Former Super Eagles coach, Dutchman Jo Bonfrere,
wants the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give
him another chance to lead the team.
“If I am asked to come back, I would have to prove
to everyone that my results and performances can
win me the support of everyone,” Bonfrere told BBC
Sport on telephone from the Netherlands yesterday.
“I have worked in Nigeria for a long time in the past
and I know what to do to get the Super Eagles flying
again. I love Nigeria because that is where my
football mentality is most at home and I have a
fantastic relationship with the people there,”
Bonfrere added.
Bonfrere began his stormy romance with Nigeria in
1990, when he was assistant coach to Clemens
Westerhof.
The Dutch coaching duo worked together at the 1990,
1992 and 1994 African Nations Cups, winning silver,
bronze and gold medals.
Bonfrere was also Westerhof’s assistant at the 1994
World Cup and subsequently managed the U-23 team
to a gold medal at Atlanta “96 Olympics. But
arguments over his salary and team selection made
him quit the job in the United States, from where he
returned to his native Holland.
He returned in 1999 and took charge of the Super
Eagles at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations where
Nigeria lost the gold to Cameroun.
During his first successful stint the country was
under a military government, a suitable platform for
foreign managers to enjoy great financial backing
and sacred immunity from the football authority.
But Bonfrere is ready to let his work speak for him
should the NFF entrust him with the three-time
African champions.
He believes he is ‘the right man’ to return Nigeria to
the summit of African football, 15 years after he was
sacked as coach.
69-year-old Bonfrere is keen to replace Sunday
Oliseh who resigned from the post.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president
Amaju Pinnick has said they have no plans to
appoint a local coach on a temporary basis.
Current U-23 coach Samson Siasia will take charge
for Nigeria’s Nations Cup qualifiers against Egypt
later this month.
Bonfrere believes he is the right man to succeed
Oliseh on a long-term basis.
“Apart from Stephen Keshi, the other local coaches
have not succeeded because they cannot give what
they don’t have to take the team higher.
“Other foreign coaches have also failed because they
come with the arrogant attitude of being a world
class coach and a big name to perform magic there,
and that wrong notion meant they had no passion,
desire and the required knowledge to succeed on the
job.
“I was very successful because I did not separate
myself from the reality. I worked with youth and
domestic players; I had faith in my Nigerian
assistants and gave my best despite all the
challenges.
“No one has done what I achieved and I believe I
am the right man to return Nigeria to glory days in
Africa and the world,” he said.
“You can’t complain about criticism or ask for
respect if you don’t deserve it. I want another
chance to set a standard that will help improve
Nigeria football.
“Someone else will come and struggle because he
has no idea where he is going but I’m the man to do
it because I have proven that in the past,” Bonfrere
stated.
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