SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has begun watching matches Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) matches as part of the new conditions he has agreed with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) if his contract is to be extended.
Mr Rohr began work as Nigeria’s head coach in August 2016 and has since done well, qualifying the team for the 2018 World Cup and winning bronze in the 2019 African Cup of Nations. His contract is up for renewal in June next year but the NFF has insisted on a new clause inserted into any new deal that will compel him to live in Nigeria and scout the local league for players.
Although the coach has done well with regards to rebuilding the team, there is concern that he does not spend enough time in Nigeria and as such has not been able to uncover local talent. NFF president Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the federation is open to continued working with Mr Rohr if he will agree to new clauses that would be inserted into a contract as he currently lives in France and flies into the country only when the Eagles have engagements.
Sports minister, Sunday Dare, also told Mr Rohr to adhere to NFF’s condition during their meeting in Abuja last week. Immediately after the meeting, Mr Rohr began monitoring domestic matches, as he immediately flew to Lagos to watch the game between Mountain of Fire and Miracles and Warri Wolves at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Last weekend, he watched the NPFL game between Enugu Rangers and Akwa Starlets at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. Mr Rohr, 66, has said he hopes to agree on the details of the new contract before the end of the year.
He added: “I have a lot I want to achieve. We can have a very good team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar but we have to work hard together with all the relevant people in Nigeria.”
