Since 2007 when the race for 31 places in the South Africa 2010 World Cup started among over 200 countries, the list of coaches’ causalities has been as long as the list of countries that could qualify; from so-called world class coach like Sven-Goran Erikson, who was sacked by Mexico last April, to Iran national hero Ali Daei, and Frenchman Roger Lemerre who was sacked by Morocco.
Coaching job is no respecter of persons or reputation; once you fail to deliver, you are gone.
But just as everything in Nigeria defies logic, the decision of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on the future of coach Shaibu Amodu will surprise many football buffs who expect the coach to be sacked for jeopardising Nigeria’s chance of qualifiying for the World Cup after the 2-2 draw with Tunisia last Sunday.
But the NFF technical committee, after meeting yesterday, said that Amodu’s job and that of his assistants are safe.
Consultant to the federation, Adegboye Onigbinde, who addressed journalists said the technical committee, after reviewing Amodu’s report, believes that the coach is guilty, but that the players are equally guilty.
Onigbinde argued that to sack the coach without sacking the players will amount to double standard.
All Amodu and the players got was just a slap on the wrist; ‘go on with your job, but make sure you don’t sin again.’
More players
Onigbinde and other committee members identified lack of competition as one of the reasons players are complacent and not committed. They recommended that Amodu must invite more players.
They also recommended that the technical committee, which includes Taiwo Ogunjobi, Dominic Iorfa, James Peters and Emmanuel Ikpeme, be reorganised to make it more effective.
They blamed the committee for not performing its oversight function, thus giving Amodu too much power.
Other reforms
Onigbinde also revealed that the federation will soon appoint a director of national coaches and football development department.


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