The Head Coach of the U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, Coach Aliyu Zubair has praised the commitment of his Assistants, adding that their togetherness was vital towards the team’s success at the WAFU B Championship.

Answering questions from journalists in Ilorin, the El-Kanemi Warriors Technical Adviser equally thanked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for ensuring that there is unity between him and his lieutenant, as he was given the opportunity to recommend and work with them.

“The NFF gave me the free hand to pick my assistants, with the mandate that the recommendations be spread. The President of the NFF told me that previous arrangements had always ended in controversy because the Assistants were always being recommended for the Head Coaches.

“I took one Assistant from Kwara state, who is Lukman Ijaiya, my former player and former coach of Kwara United FC, one from Akwa Ibom, and the other one, a Goalkeeper Trainer, from Borno state, and all of them have been supportive. We work like a family.

He praised Coach Ijaiya for finally taking the courage to become a coach, after his initial reluctance, when he quit active foitball.

“Ijaiya was then reluctant to become a coach, after quiting active football, just like some of the player we have today.

“Ijaiya was my player, and anytime you talk about him graduating to be a coach, he will say no. Himself, Nojim Raji and Isiaka Olawale. What I saw in them then was their leadership qualities.

“When it was getting closer to the end of his playing career, I advised him again, that he will make a good coach, because he stood out as a player. But he declined. But today, he is a coach, and a good one too.

Ijaiya, a utility player in his active days, played for the defunct Kwara Stars, Kwara United FC, Julius Berger Football Club, and was appointed as Coach of the youth team of Kwara United after completing his Coaching Ciurse at NIS, from where he graduated to the main team, before leaving the club.