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You are in: Football: Africa |
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Wednesday, 10 April, 2002, 11:20 GMT 12:20 UK
Bonfrere seeks Nigeria return
Bonfrere says Nigeria's best players are needed
By BBC Sport Online's Osasu Obayiuwana
It is almost a year ago that Jo Bonfrere was sacked as Nigeria's manager, following a 0-1 loss to Sierra Leone in a World Cup qualifier. But if given a third chance to manage the Super Eagles, he says he would "seriously consider" returning to Nigeria. "If I am asked to come back, I would have to think about it.
"There are so many problems managing Nigeria. "But when you think of the world class players they have, it is always a joy to work with them", he told BBC Sport Online on the telephone from Belgium. The Dutch coach has just left UAE club Al-Wahda and admits that coaching in the Gulf did not come close to the higher ambition of leading Nigeria to the World Cup. "Coaching players of the quality of Okocha, Oliseh, Taribo West and Julius Aghahowa is a great experience for any manager. "Nigerian players love football and work hard. The players that I worked with in the Emirates are not of the same quality", he confessed. History Bonfrere began his stormy romance with Nigeria in 1990, when he was the de facto assistant 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 Under-23 team to a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. 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 African Nations Cup. Until that tournament, where Nigeria won the silver medal, Bonfrere had never led the Super Eagles at a major football event. Korea/Japan Bonfrere, who says his feelings for Nigerian football are still strong, says the Super Eagles haphazard World Cup preparations are a source of concern.
"If Nigeria have a proper training camp for three weeks before the tournament, they can do great things. "With good preparation they can defeat Argentina, England and Sweden. But as is always the case with Nigeria, nothing is ever done on time." Bonfrere criticised the decision of coach Adegboye Onigbinde to invite inexperienced players for Nigeria's pre-World Cup friendlies against Paraguay and Scotland. "The World Cup is close and there is no time for experimenting. Nigeria cannot afford to drop its most experienced players if they want to do well", Bonfrere warned. |
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