John Utaka, the legendary Super Eagles attacker, has confirmed to the press that he has submitted his application to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for the position of U-20 coach.
In July, the NFF advertised the vacant position of the Flying Eagles coach, seeking qualified candidates. The role comes with specific criteria outlined on the Federation’s official website.
Utaka, who played for Nigeria’s senior national team from 2001 to 2012, revealed in an exclusive interview with Brila FM that he has officially applied for the job.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
“I have applied for the under-20 job, and it’s something I would like to do if given the chance,” Utaka said on Brila FM. “I think it would be good because, as a player, I knew what it took to play for the country, which is something the youth need to understand. When you play for Nigeria, you play with your heart.”
He emphasized the importance of playing with pride and representing the national flag with respect. “There is a philosophy behind our play; we have to represent our flag with the utmost respect, and that’s why we are there.”
Addressing the pressures of the role, Utaka added, “The game comes with pressure, but when you get the pressure from all around, you have to sit with a committee and key with the people who are making the decisions. At the end of the day, the coach will have the final say on who he wants to play based on talent and capabilities, not just someone who will not perform.”