Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri has said that the Nigeria Football Federation’s choice of Finidi George as coach of the Super Eagles was a fair and perfect choice, devoid of sentiments, even as he has said that the new coach deserves the appointment.
Diri has also said that even though George was a native of his state, the former Super Eagles player never approached him to intervene on his behalf before the appointment was made. He said this during the draws for the 2024 Bayelsa Governor’s Cup Tournament, christened “Prosperity Cup,” according to a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah.
Diri said while his colleagues were lobbying the NFF to get their people into the office of chief coach, he refused to do same because of his belief that people should get what they deserve and not based on who they knew.
The governor said the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, who had visited his state after the entire exercise, had wondered why he did not lobby the Federation like his other colleagues. He said he had made his position known to the NFF boss.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation for appointing one of our own as coach of the Super Eagles, a son of the soil. We all know Finidi George as a professional footballer nationally and internationally and he decided to take on a coaching career.
“The NFF President was with me here in Yenagoa and he told me that, Your Excellency, you did not even lobby for your son while other governors were lobbying for their own to be the coach. I said, you know my disposition. I always allow merit to come to play.
“In our discussion, I also made it clear that Finidi never called me to say, Your Excellency, I am going for this, please lobby for me. So I believe he got it on his own merit and he is going to serve Nigeria. But he has to know that he is also from Bayelsa.” Diri wished Finidi well and assured him that he and the state will support him and the NFF to succeed.
George is the fourth Super Eagles Head Coach who hails from Bayelsa State. Others before him were the late Paul Hamilton, Monday Sinclair and Samson Siasia. Interestingly, they are all from Sagbama local government area of the state.
Earlier, Director-General of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, said the annual competition has received the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Sports, in recognition of the governor’s outstanding contribution in promoting sports.
