The primary African coach to take a staff to the European Champions League, Ndubuisi Egbo, remained upbeat regardless of shedding his job at KF Tirana simply 4 matches into the brand new Albanian season.
KF Tirana said the choice had been “taken resulting from poor performances within the final matches” and in addition thanked Egbo for “his dedication and title success final season”.
Egbo remained philosophical following his dismissal after shedding the final two matches.
“I wish to thank the membership for the chance to serve, which helped me turn out to be the primary African to win a European title and find yourself managing within the Uefa Champions League and the Europa League,” Egbo advised BBC Africa Sport.
“I haven’t got any regrets or disappointment as a result of I gave the utmost and the staff did likewise, so I stay grateful to God for what we achieved and completed collectively.
“To the followers for his or her unimaginable and overwhelming help in the direction of me and the staff, I’m grateful.
“The gamers for his or her great and optimistic spirit all by way of our marketing campaign final season, I say kudos to all of them.
“Each those that made huge influence and people with little influence, all of them as a staff made it to occur with religion in God almighty. For now there is no such thing as a regrets however grateful to all.”
From participant to teach
Egbo received the Albanian league, the cup and Tremendous Cup in three years as a participant with KF Tirana.
After holding the teaching job on an interim foundation many occasions earlier than, he was appointed partway by way of the season in late 2019, with Tirana eighth within the 10-team division.
However the former Tremendous Eagles keeper, who’s a duel Nigerian-Albanian nationwide, realised the native media had labelled his previous staff a ‘sinking ship’ set to work and swiftly turned issues round by bringing a brand new perspective to the membership.
Outcomes improved as he guided the staff to a 16-game unbeaten run, stepped issues up by successful 20 out of 23 matches which culminated in FK Tirana being topped the Kategoria Superiore champions within the a hundredth 12 months of the membership’s formation.
“It does not occur by mistake that we pulled collectively and stunned the journalists who had written the staff off,” stated Egbo, who was dismissed after two wins and two defeats this season.
“I do know it is inconceivable to erase the historical past we created. For me as the primary Nigerian, African to win a title in Europe. Creating extra historical past by taking my staff to Europe’s high two continental competitions can’t be erased.
“I do know there are nice days forward in life. Higher shouldn’t be ok, I consider the perfect is but to return.”
A former Nigeria worldwide who first got here into prominence in south-eastern Enugu with NITEL Vasco da Gama, Egbo performed for 2 of the premier groups in Lagos in NEPA and Julius Berger, earlier than transferring to Egypt to hitch Al-Masry.
He spent three years within the North African nation and received the FA Cup there in 1998.
At worldwide stage, he earned a handful of caps and was a part of Nigeria’s squad to consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2000 and 2002.
