Finidi Fishes For Favour and Favourable Fortune
The highly unpopular freshly coronated Super Eagles Head Coach Finidi George is trying to unify fans and other stakeholders around him for the mammoth tasks ahead.
Aware that a huge body of fans might be unconvinced about his appointment, Finidi said: "The World Cup qualification matches against South Africa and Benin Republic are a collective responsibility for all Nigerians. We need prayers and support from everybody , this is our own we can do it and do it well."
I can understand Finidi's efforts in trying to carry everyone along with this project but to be honest, it is not "collective responsibility", it is his "sole responsibility" to step up to the plate and make a success of an appointment which hasn't gone down well with a large body of fans.
In an interview with a journalist, Finidi said he observed valuable methodologies from the coaches he worked under as a Player in Spain and England. He went on to say he then cut his own coaching teeth in Holland where he served as an under-age and reserve team coach.
In that interview - widely available on YouTube - he implied that he now has his own unique style built on clever interplay of passes predominantly on grass to pry open defences and inflict damage.
Having watched some of Eyimba's matches and the Super Eagles 2:0 loss to Mali, I can see semblances of Finidi's forte in action.
I personally implore fans to give this man a chance. He said he monitors our opponents, keep tabs on our players and would like to be judged on outcomes of upcoming competitive fixtures rather than what had gone before.
"Honestly my target is to win the two matches (and ultimately qualify Nigeria for World Cup) and not to be judged with the two international friendly game played”, said the outgoing Eyimba coach.
So, for me, I will offer feedback on Finidi's future performances - highlighting what to me are the strengths and weaknesses - just I would have done had NFF employed Pep Guardiola.
But expectations will be low and understandably so.
Finidi's pedigree - however generous and loving we might want to be - does not inspire confidence. His appointment by this strategically-bankcrupt NFF is one already laden with depressing performances and underwhelming and unfavourable outcomes.
But, Finidi seems ready to go against the grain of popular opinion and prove that he can make the Super Eagles super again.
A huge ask, if you ask me. But football itself is full of twist and turns.
This is Finidi's time to shine. Let's hope he grasps the nettle and pull a most unlikely rabbit out of his coaching hat!