Nikyu: Flamingoes’ appointment won't affect Wikki job

By Taofeek Babalola

Wikki Tourists Technical Adviser Bala Nikyu has told Sportinglens.blogspot.com that he has nothing to worry about combining club assignment with national team duty.

The former Katsina United manager was reappointed as the head coach of the female national U17 team, Flamingoes on Sunday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Nikyu is to prepare the team for next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Ethiopia. Flamingoes will open camp early this week. 

In a chat with Sportinglens.blogspot.com after his appointment, Nikyu said the national team program will give room for him to play active role in his job at Wikki Tourists.

"First of all, I thank the leadership of the NFF for this opportunity to lead the team again. I know very well that there are lots of capable hands in the country and I appreciate NFF for the trust they have in me and I will reciprocate it with good results God's willing," Nikyu said to Sportinglens.blogspot.com.

He added: "There is no problem at all combining club's assignment with national team job. If you look at it very well, after the World Cup qualifiers there is nothing much to do. According to the FIFA's programs, Women FIFA U17 World Cup has been shifted till November 2018 because of the men's FIFA world Cup in Russia. So by the time we start the preparation for the World Cup proper Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) must have ended that time. I have enough time to go on with the two assignments."

Nikyu is returning for his third spell back to the Flamingoes set up after his first two terms in 2014 and 2016.

He led the Women cadet team to the 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, the team were knocked in the quarter finals.

His second term with the national team wasn’t a pleasant outing as the Flamingoes crashed out in the group stages of the 2016 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan and failed to record a single goal in three matches.