We’ll employ a coach whose emoluments are within our resources, NFF says

Paul Bassey, a member of the Technical and Development Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Friday said the federation would only go for a coach whose salaries it could afford.

Bassey told newsmen after the committee’s meeting in Abuja that it has taken into serious consideration the issue of the coaches’ salaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFF is in the process of appointing a chief coach for the Super Eagles, after the resignation of Sunday Oliseh.

It had earlier on Friday announced a shortlist of three from the list of more than 20 coaches who applied.

Those shortlisted are interim Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf, former Ethiopia coach Tom Saintfiet and Frenchman Paul Le Guen, a one-time coach of Cameroon.

“We know how much money we have and how much these coaches want to take.

“The committee also takes into consideration the experiences of the coaches in coaching teams in Africa,’’ he said.

The chairman of Akwa United Football Club of Uyo confirmed that the committee had shortlisted three coaches from the list it had.

“We are expected to come back on Monday, given the approval of the NFF executive Committee, to now pick a coach.

“But the bulk of the job of has been done going through all the CVs and then the shortlisting of the three.

“We have gone for the best, God helping. As for the three we shortlisted, we have looked at their records and they have done well, including the Nigerian (Yusuf),’’ he said.

“Their CVs are rich. We looked at those who have some coaching experience in Africa and their ability to work in Africa.

“We also looked at the emoluments available to us.

“We may have a coach who tells you he wants to earn 1,000 dollars a month, for example, and we may not be able to afford that, no matter how good he is.

“So, if we see one who says he will earn 80 dollars, we will rather go for that.

“This is not because he is a better coach, but because that is what we can afford.’’

On the shortlisting of Yusuf, Bassey said the coach has proven that he was capable and was included to compete for the top job.