Re: Tom Saintfiet

1. The technical committee of the Nigerian Football Federation, after what it considered an exhaustive search appointed one Tom Saintfiet, an itinerant European coach of Belgian origin, with a curriculum vitae rich in small time football as Technical Director (TD)...
2. The committee's chairman, Chris Green had described this appointment as an important strategy in the development of Nigerian football, with the main function of the TD being to identify and groom local talent.
3. In all fairness, the committee, it is reported, had explored the option of appointing Sunny Oliseh, who declined, indicating a preference for a coaching position. 
4. However, the Minister of Sports has now come out to cancel this appointment, his rationale being that there are many Nigerian coaches who have knowledge of grassroots football and are thus better suited for this role. 
5. Without going into the merits of this decision, the cancellation of the appointment has in itself provided an opportunity for the NFF to rethink its overall approach to what is a critical appointment in Nigerian football, if handled correctly. 
6. For starters the technical department needs to properly articulate a clear vision for this role, and set clearly identifiable targets on the basis of which the TD can be hired and subsequently assessed.
7. More importantly, the committee needs to completely reorient its approach from a top-down to a bottom-up strategy. Why do I say this?
8. Because the reality is that most of what constitutes youth football in Nigeria today lies outside the framework of the NFF.
9. Youth/grassroots football is alive and well to the extent that it is in the Mock Nations Cup in Lagos, in traders cups played in several Nigerian cities, in the Shell Cup, and multiple other avenues, including some 'academies' of varying descriptions and standards, with Pepsi Academy being the stand out.
10. What is required here is for the NFF to FIRST build a consensus among the major stakeholders in Nigerian youth/grassroots football on the vision for enhancing the development of youth/grassroots football. The commitment of the major stakeholders should then form the initial basis and the foundation upon which a TD can then function with a reasonable chance of success. Anything short of this, in my opinion, will drastically reduce the impact of this program and make it another elephant project.
11. In turn what is required of the Technical Director is an experienced coach and an innovative thinker who can improve the technical ability and knowledge of our players and coaches both now and in the future. Most importantly, a coach with the experience and ability to put in place a practical guideline for developing young players, in a manner that reflects our football culture and the best qualities of the Nigerian footballer.
12. Such a candidate should ideally (but not necessarily) be familiar with Nigerian football. He must have the stature to command respect and thus transmit confidence across the full spectrum of the program.
13. In my opinion the closest person we have who fits this criteria would be Adegboyega Onigbinde. But even he is constrained by limited access to the modern training regimes for enhanced development of youth footballers and coaches that proliferate national programs and academies in Germany, Spain, France, Holland, Brazil, Argentina, etc.
14. But there are other options, especially amongst Nigerians in the diaspora. In the US for instance, there are several good prospects including Dr Eguaoje, who incidentally holds a similar position in the state of Mississippi.
15. There is also the option of using the FIFA Goal Bureau to source a specialist in this role. These are typically developmental coaches.
16. Contrary to local reports, the Goal program has evolved from just funding infrastructures, and the 2011-2014 funding cycle makes provisions for development programs, including the development of youth academies, under which a strong case can be made for funding a technical director.
17. A wild card might also be Clemence Westerhof, whose achievements in Nigeria in the mid-nineties should still win him respect among all stakeholders. Although his long hiatus from the game might be a problem.
18. Every available index for assessing football development shows Nigerian football has stagnated. Nowhere is this more evident than in the quality of young players available to national team selectors, as well as the products from the Professional League. The result is also evident in the poor quality of players prematurely seeking transfer to Europe, many of whom end up in backwater leagues or are lost altogether to our football. 
19.  As I have said in the past, the combination of the Bosman Rule and European integration has led to greater competition, higher entry standards and thus reduced opportunities for Nigerian and African players in the first tier European leagues. The reality is that we can no longer rely entirely on European teams to develop our players. It is not a sustainable model.
20. Let there be no misunderstanding. The TD however good he might be, will not solve all the problems facing Nigerian football. But at the very least, and if well implemented, the quality of players available at youth level should increase significantly. And that would be an important achievement by this NFF regime.