National Association of Nigeria Footballers NANF, has told Nigeria Football Federation NFF not to renew the contract of current Super Eagles handler, Gernot Rohr and instead replace him with a first class coach or a consortium of indigenous coaches.
NANF in statement signed by its President, Harrison Jalla said Rohr who earns about N16.9 million ($47,000) per month as salary doesn’t deserve a contract renewal, except the Amaju Pinnick-led body has other vested interests in him aside from building a virile team for the country.
The statement partly reads: “What is Coach Gernot Rohr achievement since he was contracted by the NFF? Nigeria qualified to play in the round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil under Late coach Stephen Keshi of blessed memory.
“Nigeria won the AFCON 2013 under same Stephen Keshi. What has Gernot Rohr achieved for Nigeria? What was his score card in the 2018 World Cup in Russia? The team did not go past the group stage. Again what did Gernot Rohr achieve at the 2019 AFCON aside from a bronze medal that our indigenous coaches have won many times.
“Under Coach Samson Siasia Nigeria won Olympic silver medal in China and won Bronze in Brazil he also won silver for Nigeria in the under 21 World Cup in Holland. Even though coach Samson Siasia has not been found guilty by the court of Arbitration for sports ( CAS) the NFF has long abandoned him over allegation of match fixing.
“Since Rohr assumed duty as Super Eagles coach how many players has Gernot Rohr discovered from our domestic leagues? Coaches Clemens Westerhof and Jo Bonfrere’s records in talents discovery and development speaks for itself. If the NFF must employ a foreign coach he must be an A-List coach or in the alternative employ our indigenous coaches for the Super Eagles. Its unacceptable to continue to use Nigeria as a dumping ground for third-rate foreign coaches.”
NFF President Amaju Pinnick said on Monday that Rohr in a few days will be handed a new contract, with new terms, including residing in the country, pay tax on his salary and monitoring Nigeria Professional Football League matches on a weekly basis. The 66-year-old Franco-German tactician is unlikely to accept those conditions and would likely take a walk.
Rohr previously handled the national teams of Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso before stepping into the Super Eagles saddle. He won his first game in charge, defeating Tanzania by a lone goal in Uyo, Nigeria and lost his first match on 10 June as Nigerian senior coach after a 2–0 home loss to South Africa.
