Why I didn’t apply for Super Eagles job — Vincent Enyeama

Ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama said the unavailability of a coaching license stopped him from applying for his dream job as Nigeria’s men’s national team gaffer.

Following Jose Peseiro’s exit in February, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) declared the Super Eagles head coach position open to applications, leading to over 40 applications that included interests from ex-internationals like Daniel Amokachi, George Finidi, and Emmanuel Amunike.

Enyeama in an interview with Afrik-Foot said he couldn’t apply for the position at the time because he’s still working on getting his coaching papers, whilst managing his hotel business.

When asked why he didn’t indicate interest in leading the national team like many others, the 2013 AFCON winner replied, “No, no, no. It’s not that I am not interested; it’s just that I am not certified. For you to be able to coach the Super Eagles, you must be certified. That’s the minimum standard.

“That’s the number one reason, and then for the fact that I have been very busy developing and managing my hotel has taken a lot of my attention, and that business is the most important thing for me now.

“So football is like number two for me now unless just one day the Nigeria Football Federation says, ‘Please come and share your wealth of experience in this area with these players,’ then it becomes a different thing altogether.

“For now, I have to wait until I get the necessary certificate before I can say this is where I want to coach or the area where I can support the national teams.

The two-time NPFL champion furthered by stating his current focus as becoming a head coach and not just a goalkeeper trainer.

“Whatever I am doing now is how to become a full coach of a team, and not just goalies trainer,” Enyeama said.

“If I have to be a goalies trainer then, it has to be with very young ones in junior teams because they are the ones you really teach. They are still growing and open to learning new things; these ones you can easily transmit what you want.”

Given the two-week ultimatum by Sports Minister John Enoh, Super Eagles of Nigeria’s head coach is expected to be named within the next 10 days.