Mark Kirumira
16 February 2008
Kampala — After Nigeria's quarterfinal exit by hosts Ghana in the just concluded Nations Cup, Peter Odemwingie who was arguably Nigeria's livewire that day famously said: "Football has changed. We [Nigeria] are used to being the big team of Africa but the game has changed. We can't afford to underrate anyone any more."
Indeed the game has changed in so many aspects but not in the eyes of a certain Berti Vogts, 51, whom until 1996 when he led Germany to that famous Euro Cup triumph, was one of the hottest coaches in world football. Not anymore.
Nigeria FA self-destructs
Simply because Nigeria was in Uganda's group during the qualifiers for Ghana'08, I watched closely how the Nigerian FA committed to self-destruct by appointing Vogts who until then was out of the job. His previous spells, as Kuwait (2001) and Scotland coach were lacking in any semblance of success.
Humiliating draws to lowly ranked teams like the Faroe Islands and Moldova put to paid his job as Scotland manager. One wonders how on earth he failed to steer Kuwait to great success, in a region short of meaningful opposition if he really has what it takes to coach any side.
The larger-than-life Vogts signed to coach Nigeria last February but held the Nigerian FA at ransom having failed to report at the time he was supposed to. Globacom, a reputable local telecom company back in Nigeria was fooled into accepting to foot Vogts' $50,000 per month wage bill in addition to other allowances. Without a trace of doubt he is arguably the highest paid coach on the continent.
Actually information from Nigeria reveals that Vogts who supposedly has no shame for pulling Nigeria down the echelons hasn't yet been paid his January salary yet he has already lined up a series of build-ups to the forthcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers. So what is he really up to? He seems to be the only one that can answer this question.
Nigeria's own Austin Eguavoen, who had taken Nigeria to third place at the Africa Nations Cup two years ago but failed to get them to the 2006 World Cup, was shown the exit. Reason being? He had failed to put up decent results yet he was working without pay for nine-months.
This reminds me of the time FUFA 'sacked' Paul Hasule (RIP) who had put up a decent show in favour of a former Argentine international Pedro Pasculli who never showed up after one game in charge.
FUFA waited for him to return until they couldn't wait anymore. Euromarkint fooled FUFA into believing that Pasculli was a respected coach and negotiated for him a good pay of Shs6m per month.
Uganda's test
Vogts' first assignment amidst all the drama was a home leg against the Uganda Cranes, a match that first exposed his inept tactical acumen. Throughout the match in Aboekuta, the less fancied Cranes ran rings around the mighty Eagles and on the day Laszlo Csaba who earns less than $10,000 per month and is lesser known was spot on.
What helped Vogts have a big smile that covered his cheeks was some cheeky intervention by Senegalese referee Badara Diata. All the Nigerian fans save for Vogts believed that Uganda had been denied a draw and that marked the beginning of the hate relationship between him and the home fans. They started doubting his tactics and capability.
One might argue that Vogts background, as a defender during his playing days at Borussia Monchengladbach could be the reason why he has adopted a rather defensive style but even some of the world's former defenders haven't let their preferences rub off the current players they coach.
Ronald Koeman (Valencia), Lothar Mattheus (especially at Rapid Vienna) and Ruud Gullit (while at Chelsea) are some of the defenders who churned out attractive soccer as managers.
Nigeria only managed to score three goals - two of them from the charity spot - despite having Newcastle's front man Obafemi Martins, Everton's Yakubu Ayegbeni and Pompey's John Utaka, all players who can score goals on any given day.I can ably predict that Vogts, who was christened "Der Terrier" for always fighting for every ball, as it was his last, is in his last days as the Eagles coach.
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