Former Tremendous Falcons coach Randy Waldrum has opened up about his time answerable for Nigeria’s girls’s nationwide crew, saying the Nigeria Soccer Federation made issues tough with poor planning and lengthy delays in wage funds.
In an interview with Eagles Tracker, the American coach revealed that he as soon as went 14 months with out being paid and needed to maintain his job in the US to keep away from shedding his residence.
“I learn all of the tales about coaches not being paid on time in Nigeria, and I used to be frightened. Within the US, you’ve payments to pay month-to-month. If I didn’t have my job in Pittsburgh, I may’ve misplaced my home,” Waldrum mentioned.
He additionally defined that whereas many questioned why he was working two jobs, it was the one manner he may defend himself.
“I used to be totally dedicated to Nigeria. The Falcons had been by no means second to Pittsburgh in my 4 years there. However I wanted that safety, particularly after I wasn’t paid for over a 12 months.”
Waldrum took over the Tremendous Falcons in 2020 and helped the crew qualify for the 2023 FIFA Girls’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. He stepped right down to take care of his spouse, who had coronary heart surgical procedure.
Regardless of the success, he mentioned his plans to construct one thing long-term in Nigeria weren’t supported.
“I had a 10-year plan to enhance youth soccer and construct in the direction of successful the World Cup. Nigeria has nice gamers, and I believed I may assist by bringing in new concepts. However there have been so many challenges,” he added.
Waldrum additionally warned that Nigeria may quickly lose their place as a high crew in African soccer if extra shouldn’t be performed to enhance the nation’s soccer construction.
“It’s straightforward to sack coaches once they don’t win, however with out funding and planning, it will likely be exhausting to maintain successful,” he mentioned.
He praised nations like Morocco, South Africa, and Ivory Coast for constructing robust soccer programmes, warning that Nigeria is falling behind.
“Morocco’s nationwide coaching centre is without doubt one of the finest on the earth. They’ve invested of their soccer, and now they’re seeing outcomes. Nigeria can not depend on previous glory. Sooner or later, they won’t even qualify for the World Cup if issues don’t change.”
The Tremendous Falcons at the moment are led by coach Justin Madugu and can start their WAFCON marketing campaign in opposition to Tunisia on July 6, adopted by matches in opposition to Botswana and Algeria.