NFF’s Search For Rohr’s Replacement Faces Hitches As FG Wades In
By Amaechi Agbo
The search for the replacement of sacked former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has been hit with challenges as the Federal Government has demanded that every action taking with regards to getting another coach for the Eagles must be tabled before it, www bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.
It could be recalled that after much speculations, the NFF finally sacked the German coach on Saturday with search for his replacement being intensified by the federation.
Sources in the nation’s football house say that president of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick is not giving consideration to engaging a Nigerian coach.
But the Federal Government through the ministry of youth and sports, which oversees the federation and other sporting activities in the country has demanded that it be carried along in the search for and subsequent employment of a new coach for the team.
A top official in the ministry was quoted to have said that any decision to hire anybody as a national coach must be discussed and undergo review.Sports Minister, Sunday Dare with NFF President, Amaju Pinnick recently
“The decision to hire any body as national coach must be discussed and undergo review.
“The Super Eagles is Nigeria’s property not a premier club,” the source said.
The NFF have concluded plans to employ 47 year old former Serbian National team coach Mladen Krstajić as new coach of the Super Eagles.
President, NFF, Amaju Pinnick is scheduled to meet with Mr Krstajic in London on Monday, today.
Krstajic led Serbia to the 2018 world cup in Russia where they failed to proceed beyond the group stage of the competition
Pinnick is expected in London today to seal the deal but that move seems to have been hindered after the ministry’s directive.
Recall that after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Cape Verde that saw the Super Eagles sail through to the final round of the world cup qualifiers, NFF president Amaju Melvin Pinnick and other board members met in the room of one of the Vice presidents.
Also at that meeting was Super Eagles chief coach Gernot Rohr and Tunde Adelakun his representative.Mladen Krstajićis set to become Super Eagles coach
The NFF did not mince words as they told Rohr that his services are no longer needed. According to an insider, both parties agreed to terminate his contract immediately while they work out modalities to pay his severance package which is reported to be around 600,000 USD.
Rohr has since returned to his base in France while the NFF are moving ahead with getting a replacement in good time ahead of the 2021 Nations cup which is just over 40 days away.
Additional report from BSNSports