By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
FIFA/CAF technical instructor, Festus Adeboyega Onigbinde has renounced his membership of the Nigeria Association of Football Coaches.
A seasoned soccer tactician, Solomon Ogbeide who gave the hints while addressing delegates to the NAFC in Abuja said, he approached the veteran coach prior to the congress to discuss pressing issues, but Onigbinde ,the former school teacher frankly informed him that he was no longer interested in the group.
Onigbinde’s membership became an issue, when his deputy in the Interim Management Committee, Monday Sinclair made an attempt to address the congress.
The move was greeted by a stiff resistance from the South West delegates, who insisted on clarity on the status of Onigbinde with regards to the national elections slated for the event.
Monday Sinclair fondly called football professor said “He was around, but by the time I got here, I was informed that he has packed his thing and left. I am his vice and he did not tell me anything” .
The national secretary to the umbrella body of football coaches, Solomon Ogbeide, said “ I never knew, chief was interested, in whatever was taking place here today, I never knew he was coming to the congress, quote me anywhere, I personally informed him of some developments before now and he told me he was tired of the association because of the insults attached,”.
“I never knew I was not in the picture, it was yesterday that the chairman of Lagos Council informed me that chief will be here, ” Ogbeide further said.
The South West caucus of the umbrella body of football coaches thereafter staged a protest ,boycotting the national congress and election of NAFC. They alleged that Onigbinde was frustrated out by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Reacting to the development, the newly elected president of the body, Bitrus Bewarang said “ I am not happy that there is walk out by some of our colleagues from a section of this country. This is not good for us, but our foremost challenge is to work toward the unity and integrity of our great association”.
..Coaches Decry Poor Condition of Service
Foremost Nigerian soccer tacticians have decried what they described as unfair treatment been meted out to Nigerian football coaches.
Past Super Eagles Coach, And 1996 Assistant Coach Of The Atlanta Olympics Gold Wining Side, Bitrus Bewarang said football coaches in Nigeria are a scape goats, when the boat capsizes, noting that ,Nigerian coaches are working for referees to feed fat from where they did not sow.
“Players and coaches are suffering, while the referees are enjoying, I have sworn that I will never give money to any referee, our football is rotten, the coaches are suffering, but I have started the revolution for our good, I am not going to stop until we win.
Bewarang who defeated Christian Chukwu 14 votes to seven at the polls over the weekend to emerge the newly elected national president of the Nigerian Association of Football Coaches said the situation calls for an overhaul.
“We are short of words, we want to assure you, that we are going to meet your expectations and you will see a better coaches association and you are going to be proud of our association, once again,” Bitrus said
He further said “ we are not going to be stooges, we are not going to be confrontational or physically aggressive, but we are going to adopt a civilized and accepted methods is pursing the interest of Nigerian coaches.
Captain of the Nigerian 1980 nations cup wining side, and former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu bemoaned what he described as the unjustifiable treatment being dispensed to Nigerian soccer coaches.
Chukwu said “ we are not well taken care of, you see our coaches coaching big teams like Rangers, and others, after training or matches, you see the players giving him lift in their cars, how will they respect him, despite (being)the source of their know- how,’.
Chukwu further said “ when the clubs get money, they pay the players and ask you as a coach to be patient, because you are an official, because we don’t have a strong association, if we have a strong association we will have addressed most of these problems.
The umbrella body of Nigerian football tacticians returned the following contestants unopposed, , Issa Ladan Bosso, vice president, Abdullahi Masur , financial secretary, Eta Egbe, public relations officer.
Bewarang scored 14 votes to earn the post of national president against Chukwu who scored 7 votes, Solomon Ogbeide pipped Stanley Eguma, with 11 votes to 10 to bag the post of national secretary general, Edema Fuludu, who won 10 votes lost the contest for the post of national training officer to Bala Nique, who garnered 11 votes.
