ABEOKUTA – Ex-Aston player and England International, John Fashanu has disclosed his desire to manage the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Fashanu said, managing the Super Eagles is one of the hardest jobs in the country, insisting that with the right people around him and good working environment, he would make the national team a ‘beautiful bride’.
He noted that he can reinvigorate the Super Eagles with the right players and mentality.
Fashanu made the call during an interview with sports journalists during his visit to Ogun State.
“I want to be the manager of eagles. That’s one of the hardest jobs in this country, but I’m saying that I can do it, and I can do it with the right people, and the right people are the people I’ve just told you. They’re the people who understand the game of football. It’s not about how much can you give us Fashanu how much did you got for us, how many millions can we make out of you? It’s not about that. It’s about getting players who can play in different countries, and it’s very important to get players with the right mentality, the right character, players who want to play for the country. I wanted to play for my country, but in the end, I was chosen to play for England, and I played for England three times, and then I came back to the motherland. Everyone said, You traitor, you played for Nigeria, you didn’t play for Nigeria? No, it was me getting to know what English football is all about, because at the end of the day, the game of football started in England, and for sure, it will finish in England. That just made me a little bit clever, and now I’m ready to serve my country.”
The soccer legend, however, made a case on the need to give pensions to retired Nigerian footballers, explaining that back in England, he still gets bonus for playing for the country.
“I still get a bonus for playing for England, which is not applicable to ex-players in Nigeria. We have to give pensions to our retired players. I am here, because this is my State, I will make up for the lost time I was not here. There are clubs in the UK that are hungry for players in football, basketball, golf, and swimmers”, he added
He disclosed that he would be part of the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival and witness other events, commending the Ogun State Government for embarking on massive turnaround of sporting facilities across the state, in preparation for the fast-approaching National Sports Festival.
The ex-Aston Villa of England striker who later paid courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, in his office, expressed his admiration for the Ogun State Government’s efforts in providing world-class sporting facilities ahead of the upcoming Gateway Games.
The Egba born renowned footballer who had illustrious careers with English clubs; Wimbledon, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, among others, revealed his willingness to give back to the community, by leveraging his experience and expertise to inspire the next generation on athletes.
Fashanu assured of creating a world-class academy to be linked to his academy in London and praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for his commitment towards sports development.
The soccer world star pointed out that the facilities put in place for the festival were testaments to the Ogun state government’s dedication to nurturing young talents and promoting sports excellence.
“There is an enormous demand, and I am so pleased that I spoke with His Excellency, and he has agreed to help me in my dream. What I see is a sports academy, named after Dapo Abiodun, where we can have all kinds of sports linked unto me in my big academy in London, where dreams can actually come true. It’s a win-win situation for State,” he said.
Fashanu, responding to his neglect of the Super Eagles, he explained that he has no regret, recalling that most Nigerian former footballers advised him to stay away from sport politics.
“I don’t have any regrets not playing for Nigeria. I still get a bonus for playing for England, which is not applicable to ex-players in Nigeria. We have to give pensions to our retired players. Most of the Nigerian ex-players advised me to stay away from sport politics, I fought them, telling them that I want to be part of it, but I was wrong and they were right’, he revealed.
