As Nigerian footballers are known for doing exploits in foreign leagues across the world, it is beginning to look like Nigerian coaches are also following this noble path.
In neighbouring Niger Republic, a Nigerian coach, Jonathan Simon is the toast of every football stakeholder in the Nigerien premier league after guiding a modest club, Espoir FC of Zinder to the top of the league.
He did it in a very clinical way, dusting aside every opponent with emphatic victories in all the six games so far. It is indeed a noble feat, knowing the past history of the club, a club that is associated with relegation is now aiming to win the league and play in CAF Champions League has made Simon the cynosure of all eyes in Niger.
In an exclusive chat with www.totorinews.com, the Kaduna- born coach said the Nigerien premier league is well administered by the football admnistrators, adding that he was given full authority in the technical affairs of the club, unlike some Nigerian clubs where certain God-fathers are the ones that tells the coach the player to play or to bench
“Life is good here in Niger. The onlt challenge is that i cannot speak French language, i only communicate with the players and the media in Hausa language, but, i thank God that things are moving well for me and the club,” Simon said.
“Nigerian league is very strong and very difficult, just like the Nigerien league too. In Nigeria, most of the chairmen of clubs give coaches directivr on who to change, they will write note to you through someone insisting you change a particular player for another and with this interference, it will be difficult to prove yourself as a good coach in Nigeria.
“It is very different here. You are a given freedom to assert your authority in the team. You work freely and things move well for you and the club.
“Espoir FC has played six games and we won all. We are unbeaten with four away wins and two home wins. Interestingly, i joined the club last season when the team was struggling in the relegation zone.
“Luckily, the team survived relegation last season and as at this moment the target is to win the league and play CAF Champions League.
“Another good factor in Niger, is the fac that their referees are well trained. The officiating of the matches does not disregard the rules of the games, irrespective of which team is playing at home or away.
“I’m glad that the NFF and the NPFL are gradually removing the bad referees in the league to make every club have a genuine reward for their labour,” he concluded.
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