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Tag: Cooreman

  • Super Eagles job: Cooreman: ‘My Knowledge of Nigerian football gives me an edge’

    Super Eagles job: Cooreman: ‘My Knowledge of Nigerian football gives me an edge’

    Maurice Cooreman is a name that needs no introduction to football followers in Nigeria after spending over a decade coaching in the Nigeria league.

    The Belgian in this chat with SL10 spoke on his ambition to coach the Super Eagles, talked about  Stephen Keshi  and  Amodu Shuiabu as well.

    Is it true you are interested in the role off coach of the Super Eagles?

    Yes I am interested in the job, after all lot of coaches applied for the job, why not me

    What makes you think you stand a chance?

    I have the experience because when you have stayed so long in Nigeria, you understand better the Nigerian way and that is why I insist I’m the right man for the job.

    It was rumoured poor health made you leave Gombe United, Are you ready health wise for such a challenge?

    I don’t know where the reports claiming I’m  ill  came from and I can’t walk, I spoke with some media men and they saw me walk straight, I am not struggling to walk maybe when I get my next job they will see me on the touchline.

    You’ve won all the domestic trophies in Nigeria, but can I say this is your last shot at the Eagles job?

    I will say it might be my last shot at the job because whoever that is given the job might have a two-year deal and I’m not growing any younger but I believe I stand a chance to be given the job.

    If you are made coach of the Eagles what will be your first step?

    My first step will be to get a right blend of home-based players and foreign base to compete for spots in the team , I am in a better position to pick the best local legs in the league than anyone else, some have played against me others I have coached at a time.

    The foreign base will solely be selected on current home and a situation like Moses pulling out injured but playing for Stoke City last weekend is one I won’t tolerate, if you are injured you have to report first to be ascertain by our doctors, I will only use committed players who are the best talents in Nigeria.

    What do you have to say about Keshi’s Sack?

    Well Keshi did very well with the team, won the Nations Cup and qualified the team for the World Cup and that is as good as any African coach can aim for but results have not gone his way lately and maybe that cost him his job.

    What’s your take on Amodu Shuaibu?

    It’s a short term role and with just two games to go, I think Amodu Shuaibu will do well going by his experience, I expect him to salvage what can be termed as a bad situation and qualify Nigeria for next year AFCON.

    You have won all domestic trophies in Nigeria, which one is more memorable to you?

    Two are evergreen in my memories, winning the league with an unfancied Ocean boys team and the Federation Cup triumph with Kaduna United, both were special because lifted the title against all odds.

    Thank you for your time

    You Welcome.

  • Cooreman: I can coach Eagles

    Cooreman: I can coach Eagles

    Maurice  Cooreman expects to apply for the vacant Nigeria coaching job by next week, SL10 exclusively gathered from the Belgium-born trainer.

    The poor performance of the Super Eagles in the on-going 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers, following one win, two defeats and one draw wasn’t expected by even the neutrals.

    The position was declared vacant following the axing of 2013 AFCON winning coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi on 15th October by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

    Barely a week after even Keshi came to terms that he no longer has rights to pull the strings; Ruud Gullit, Henri Michel, Allain Giresse, Lothar Mathaus, Klaus Toppmoller and Roger Lamerre have all been linked with the most coveted coaching job in African Football.

    Cooreman came to prominence when he led Ocean Boys of Bayelsa to the Nigerian league title in 2006.

    Besides, he also won the Federation Cup with Kaduna United in 2010. The highly-rated gaffer, won the 2007 Premier League shield with Enyimba International and also piloted the team to a semi-final run in the 2008 CAF Champions League.

    Cooreman, who has been involved in Nigerian football for more than 10 years, has also managed Nigerdock, NPA, Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars and Gabros International, Warri Wolves and Gombe United.

    “I have been coaching in Nigeria for so many years. The country is blessed with so many talented players, who have immense talents,” Cooreman explained to SL10.

    “Nigeria need an experienced mind to manage a team of world class players, so I fit the bill as my records in the domestic league speaks volume.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to disclose candidates who have applied for the plum position.

  • Cooreman prepares for Jets test

    Cooreman prepares for Jets test

    Experienced Premier League manager Maurice Cooreman will put up his side Gombe United against lower division campaigners Mighty Jets as he prepares for the road trip to Akwa United.

    It is his second season at Gombe United after his arrival in the 2012/13 season.

    “We’ve played Adamawa United as well as Wikki Tourists and the next match will be against Mighty Jets.

