Former Flying Eagles coach, Tunde Disu, has hailed the decision of Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, over-ruling the hiring of Belgian-born Tom Saintfiet by the Nigeria Football Federation as the Technical Director of all the country’s national teams.

Saintfiet who was the former coach of Ethiopia, was appointed by the NFF on the 28th of April this year, and was being expected to resume work before the minister made his pronouncement few days ago.

“That’s good for our football. It’s been long we’ve been talking about it. I was the first Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association and I know what I achieved. I was also the Team Director of the Under-23 team at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games; I was the Director of the Super Eagles in both the Africa Nations Cup and FIFA World Cup in 1994 respectively,” he began.

“My relationship with the coach then, Clemence Westerhof was cordial.  Once you have the backing of the Sports Minister, the Secretary, the Chairman and even the Coach, things will work out fine.”

“We have capable hands who can do the job here- myself, Laloko, Joe  Erico, Amodu Shuiabu, Christian Chukwu. These are some of the people who can work with Keshi, instead of appointing a foreigner who would not be able to work well in our environment here. We need someone with experience and respect, who can liaise with FIFA on our developmental programmes; and that’s where some of us come in because we have that relationship with the world’s football governing body.”