The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) had concluded plans not to renew the contract of coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr but were beaten to it by the Franco-German coach who got wind of their idea, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.
Rohr’s relationship with president of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) Amaju Pinnick has deteriorated to the point that they already contacted coaches to take his job when his contract expires in June.
The coach got to know about the plan and immediately used his contact with the minister for Youth and Sports Sunday Dare to complain about the slow speed of his contract talks, something the NFF were deliberately doing to wind down the remaining months of his deal.
Owngoalnigeria.com gathered that the plan was to use the coronavirus crisis as an alibi on why talks on an extension couldn’t take place and let the coach leave when his deal expires but Dare ensured that the contract was drafted and sent to the coach.
The next plan was the public deriding of the coach in the media to provoke a response that will complicate talks and make them fire him on the grounds of insubordination. That too failed as Rohr refused to join words with Pinnick even when Joseph Yobo was appointed without his consent in place of his long term ally Imama Amapakabo.
A switch of plan was hatched with the inclusion of some terms that many felt were unrealistic like paying the coach in Nigeria’s local currency and also forcing him to reside in the country and scout for home base players in the team. The expectations were that he will reject it.
However to their surprise, he gladly accepted the terms and modified some areas before going ahead to even donate part of his wages in the remaining months of his contract to the NFF in the fight against the financial hardship caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Already plans have been perfected by the NFF with the duo of Hector Cuper and Harry Redknapp picked as the top two for the job if Rohr gets fed up and decide to walk away. The coaches were reportedly recommended to the NFF by some former ex internationals.
We gathered they both agreed to work with same salary like Rohr is earning now and also reside in Nigeria. What was left was for Rohr to be frustrated out but a contact in the NFF hinted the coach and he beat them to their game leaving them thereby frustrating their attempts to replace him.
As at the time of filing in this report, Rohr has signed his own part of the deal and sent back to the NFF with an announcement on his renewal set to be announced in the coming days by the same body who wanted him out but got outsmarted by his counter tactics.
Osas Mahawi
