Nigeria National League side Vandrezzer FC has appointed former Nigerian international Andrew Uwe, as Head coach of its Academy.
A brilliant central defender as a player, Uwe was a vital part of Nigeria’s U20 Flying Eagles and the captain of the squad that won the Bronze medal at the FIFA World Youth Championship which held in Soviet Union in 1985.
He also featured in the 1988 African Cup of Nations, where the national team known as Green Eagles at the time, won the silver medal in Morocco. He also represented Nigeria at the 1988 Olympic games in South Korea.
Uwe’s playing career included stints at Leventis United FC, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Calabar Rovers in Nigeria. He also had extensive playing time abroad with clubs in Portugal, Holland, South Korea, Belgium, and at VFB Oldenburg Germany. He last played for Houston Dynamo of Texas in the United States before embarking on his coaching career.
The 54-year-old former international, who currently holds a German Elite License as well as a UEFA coaching license, will head the development of the Vandrezzer FC Academy which will benefit from his wealth of experience as a former assistant coach and manager of Northwest Youth Team. He also managed BV Essen, a German Sixth tier club.
A VFC statement said Uwe’s responsibilities as head coach of the VFC Academy will include identifying and raising talents in the academy that may eventually play with the first team, compete favourably for first team spots in elite clubs across the globe but most importantly, to ensure the holistic development of football scholars and prepare them for the demands of the future.
Uwe was the unanimous choice from an extremely competitive pool that included a a Spaniard and a Dutch, with his rich football background as both a player and coach proving decisive in the choice. The recruitment Panel noted that apart from being an excellent coach, Andrew will be a perfect role model for our young players here at the academy.
Uwe told the club’s website: ”I am excited to be joining a Club with such passionate supporters and visionary leadership. I want to thank the Management of Vandrezzer Football Club for giving me the opportunity to join in building the Academy.
“We would work together to mentor, impact discipline, encourage the right ethics, values, winning culture and above all, the Vandrezzer way of doing things. I look forward to resuming at the academy within the coming weeks”.
