Lagos — With the scramble for the Super Eagles plum job already at fever pitch, one man who has vowed not to touch the job with a 10-metre pole even with the fabulous salary and other juicy perks attached to it is former Super Eagles safe hands Peter Rufai.

Since the job was thrown open after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) discontinued negotiations with Samson Siasia, there has been intense lobbying and scheming by ex-internationals. Names mentioned so far are Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh among others, are reportedly angling for the job. But Peter Rufai told Leadership Sports in Lagos that he will never join the fray. The former Super Eagles goalkeeper declared "I'm not interested in the Super Eagles job. I won't apply for the job and even if I am asked to take over, brother I won't accept the job."

Rufai explained his tough posture, which to the average football fan should sound absurd. "It is the dream of every ex- international who has acquired coaching education like me to handle a national team. But for me, I am not keen because what I am doing now developing young talents is not just fulfilling for me as an individual but more beneficial to the society"

Rufai recalled how after his playing career, he returned to Europe to develop himself as a coach and a manager. "After my playing career, I attended a variety of coaching and management courses and today I can say without sounding boastful that I have what it takes to handle the national team. If I do that I won't be serving the interest of the youths who are the future of the country"

Rufai continued "With the piece of developmental concept which I have developed in my sojourn in Europe, I feel more fulfilled discovering and nurturing future stars. That is paramount for me because my ambition now is working with the young ones who are the foundation. I want to give back to the society what I gained from it."

Rufai also expressed his opinion on the administration of the game in the country. "At the level of administration, we have not gotten it right as a country. The right people have not been given the opportunity to administer the game, until that is done we will continue going round in circles." Meanwhile, Rufai has launched a talent hunt programme involving over a thousand U- 13 players. The ex-international said 22 players would emerge from the bunch and would be exposed to some international programmes apart from each collecting the sum of N100,000.