‘Emmanuel Amunike is still a good coach’ – Friday Ekpo

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former Nigeria International, Friday Ekpo has made a case for former Nigeria U-17 national team coach, Emmanuel Amunike following the West African’s exit from the Zambian giants Zanaco FC.

The Nigeria international was a consultant and coach before he parted ways with  Zanaco FC Board of Directors and Management the termination of Amunike and assistant coach, Emeka Amadi with immediate effect.

With six games to the end of the Zambian league, Amunike was fired,  Ekpo insists was unsurprising, stressing that coaches are hired and fire.

“Amunike we know him as a good coach. For Zanaco, maybe they were struggling right from time. We knew he is a good coach and that was why they come for him.” Ekpo told Brila FM.

“Maybe the terms and conditions of the contract are to take the team back to a respectable position in the league.

“Throw in the towel and start afresh. Begin to think about where you didn’t do well and look at how to come up again. You can take a leave on your own and refresh yourself to come back better for the second or third coming as a coach.”

The Zambia side has appointed former national team coach, Wedson Nyirenda to steer the ship of the club till the end of the season.

Amunike coached the Nigeria national U-17 football team to win the World Cup in 2015. On 6 August 2018, he was appointed as the coach of the Tanzania national football team.

He managed to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, before resigning from training the team after three loss