It is no longer news that the NFF have announced a new head coach for the Super Eagles in person of the German ‘Fire fighter’, as he his fondly called in Germany, talking about BRUNO LABBADIA
It’s been a while I did any write-up, but I just feel it’s important to do this, it is quite unfortunate we have various incompetent leaders at the helm of affairs in Nigeria, and it’s definitely glaring that sports and most especially football is suffering badly from administrative constipation.
I feel appointing and announcing a relatively unknown German at 5:35am on August 27, 2024, is quite dubious and shady and these are my reasons;
- To begin with, names linked to the vacant position of the Super Eagles in the last few months include Eric Challe,Tom Saintfiet, Antonio Caiceicao, Herve Renard and of recent Janne Andersson, the former coach of Sweden.
2) At no point in recent weeks was BRUNO LABBADIA’s name linked with the job in the last few months both in local and international media
- Just last week Friday 23rd of August Janne Anderson confirmed talks were ongoing with the NFF to a Sweden-based media. So why did the deal break down suddenly?
- I have never seen or heard where a country’s new head coach announcement will be done at 5:35am.
- The football federation made an announcement of the new Super Eagles head coach without highlighting the terms of contract of the coach.
I believe Nigerians deserve to know the number of years given to him and his monthly wages, why do these have to be overlooked?
- It is glaring it was a fire-brigade approach to make sure The Super Eagles get a coach before the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, just to cover their shame, And BOOM the football federation brought in a “fire fighter”
7)Remember NFF came out with their criteria few months back saying whoever is going to manage the national team must have a knowledge of African football and national team experience. Again how does Labbadia fit into this? It is looking that he is set to use the Super Eagles as testing ground for his national team experience.
CONCLUSION
THE NFF should explain to Nigerians why they decided to settle for a man who is not experienced in both national team and African football.
A man who is not even an upgrade on Finidi George in-terms of achievements.
THIS APPOINTMENT is nothing but a BLACK MARKET.
I am hoping this doesn’t end in tears.
By Feranmi Adegboyega Samuel (FAS)
