P.M. News (Lagos)
Nnamdi Okosieme
19 February 2002
Lagos — Embattled Super Eagles Chief Coach, Amodu Shuaibu, has reacted indifferently to his sack by the Minister for Sports and Social Development, Ishaya Mark Aku.
In an interview with P.M.Sport early this morning, the former Orlando Pirates sweat merchant declared that he is yet to receive an official letter from either the Sports Ministry or the NFA terminating his appointment and so would not want to talk much for now.
The sports minister after a meeting with chieftains of the soccer house at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja yesterday announced the disbandment of the Super Eagles and the team's technical crew headed by Amodu Shuaibu.
Aku stressed that the spate of indiscipline that rocked Nigeria's participation at the just concluded Mali 2002 African Nations Cup made it inevitable for his ministry to take a far reaching measure which he said was in the nation's best interest.
Since the conclusion of the Nations Cup, Nigerians have expressed doubt over Amodu's ability to lead the team to the World Cup. They cited Amodu's total loss of control over the team as being inimical to the country's quest for a successful outing at the Korea/Japan World Cup this summer.
Amodu was least perturbed over his sack by the minister describing the development as a professional hazard.
"It's a professional hazard. This is not the first time I will be sacked. However, I won't react now because I'm yet to be served an official letter to that effect. When that is done, I will react apropriately, " Amodu said.
Meanwhile, veteran sports journalist, Deacon Ayo Ositelu, while reacting to the disbandment and the sack of the Super Eagles technical crew said there was nothing wrong in the minister's action, stressing that it is within the minister's powers to take a drastic action as it was obvious that Amodu had lost total control of the team.(ACONS)
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