A former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, has called on Nigerians to support the re-appointed Super Eagles Coach Shaibu Amodu with a view to sustaining stability in the national team.

Amodu, who coached the Eagles twice previously, was unveiled at the football house in Abuja on Friday and charged with the task of qualifying the team for the World Cup and Nations Cup in 2010.

Galadima told the SUNDAY PUNCHSPORTS on the telephone on Saturday that it was time that Nigerians supported the homegrown coaches.

He said, “I think it is a new development and I was impressed with the manner that Amodu was presented to the public.

“Such spectacle represented a new orientation where indigenous coaches are given due recognition and I hope that the NFA can sustain this trend.”

On the reports that the NFA concealed Amodu’s total package from the public, Galadima said it was not abnormal. “It could be based on an agreement by all the parties concerned, the former Kano State Sports Commissioner said. “It is perfectly in order and I don’t think such reports should attract negative comment from the public.”

“I believe as long as Amodu is given the tools with which he would work, every other thing will fall in place. The coach has been there before and should be experienced in discharging his new duties.”

He, however, advised the Eagles handler to carry his crew along in decision-making in the overall interest of the country.

“I think the entire crew should also use this rare opportunity to rise above sentiment in handling the team. They must be firm in their task because only by this will they earn the respect of the NFA and Nigerians in general.”

Asked if the appointment of the quartet of Amodu, Daniel Amokachi, Fatai Amao and Aloy Agu would stop the pandering of expatriate coaches, Galadima said, “It is not necessarily the end of foreign coaches. Mark my word, the coaches only need to be firm on matters of principle and the good results will follow naturally, thanks to the abundance of talent at their disposal. In that situation, there will be no need to hire a foreign coach.”

Galadima urged Amodu and his crew to remain focussed ahead of the qualifiers starting in June. “I expect these battles to be tougher than the previous ones,” he warned.