Former Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr sparked some reactions yesterday, after pointing out how he had to allow sports minister Sunday Dare to train with the team in order to keep his job.
The German coach just turned 70 two days ago; he was in charge of the Super Eagles between 2015 to 2021, winning 35 of 61 matches. Although Rohr never won a championship for the Nigerian national team, he led the team to a third-placed finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition.
Speaking to the Bayern Munich media team at his 70th birthday celebration, Rohr narrated how the sports minister came to the training grounds with “40 or 50 journalists and wanted to participate.” The German coach was even more surprised when his assistant encouraged him to let Sunday Dare train with the team, if he intended to keep his job.
Gernot Rohr on sports minister, Sunday Dare: "Two years ago in Nigeria, suddenly he showed up for training with 40 or 50 journalists and wanted to participate. I was perplexed. My assistant told me that we had to let him participate. Otherwise, we would all leave the next day." pic.twitter.com/QNz5JZxq5c
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) June 29, 2023
Issues with other coaches
We would like to point out that Gernot Rohr isn't the only Nigerian coach who has expressed his frustrations with the National Football Federation (NFF); as current Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum recently criticized the federation regarding several issues, including unpaid bonuses, and the absence of his assistant. Interestingly, even though the NFF responded to Coach Waldrum's comments, they didn't address the issue of unpaid wages.
A couple of months ago, there was also a report that the Nigerian Football Federation owed current Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro a few months worth of wages. When the Portuguese coach was asked about it, he neither confirmed nor denied it.
Question: Coach, can you confirm that the NFF are owing you 10 months' salary?
Jose Peseiro: "I can only share that with my wife" pic.twitter.com/sPymWW4wr6
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) March 23, 2023
Fan reactions to Gernot Rohr's comments
As expected, fans were quick to react to Gernot Rohr's comments. There were those who expressed their displeasure with the way things have gone since Sunday Dare was named Minister of Sports.
From the moment he was named Minister of Sport, the man lacked competence.
Nothing in Nigerian sports improved; the entire country's sports became synonymous with Buhari's name, Failure.
— Shehu Bello (@BelloYinka72) June 29, 2023
Others couldn't pass up the opportunity to make jokes.
Rohr was just lucky Dare didn't insist after such a wonderful performance at training on making the team and starting in the next match.
— Ôbóng Émém, QBE, Esq by faith (@dedonnse1) June 29, 2023
And of course, there were those who were quick to defend the current Minister of Sports.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
