P.M. News (Lagos)
Lanre Olaleye & Nnamdi Okosieme
19 February 2002
Lagos — His vast knowledge of Nigerian football and his reputation as a strict disciplinarian have been adduced as the reason why Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, newly appointed Technical Director of the NFA, was chosen by the Sports Ministry to lead the Super Eagles to the World Cup in Korea/Japan.
Speaking to P.M.News on phone, shortly after the sacking of the Super Eagles technical crew led by Shuaibu Amodu, Victor Iroele, Press Secretary to the Sports Minister, Ishaya Mark Aku, said that given the short time available between now and the World Cup, Onigbinde , given his deep knowledge of Nigerian football and the international experience he has garnered over the years, is the right man for the job.
"The ministry considered a lot of factors in choosing Onigbinde for the job. The man knows the ABC of Nigerian football, having coached the Eagles before as well as some top clubsides in the country. His reputation as a strict enforcer of discipline is well known. Besides, the man has been working with FIFA for some time. So, he would know just what to do", he explained.
Adducing the reasons for the sack of the technical crew and the disbandment of the Super Eagles, Iroele said the minister acted in national interest. He said the minister as the overall head of sports in the country could not stand by and watch while a few individuals held the nation to ransom.
"What happened in Mali was nothing short of a national disgrace. Both the technical crew and the players themselves exhibited the highest level of indiscipline and this reflected in the performance of the team which failed to live up to the expectation of Nigerians", Iroele stressed.
He said that by the sacking of the coaches and dissolution of the team, the minister is sending a strong message that the era of indiscipline in sports is over. The time had come, he said, to call the bluff of sportsmen who delighted in holding the nation to ransom.
The sacking of the technical crew brings to an end speculations over the fate of chief coach Shuaibu Amodu and his assistants following the dismal outing of the Super Eagles at the just concluded Nations Cup in Mali.
The minister, who invoked the powers conferred on him by Decree 101 to effect the sack also expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the NFA board. Before handing down the sack, Aku had reprimanded members of the board for their misguarded comments and infighting which helped to fuel the indiscipline in the Super Eagles.
P.M.Sport investigations revealed that but for the wrath of FIFA which will be visited on Nigeria, the minister would have sacked the NFA board along with the technical crew.(ACONS)
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