Former El-Kanemi Warriors Head Coach and ex-Nigeria U-20 national team handler, Coach Aliyu Zubair, has explained the reasons behind his decision to accept the coaching offer from Egyptian side Telecom FC, describing it as a lucrative opportunity and a platform to showcase the quality of West African coaches on the international stage.
Coach Zubair made this known while speaking at the Kwara State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Hard Talk programme held today, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the association’s secretariat in Ilorin.
The experienced tactician, who attended the interactive session alongside his Assistant, Coach Lukman Ijaiya, said the move to Egypt was motivated by professional growth, improved welfare packages, and the desire to prove that coaches from West Africa can compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
“The offer is lucrative, with better benefits, and for me, it is an opportunity to make a statement. It is also a chance to prove that coaches from West Africa are good enough to succeed at the highest level,” Zubair said.
The former El-Kanemi Warriors gaffer lamented the poor welfare structure for coaches in the Nigerian football ecosystem, noting that only a handful of clubs adequately remunerate their technical personnel.
According to him, there is a significant gap between the standards obtainable in the Nigerian league and those in Egypt, particularly in the areas of player welfare, club administration, officiating, facilities, equipment, and logistics for league matches.
“Very few teams in Nigeria pay coaches well. There are huge differences between what we have in the Nigerian league and what is obtainable in Egypt.
Their players enjoy better welfare, clubs are professionally managed, refereeing standards are higher, facilities and equipment are readily available, while travelling arrangements for matches are well organised,” he stated.
Zubair further revealed that Egyptian football thrives on professionalism and merit, stressing that clubs engage experts in various departments to ensure efficiency and sustained success.
“They engage experts based on merit, and the system works effectively. The conditions are so good that players are not always desperate for moves to Europe because they are well catered for at home,” he added.
The highly respected coach expressed optimism that his new assignment with Telecom FC would further enhance his coaching profile and create more opportunities for Nigerian and West African coaches to gain recognition on the continental stage.
The Kwara SWAN Hard Talk programme provided stakeholders, journalists, and football enthusiasts with an opportunity to interact with the coach on his career, achievements, and expectations as he embarks on a new chapter in Egyptian football.
