Gov Ayade Hires Foreign Coach For Rovers FC

BY EDMOND ODOK, CALABAR – Determined to rejuvenate Rovers Football Club of Calabar for total restoration, excellent performance and upgrade from the Nigeria National League to the Premier League next session, Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade says a foreign coach has been hired for the Calabar-based team.

The Governor named Romanian-born Technical Adviser, Dorain Marin as the Technical Adviser engaged to handle the team for optimum results in the coming seasons.

Speaking at an interactive session with the prospective ball merchant at the State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Governor Ayade said Cross River must reinvent itself to regain that foremost position as an established breeding ground for unbeatable talents as well as veritable shopping ground for unique talents.

Prof Ayade said the germane concern of his administration for the State is to harness the skills of young Cross Riverians and provide the platform for them to showcase their talents and youthfulness that would make Rovers a grand scouting ground where foreign clubs can harvest great talents.

Represented at the meeting by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang, the Governor noted that Rovers, had in the past produced great talents like Finidi George, Friday Ekpo and late John Ene Okon, who were sought after within and outside the Country.

Governor Ayade, who regretted that after 22 years of being relegated to the Nation-wide League, Rovers have found it difficult to recover and return to the elite Nigerian Professional League (NPL), said his desire is to see the club back in the Premier League and parading players that would easily make it into the national team.

He said the new coach’s mandate would cover grooming young coaches for nation stardom and to take over at the club when his contract expires.

While welcoming the new Rovers’ technical gaffer to enjoy Africa’s warmest reception with the continent’s largest street party, Calabar Carnival just around the corner, Governor Ayade assured him of the State government support in turning around the fortunes of Rovers.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Rovers FC, Calabar, Mr Maurice Inok described Governor Ayade as a goal getter that always aim to achieve the best and expressed confidence that with the huge government support, influence and commitment to sports development in the State, the club would be repositioned for great exploits nationally.

Inok said expectations are high that with Rovers’ restructuring, more value will be added to the team and abundant talents resident in the State would not only be better managed to produce great results, but also return the club to winning ways and its glorious days.

In his remarks, a Sports Management Agent, Prince Obison Achusim of Achusim Sports, who partnered the Ministry of Youth and Sports to  engage the coach for Rovers FC, said Dorain Marin was among the last nine coaches considered for Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ managerial position that eventually went to German-born Gernot Rohr.

He said what the team presently needs is a coach to impart smart tactical knowledge as well as cohesiveness and team work by all the players and the team management.

Unveiling himself to the gathering that had in attendance Rovers’ Team Manager, Ebam Ejen and a Member of the State Sports Commission, Ekanem Ekpenyong, Coach Dorain Marin said from his professional football days, he attended the Federal Coaching School of Romanian Football Federation; and thereafter began his coaching career in Romania that had him managing clubsides in Syrian and Lebanon.

Marin said duty tour took him to the coaching job as Eritrea National Football team handler, combining it with managing Eritrea under-17 national team that qualified for the 2007 African U17 Championship in Togo. He also managed Nalubaale FC and Uganda Revenue Authority FC of Kampala; Heartland FC of Owerri; Kind Faisal Babes of Ghana and Keyan’s Leopards FC.

The new Technical Adviser thanked the Sports Commissioner and the Rovers’ Management for their affection and warm reception, pledging to work hard on transforming the Club and making it competitive on all fronts.