Westerhof speaks on College of Excellence![]() "The College is so-named, because we intend to ensure that, everything about our activities, are excellent. The College is not only for the training and development of kids, who are potential stars, but also to improve on their intellectual abilities. It is not intended for such kids, who cannot control the ball; not for those group of players, who though look good, but do not possess the basics of the game and as such, race after the ball, even when the object is rolling to Ibadan," the Dutchman, who was once the Technical Adviser to the Zimbabwean national soccer team, said sacarstically. Westerhof fingered a four-letter word - 'TIPS' as the cardinal driving focus of the Ilorin-based institute. He said that, the fullfilment of this cardinal focus, would translate to "EXCELLENCE". "Further to my explanation," continued the Dutch, who said he could not reconcile the approach adopted by the Eagles when they were a man short in their World Cup qualifier against Algeria last Sunday and the situation at hand then,"the 'I' stands for Intellect. "These are those, who do not only play the game with their feet, but also with their brains. When the Super Eagles were one-man short in Algeria, an Okocha in the mid-field, would have known what to do immediately, to make up for the vacuum thus created, without having to wait for the coach to tell him. But what did we see? Our graduates would be potential world's top players, who would be taught how to play with both their feet and heads...and that I say, is our mission and it is an excellent drive aimed at achieving "EXCELLENCE," he reassured in a tone exuding emphatic confidence. The College's Rector also told nigeriasports.com that, there would be Campuses in some of the States of the Federation, where some of the students, who perhaps, are discovered not to be head-over-heels with the game in all aspects or cannot cope with the interllectual demands of the College, would be transfered, for practical coaching from qualified football coaches. He emphasized that, when the College really gets going, the country would never run short of quality players for the various categories of the national teams. Westerhof pointed out that, this would be possible because "our quality production of players programmes, would take care of this hiccups Nigeria's footballing frameworks. " For instance, if Samson Siasia is handling a team, and wants a friendy with our boys, he if free to do so. If his team loses to ours', then he should know that he is not, or has not done the right things. But if his team beats our very well, he would know that his is on the right track."
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