Saintfiet,
who has coached Namibia, Malawi, Togo, Yemen, Bangladesh and Belgian
clubs in the past says he can work with the current talented group of
Super Eagles and qualify us through the group nicknamed the 'group of
death.'
Frenchman, Paul Le Guen, who was
recommended by the NFF technical committee for the job turned down
Nigeria's offer last week but Tom Saintfiet,one of the three
shortlists, has proclaimed he is the man for the job.
"I
am convinced in my qualities and in myself as a coach. I can take
Nigeria to Russia. I am convinced about the current crop of players. I
first admired Nigeria in 1994 when Westerhof and since then I have
followed the game in Nigeria. Remember I was appointed technical
director of the (Nigeria) football federation in 2012 but the minister
of sports turned it back after a few weeks," Saintfiet told
Supersport.com
"I've lived in Africa since 2008
and I know the players and teams quite well. During my two and a hlf
years in Namibia, I stayed full time in he country and was able to watch
over 200 matches to know more about the playing nature of the country.
Apart from that, I believe I am one of the tactically sound coaches for
the Super Eagles. I lived in Togo for 14 months and watched league games
and even street games. I lived in Malawi and did same. It's not
creating the team of best players but creating the best team - a team
that will compete for their nation with honour and respect and fight for
their country at every time,"
"Nigeria is my priority and
that is why I have not taken up the Bangladesh job. I have postponed the
signing and I want to go to the World Cup with Nigeria and not just
that but to reach the semis of the World Cup because they have the
quality to do so. I am ready to live in Nigeria."
"Nigeria
is one of the two African countries that can reach the semifinals of
the World Cup or even become the first from the continent to win the
World Cup. I am sure I can take Nigeria to Russia because they have a
huge talent base of players in their league and also overseas," he said.
"Most
of the time there are talks about wanting the big-name coaches in
Africa. I have huge respect for such coaches but football doesn't work
that way. Some people say Saintfiet is not a big-name in football. It is
very important to note that the coaches who succeeded, for instance,
with Nigeria were never big-name coaches. It was Clemens Westerhof and
Jo Bonfrere who were successful as foreigners and then Stephen Keshi and
Shuaibu Amodu who were successful as local coaches. But it wasn't the
big-name coaches like Berti Vogts or Lars Lagerback that were successful
with Nigeria.
"In this case, it is not only
with Nigeria. Even in the Ivory Coast, there was Sven Goran Eriksson
didn't get desired results or Cameroon with Javier Clemente as well as
some other African nations who appointed big-names and spent a lot of
money. The most times, the coaches who succeeded in Africa are not the
too famous coaches. I remember Bruno Metsu, who arrived in Guinea and
later to Senegal. I also think of Herve Renard who did very well with
Zambia and later Ivory Coast. These are coaches in Europe who were not
known and never worked in Europe with big countries or big clubs but
African football is different because you have to live in the country
and know the country. I have worked full time in African countries
because I want to watch football everyday in the country where I work,"
Saintfiet explained.
Some
people think Saintfiet may have done his chances of becoming Nigeria's
coach a harm with the saga that played out in Calabar in 2013 when he
was credited with comments taken a swipe on the West African nation.
Saintfiet
has now explained that what happened was a psychological war rather
than invectives aimed at bringing down Nigeria or Keshi. He further said
Keshi later became his friend leading to them exchanging coaching notes
over opponents.
"When I was coach of Malawi I
played a psychological war. When I said things about Calabar then I used
it to manipulate things in our favour before the game. If Jose Mourinho
do that people would like it. I did exactly at that time the same
thing. If I am coach for any team or country I will do everything for
that team or country to win. I never said anything negative about
Nigeria or Stephen Keshi. I only manipulated the situation to get a
psychological advantage.
"After the match,
Keshi and I got back to talk and we stayed in touch afterwards by always
talking on the telephone and email. I remember Stephen calling me
before Nigeria's playoff game against Ethiopia for advice in 2013
because I was former national team coach of the country in 2011. So the
Ethiopian team was still similar to the one I handled. So we exchanged
email messages a lot on that. I never had a fight with Stephen or
Nigeria we had huge respect for each other. I remember he told me how he
wanted to go to Belgium for the Uefa coaching licence in the months
after the 2014 Fifa World Cup," Saintfiet said.
"I
understand the feelings of the people at the moment because we don't
have to lie as this is the toughest group and this is almost a small
World Cup. All the opponents are highly respected countries with lots of
football qualities. Algeria has developed well and become one of the
best and they have a team that have been together for some years. They
have good players in Europe and locally, and they are a tactically
strong nation and very difficult to beat. Players like (El Arabi Hillel)
Soudani, (Sofiane) Feghouli and (Riyad) Mahrez play top football.
"On
the other side, Cameroon a little bit older generation mixed with newer
ones to give a very good blend. They have got experience in Eyong Enoh
and then there is Vincent Aboubakar who is very good and performs quite
well. Then you talk of Zambia who have an almost African-based national
team. They have players who play for Zesco United and then some in the
PSL (Premier Soccer League). So I have had the opportunity to travel
around a lot to see games and when I am not on the road I watch games on
SuperSport.
"I know this is not an easy group
but Nigeria have a good group of players. Nigeria have a large number of
very good players among more than 400 African players abroad. There are
big and small names, but it is now left to find the proper mix to sift
players who are able to play in a tactical style and discipline and
adapt as well. Some players are good in Europe but when they come to
Africa they find it tough, so that's where the games against Cameroon
and Zambia might need different approaches because of different
circumstances," he said.
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