Nigerian Football
As in 1974 , 1995 and 2005 another coach, Labbadia disappears from Nigeria’s national team job
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, ALMERE, THE NETHERLANDS
Like Germany’s Otmar Calder, Like Frenchman Philippe Troussier, Germany’s Bruno Labbadia has walked out of the coaching job of the Nigeria national football team.
Labbadia’s forerunner: Germany’s Othman Calder – appointed by Nigeria and arrived on 20 December 1974…he dissappeared eight days later
According to a late night statement from the Nigeria Football federation (NFF), stringent regulations of German tax authorities have conspired to abort the agreement between the the federation and Coach Bruno Labbadia.
In essence, the German’s tenure as Super Eagles’ coach has ended even before it begins.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities.
” It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage”, a statement quoted the NFF president, Ibrahim Musa Gusau as saying on Friday night.
“The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up.
“We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well.
“We simply cannot do that,” President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said on Friday evening.
This is not the first time a coach will end his tenure with the Nigerian team even before the job started.
Sports Village Square reports that Labbadia has predecessors in his compatriot, Othman Calder, Brazilian Carlos Alberto Torres and Frenchman Philippe Trousier.
Calder was offered a job late in 1974 to succeed Jorge Augusto Penna of Brazil ho had guided the then Green Eagles to gold medal at the 2nd All Africa Games.
After a team of 33 players including Segun Odegbami, was assembled for screening, the coach suddenly disappeared.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) which employed him claimed that Calder, a former coach of FC Cologne and FC Kaiserslautern II who arrived Nigeria on 20 Decemeber 1974 and left eight days later, suddenly put up “ take-it-or leave-it” terms.
In 1995, Brazil’s Carlos Alberto Torres was announced as Nigeria’s coach. he travvelled down to Lagos and travelled with the Super Eagles to US for a four-nation tournament as an observer and thereafter, dissappeared.
Another walk-away coach was the Frenchman, Philippe Troussier who was offered a second chance in 2005 after the termination of his first tenure in 1997.
Philippe Trousier also walked out on Nigeria in 2005
After accepting the job, he refused to show up. With the break up in the the NFF deal with Labbadia, the body has reverted to its Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen to take charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (Uyo, 7th September) and Rwanda (Kigali, 10th September).
It will be Eguavoen’s fourth stint in charge of the three-time African champions, after earlier experience in 2005-2007, 2010 and 2022.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
Nigerian Football
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
Nigerian Football
Plateau United’s Doyeni is first scorer of Season 2024/25
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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