Former Gombe FA chairman calls Eric Chelle “Kindergarten Coach”

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Gombe FA Chairman Gara Gombe has strongly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing Eric Chelle as the head coach of the Super Eagles.

Following over seven months without a permanent coach, the NFF officially announced the 47-year-old former Mali international’s appointment on Tuesday.

The decision has sparked considerable backlash, with many questioning Chelle’s qualifications for the role.

Chelle has coaching experience with clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.

Despite his club-level experience, Gombe labeled the appointment a “wrong step,” citing the NFF’s failure to secure a more experienced manager for the national team.

Chelle’s first task as Super Eagles coach will be to secure victories in the crucial March World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, are currently in a difficult position in Group C, with only three points from four matches, trailing Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin by four points.

Speaking on Brila, Gombe expressed his disappointment with Chelle’s appointment, calling him a “kindergarten coach” and questioning his ability to manage world-class players.

“Who is Chelle? Who knows him? What was his antecedent? Nothing. For goodness sake, all this waiting since AFCON in Ivory Coast, we cannot get a coach,” Gombe said.

“And we ended up now, after all these years, appointing a kindergarten coach to manage the world-class players that we have. It is really unfortunate.”