    “I’ve been using different players to see what works best for the team,” Cooreman, who started work back in 2003 with Gabros International, told supersport.com.

    Gombe United defeated Adamawa United 1-0 and played a 2-2 draw against relegated Wikki Tourists.

    Journeyman Victor Barnabas scored a brace in Wednesday’s friendly against Wikki, while Haruna Babalo was the goalscorer against Adamawa United on Tuesday.

  • Gombe renew Cooreman’s contract

    Gombe renew Cooreman’s contract

    Gombe United have given Belgian coach Maurice Cooreman a new one-year contract to prepare the team for the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League season.

    General co-ordinator of the club Yarma Farouk told MTNFootball.com they extended Cooreman’s stay because they believe in continuity.

    “You know in the Nigerian league, it’s in the character of clubs to change coaches at the end of the season, but we are not in the bandwagon of those clubs and that is why we have given Cooreman another one year contract,” Farouk disclosed.

    “Even though the Belgian is back in Belgium to see his family, we have sent him a pre-contract to study so immediately he returns he will sign the contract.”

    The top Gombe official added: “We extended his stay because we are satisfied with his performance at the just-concluded season, where he picked players from Gombe United feeders’ team to prosecute the season.”

    This past season, Gombe finished seventh in the Premier League with 55 points from 38 matches.

  • Cooreman urges Gombe Utd players to end unimpressive away form

    Cooreman urges Gombe Utd players to end unimpressive away form

    Gombe United helmsman, Maurice Cooreman has assured that he would love to celebrate his new contract with the Savannah Scorpions with an elusive away point at Wikki Tourists today in a Glo Premier League Matchday 37 cracker.

    Cooreman and his players have relied on their near invincibility at home to occupy the seventh position on the log with 52 points from 36 matches but the Belgian has stated that he would like his players to end their indifferent form away from home when they tackle Wikki at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

    The Savannah Scorpions’ management recently re-signed the Belgian for another season and Cooreman in an interview with SportingLife hinted he has charged his players to go all out to end their patchy form at away games in their final road game of the season.

    “We are going to Bauchi with a resolve to end our poor form at away games. We can do it and I have charged them to celebrate by new contract with at least a draw against Wikki on Wednesday (today),” Cooreman said.

     

  • Cooreman pens new deal with Gombe Utd

    Cooreman pens new deal with Gombe Utd

    Nomadic gaffer, Maurice Cooreman will remain with Gombe United for another season after agreeing a new deal with the Management of the Savannah Scorpions, the coach has informed SportingLife.

    Cooreman, a Belgian has coached Warri Wolves, NPA, Enyimba, Lobi Stars among others in the Nigerian top flight while spending barely a season at most of the clubs.

    But the soft spoken coach has told SportingLife he has extended his stay with Gombe United after the club’s management expressed satisfaction with the job done so far by him.

    Cooreman informed that he had to snub many other clubs that wanted him to stick with Gombe United.

    He said he never had a second thought as soon as the Gombe United management tabled a request and a bid to have him for another season after such assistance the state government has done to the team-paying their backlogs of their arrears.

    The Belgian tactician said the defeat of Pillars showed that Gombe United was not ready for any accord game as being circulated in the media and that the team would strive after halting a whole season without any away point when they visit Wikki Tourists on Wednesday.

    “I am staying with Gombe United for another season. Both of us have agreed to work together for another season and it was a very easy decision to make for me and my family despite the fact that I had many offers from notable clubs.

    “We beat Pillars and it was a good match. We wanted to beat them to show that we were ready to end the season well,” Cooreman said.

    Gombe United are seventh with 52 points from 36 matches.

  • Cooreman to unleash Victor Barnabas on Enyimba

    Cooreman to unleash Victor Barnabas on Enyimba

    • Rues Obodo, Jang’s absence

    Gombe United’s Technical Adviser, Maurice Cooreman has promised to unleash ex-Enyimba striker, Victor Barnabas on the People’s Elephant when both sides clash today in a matchday 28 Glo Premier League tie at Aba.

    Barnabas was a household name at Aba two seasons ago when his goals propelled Enyimba to the semi final of the CAF Champions League and also to the final of the Federation Cup.

    The forward left Aba to Kano Pillars last season before pitching his tent with the Savannah Scorpions at the beginning of the current campaign.

    Besides Barnabas another player that may likely feature against the Aba Millionaires is fit-again Sani Gidado and some other young players with whom he has forged a good partnership to help Gombe United achieve greatness this term.

