Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has revealed how he became the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria after leaving his post as the coach of Mali, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle took charge of the Super Eagles for the first time in March following this confirmation as coach in January. So far he has led the team in just two games, which is the 2-0 win away to Rwanda and the 1-1 draw at home against Zimbabwe.
He will be in charge at the end of May when they take part in the four team innovational tournament in London with the quartet of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Ghana.
The coach explained in a television interview how he beat top coaches from a five man shortlist to become the new coach of the Super Eagles, and how he left his job at MC Oran because of the Nigerian job.
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“Well, listen, when I left the Malian national team, there was a call for applications from the NFF, the Nigerian Federation. So, I applied, just like any other coach”, he explained.
“There was a process, a shortlist came out with four or five names, and there were some big-name coaches on it. I had an interview, a video conference where I presented my project, my vision, my philosophy.
*I thought it would happen much quicker, but events meant I had to wait. So, I went to Oran [in Algeria]. Right away, I told my president and the board in Oran that this opportunity [with Nigeria] might come up, because I always believed it could.
And finally, it happened”,
He went further to explain how the Algerian side reacted to his decision to leave the club for the Super Eagles job.
“The club in Oran was very gentlemanly about it and let me leave for this big project. We had been in discussion since the call for applications.
“I didn’t understand why it was taking so long, and then it all sped up very quickly, within a week.
“I told my bosses over there [in Oran], and it created quite a buzz. But no, again, I was aligned with what I wanted to do, I didn’t have any particular problems, and now I’m really enjoying my time in this country and with this group.”
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
