Amaju can turn things around for the Federation – Barr. Chris Green

Former Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barr. Chris Green  talks about challenges facing Nigeria Football, Gernot Rohr ‘s contract terms and more with  National Daily Esther Egbe in a chat recently on NSM.

Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr has as part of the clauses to his new contract, he must reside in Nigeria, with his salaries to be paid in Naira and also to find a balance in the team with the injection of home based players. What do you make of this move by the NFF?

What is not clear to me is the worry to extend his contract. We are not talking of sack here but extension. If his contract ends he is free to go unless my guys in the NFF are satisfied with his score card or result. Are you telling me that Nigerians are satisfied with Rohr for winning nothing with the Super Eagles  for four years and earning a whooping $55.000. As an expatriate I would have expected that he would have performed better than our nationals. If you paid him that amount just to qualify the Super Eagles  then we can as well pay same to any of our coaches around and get the same result.
That one will be more beneficial to a Nigerian coach than for an expatriate to just qualify us to tournaments, failed to get to the second round of the WC and a modest 3rd place in Afcon. Meanwhile the NFF under Pinnick did alot to support him. I don’t think this is what the NFF wants. Maigari won almost everything with Super Eagles and other Nigerian coaches in the lower Cadre. Pinnick is too passionate that he’s in fire need of a cup in Afcon or at the world level. Let him look for a world class coach to make the present crop of the SE players invincible. He can achieve this, I tell you.

What was your relationship with late Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi?

I had very cordial relationship with Stephen Keshi. I pushed for his employment. We drew his program together. Even when he left for abroad after his employment it took Daniel Amokachie, Silvernus Okpalla, Valarie and the T/C to identify and invite our domestic players to camp. I pushed that we started our camp here in Nigeria and keep the players as long as we could for proper building. We destroyed the dychocotomy of foreign based and home based eagle. Musa Amadu and Sanusi Mohammed were also helpful in making sure we our policy of raising our team from home worked.

Many say you don’t really like Stephen Keshi , but i am aware you gave him the job so i dont know where it all went soar between two good friends?

Ok, at the time it happened I was not the Chairman of the T/C. I was minding my business when they told me a committee has been set up where I have been made a Chairman that a journalist ( Names withheld) reported to a big man in NFF that late SK had just applied and have been shortlisted among about 25 other coaches to take up the post of head coach in Ivory coast. The journalist brought all the evidence and I was asked to go and verify. At this time Nigeria was struggling to qualify for the Afcon qualifiers. I went down there and met the head ships of the CIV Federation together with the head of the recruitment committee who confirmed it and gave me documents in proof.

Do you mean NFF wanted Keshi to fail during the 2013 Nations cup in South Africa?

Stephen Keshi was so passionate and believed in the domestic players and built them into world class. He made those coming outside to fight for their shirts. It is a lie from the pit of hell that anyone wanted SK to fail in SA. Alot happened in SA that I wouldn’t want to say here. Infact people from outside fed SK with a lot of lies. Let God be the judge. Guys honestly I don’t like talking of the dead. Let’s allow the departed rest in peace.

Are you sure there is sincerity in this negotiation?

Why was this clause not in the first two contracts that he signed. Is it not implied that you will reside in the country of your employment. Well if the NFF insists on that, they are absolutely right and would want to get the best out of him as well as develop our domestic players. My problem is not paying him in Nigerian currency but the amount. Whatever you pay him can be changed to dollars. It’s same of the same and how has that helped our economy. Honestly as an expatriate he has a right to be paid in the currency of his choice.

What’s the way forward for football, after the lock down ?

The way forward for Nigeria Football after this lock down or coronavirus is for our football bosses to take stock of everything and evaluate them. Draw a robust plan that will help speedy development of the game. There must be division of labour and no over lapping of responsibility. The Premier league head must pay absolute attention to his primary assignment of growing the league and less visible with the affairs of the NFF for optimum results. We need sponsors, we need the league matches back on TV, we need players to be well remunerated and on time, we need first class stadia and facilities, we need medical equipment etc and we need prize money.
Women football should be given equal attention as well as the age grade teams. Coaches must be chosen devoid of sentiments. Journalists as the mirror should also play their role. We should have a generational change and get the best to do assignments. There must be proper funding and no interference with the working of the NFF. Those holding position must deliver on their mandate. Journalists should interview them one by one and see their capacities. Administors must attend trainings like technical staff. It’s a long road. We must think outside the box.

Barrister Green, please tell us, how is the Real Madrid Academy project going and can you please outline the Benefits of the academy to  Nigerian football?

Well, the Real Madrid Academy is going on as planned save for this coronadriveus. Gov Wike is God’s gift to Rivers State. With the best and only Real Madrid Academy in Africa, he has secured the future of the youths in this country. He has created capacity, job and wealth through this scheme. Graduates can play for all our national teams, clubs and reputable clubs outside Nigeria. Those who would not make the cut can also find themselves managing teams in different areas of specialization.

Talking about continuous exposure and development, why is that our Nigerians (coaches) don’t go  for crashed refresher courses when the national teams don’t have assignments?

It all depends on our football policy and what we want. How attractive are our leagues. In the past year, did we really get a winner in the Premier league. Do clubs really fight to win by relying solely on the training of their players. How is the performance of our referees which is a catalyst for good performance of our clubs. How many clubs really spend money to make their club a model. How competitive are the leagues. I  praised Davidson Owumi the other over how he handled the untimely death of his players with his insurance scheme which is enough motivation and drive for players to join Rangers and play their lives out. How do clubs travel to venues. What about the interests within the administrators on their favourite clubs and the quest to win at all cost. What about disparity in fishing out sanctions and pardon to erring clubs. All these and many more cause our poor showing in the continent. I love Jude of Enyimba .

If you are to rate our Nigerian coaches that worked with you or has handled the national teams, who would you rate as the best and why?

Yes, I tell you we still have ex players who are coaches with very good qualifications and experience. We have Finidi George, Emmanuel Amuneke, Austin Equavoen, Eddy Dombraye, Imama, Makaiba, Boboye, Elochukwu of Heartland, Ladan Bosso, Friday Ekpo, Stanley Eguma etc.
It’s all about exposure and what they want for themselves. Some coaches stumble into the profession without adequate preparation. NFF too need to raise the bar and encourage them.

Your advice for NFF?

YES I’m outta here. You guys have been a blessing to me. Most of you are part of my success story. I’m not the best, we have millions out there that are better than me but they must open the space for them to come in. A lot of you journalists sincerely helped me because of your passion and patriotism. I succeeded mainly by your criticisms because each time I went back to the drawing room. It is still not late for us to make amends and chat a new course for our football. I love everybody in the NFF and I have always wished them the best. Pinnick can turn the tide for the better and become the best ever. It is achievable because he has great passion for the game. This is not time for him to talk but get into his Chambers and work things out. Let his achievements speak for him. It’s going to be tough and rough after the pandemic because there will be little or no money to run the game because of obvious economic recession hitting the world. This is the time to plan. They will have to cut their coats according to their cloth. Give the various stare football associations their constitutionally enshrined autonomy and independence. Let them be allowed to carry on without interference. Look out for credible sponsors and get the trust of the people. Repair the image of the place and move on. My happiest day would be when we will win the Afcon again and get at least a semi final place at the world cup. God bless all of you. Getting emotional now and I can see my tears flowing.