merit lies with a nationality or skin color. That’s your own insecurity doing overtime. I simply said, pick the most qualified option, local or foreign. But it seems you’d rather cling to lazy nationalism than face the fact that our obsession with “homegrown pride” often produces underwhelming results.

If we truly believed in local competence, we’d back it up across the board…..in health, education, tech, infrastructure, but no, we import expertise in those areas daily, quietly. It’s only in football, where sentiment trumps output, that people suddenly start sounding like Malcolm X on steroids.

FYI, merit isn’t a Western conspiracy. It’s just a standard. If we ever want to be taken seriously, we need to stop treating every criticism of our own performance as some colonial insult. SMH right back at you.

Yaaaaaawwwwnnnn X2….

I don’t who you’ve been hanging around (birds of the same feather I suppose), but my doctor, kids’ teachers in Nigeria, etc., have all been Nigerians (most educated in Nigeria - partly and/or wholly), and when the kids went abroad they regularly performed much better (and frankly were much more educated in every sense of the term) than their counterparts educated in state schools (in the UK) and public schools (in the US), while at least at par with most private school products abroad.

Transcorp Power employs probably only Nigerian engineers (as I am sure several others do), and many of the relatively successful downstream oil companies in Nigeria utilize Nigerian technical manpower. All of the Nigerian banks and financial institutions expanding across Africa and beyond are run by Nigerians/Africans at virtually all of the professional cadre. Same with the top Nigerian accountants, lawyers, architects, etc. And Nigeria is a tech hub attracting investment from all over the world.

Meanwhile, some years ago, a Nigerian-American pal applied for an expatriate contract in Nigeria, only to be bluntly told by the foreign recruiter (as a favor no less) that the Nigerian client was only interested in “white” candidates - reaffirming that your sort of mentality is actually pervasive in Nigeria, probably reinforcing the inherent inferiority complex that seeing foreigners in technical and professional positions in Nigeria means that local expertise in those areas is virtually non-existent.

Dude, we are talking about playing football here (heck, even coaching football). It’s not exactly building complex engineering systems or rocket science (which btw is why many other African nations have done it successfully). Next, you’ll be crowing that we should be replacing Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa, Rema, Olamide, Flavor, Tems, Ayra Starr, etc., with foreign music and musicians (you’re probably one of those who didn’t rate them until they won Oyinbo awards). SMH

[Gotti]

We do not differ on the purpose. I would pick the best players. I'm only saying that I would not object if a coach picked players from time to time provided that there is a clear process and criteria - nowadays it is way too random and we don't know why players are picked.

While I agree that performance should be the key metric, potential can also be a metric in picking a limited number of players in non-crucial games like friendlies when the main team is very settled (it isn't at the moment). So I agree that in this period when we are in the middle of crucial WCQs, we should give potential a back seat.

I think we both agree that the current methods are not working, and that we need to get it right.

What was the “clear process and criteria” for picking someone like Viv-Otabor and many of the other dross that have darken the halls of the SE locker room? Is it only home-based players that must be subjected to this so-called “clear process and criteria”?!

Abegi, football (and football coaching) is as much (if not more) art as science. Many successful and accomplished coaches have done so in significant part by following their instincts and intuition. That’s probably the ‘secret sauce’ that ultimately distinguishes the most successful coaches from the moderately-successful and the also-rans. Otherwise, everyone with the same coaching badges and/or background would achieve similar success.

Evaluate and judge players as INDIVIDUALS! Not exactly sure why such a seemingly elementary concept appears difficult for some individuals to grasps. Instead, anytime a home-based player suffers an average (or frankly less-than’ perfect) performance, the entirety of home-based and/or NPFL players are written off. The ultimate sophistry is to argue that NPFL clubs are not dominating CAF competitions, while we have players in second division and relegated clubs as starters in the SE. SMH

PS: BTW, this thread was about acknowledging what some ICs seem to be doing but note the quick obfuscation by immediately conflating anything or anyone indigenous with corruption - presumably because they’re all standing in front of their mirrors.