    He, however, rued the absence of Cyril Obodo and Peter Jang who were both ruled out of the tie because of injury and card suspension respectively.

    The Belgian nonetheless told SportingLife he was confident as ever that Gombe United would end their away nightmares at Aba today.

    “We won’t have Cyril Obodo and Peter Jang for this encounter at Aba but we have Victor (Barnabas) who has played for Enyimba before. He will do the damage to Enyimba.

    “My exciting young players are also growing up. Expect a good match against Enyimba,” Cooreman told SportingLife.

  • Cooreman spots Okocha’s replacement

    Cooreman spots Okocha’s replacement

    • Praises Gombe Utd’s new wonderkid
    • Bilyaminu thrilled with 1st league goal

    Savannah Scorpions’ Maurice Cooreman has said Gombe United have discovered a player that would take over from the Ex-Super Eagles’ legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha.

    The player, Bilyaminu Aliyu, 15, was one of the two players acquired from non league side, Yarmalight Academy during the mid season transfer.

    The widely travelled Belgian tactician told SportingLife that Bilyaminu at his young age possesses raw talent that could only be compared with the former Nigeria international who held football fans and purists spellbound with his deft touches and exceptional skills.

    Cooreman gave a glowing tribute of the youngster after he netted his first goal as a professional player in Gombe United’s 2-0 home win over Nasarawa United at the Pantami Stadium on Saturday.

    “I don’t know how to start the description of Aliyu. He is so gifted and has exceptional talent that can only be rivalled by Okocha. He is a midfielder with a class. He was one of the players we signed from Yarmalight and he has never disappointed since he joined us here.

    “Other young players we bought at the beginning of the second stanza are working hard and are giving their older colleagues a serious fight for the first team positions. No one is assured of a place now because the young players have made the fight for shirts to be intense,” Cooreman explained to SportingLife.

    Bilyaminu, in a chat with SportingLife, thanked God for giving him the opportunity to score his first premier league goal and he asserted that he would ensure that he gets more before the season ends.

    He also thumbed up the head coach, Cooreman for giving him the opportunity to showcase himself.

    The midfielder was discovered by Gombe United during Gombe State FA Cup where he played for Yarmalight.

    He netted three goals for his club during the competition and he was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Savannah Scorpions when they met in the final. Gombe United eventually edged them 1-0.

  • Sharks can bite -Cooreman

    Sharks can bite -Cooreman

    Gombe United head coach, Maurice Cooreman believes Sharks are a good side despite their failings in the Glo Premier League this season.

    Sharks have consistently flirted with relegation this season but turned on the style on Sunday to beat Gombe United 3-0 at the Sharks FC Stadium.

    Cooreman had no complaints about the result and had words of praise for his side’s conquerors.

    “Sharks are a good side and I am surprised they are in the relegation zone this season. If I am to rate their performance (on Sunday), they don’t deserve to be there,” Cooreman told supersport.com after the game.

    The gaffer had harsh words for his wards, accusing them of looking lost on the pitch in the second half of Sunday’s contest.

    “Sharks missed some good chances in the first half. In the second half, we don’t know exactly what to do. I think Sharks won the match on merit,” he added.

    Gombe United are now eighth in the league log with 34 points from 24 matches while Sharks remain in the relegation zone.

    The Blue Angels currently sit in 17th place on the 20-team standings with 29 points from 23 matches.

  • Cooreman aims for Gombe’s improvement

    Cooreman aims for Gombe’s improvement

    Gombe United coach Maurice Cooreman has decried the loss of his key players in an apparent bid to improve on the team’s placing in the ongoing Globacom Premier League competition.

    The Desert Scorpions, who are placed 11th on the Glo League table, lost the services of most of their key players in mid-season and have struggled to sign replacements, leaving the team with only 21 players, including four goalkeepers, available for their last Glo Premier League game against ABS in Ilorin.

    “Four of my old players left the team, my highest scorer Bishop left for Enyimba, Aminu left for Kwara United, Austine and Nonso are now in Dolphins so everything is difficult,” Cooreman lamented.

    Gombe United were knocked out of the Federation Cup after losing 1-0 to Kano Pillars last Wednesday, but Cooreman is optimistic that things are looking up for the Gombe State-owned club. He disclosed that the club have recently signed two young players from some amateur teams and are on the verge of signing another from Nembe City.

    Cooreman also disclosed that the management of the club have been trying to pay some of the outstanding bonuses owed to the players in order to uplift their spirits.