By Osasu Obayiuwana
November 28 – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reacted to Insideworldfootball’s interview with Gernot Rohr (pictured left), head coach of that country’s national team, by issuing him with an official reprimand.
In an exclusive with this reporter, published on Tuesday, Rohr said that he has “enjoyed the last three years with the national team of Nigeria…” but was “demanding more respect from the federation, with regards to the payment of his wages and allowances and that of his players and technical staff.”
In the same interview, Rohr disclosed that the NFF owed him up to $100,000 in allowances and bonuses, over several months, which they were yet to pay.
According to reliable sources within the national team that spoke to Insideworldfootball on Wednesday, NFF President Amaju Pinnick (pictured right) exchanged messages with Rohr and was “furious” with the German for his frank comments in Tuesday’s story.
“He went crazy about what Rohr said. But the coach was simply telling the truth. The state of affairs between both men is very strained at the moment, In fact, it has been strained for some time,” the source said.
It was following Pinnick’s conversation with Rohr that a query was issued. This was made public by Bitrus Bewerang, the NFF’s Technical Director, on Wednesday.
“In as much as we appreciate the work that Mister Rohr has been doing with the Super Eagles in the past 40 months, his recent penchant for breaching provisions of the contract he signed with the NFF and the Code of Conduct for coaches is not good for the relationship,” Bewerang began, on behalf of the federation.
“The NFF wishes that Mr. Rohr continues in the job because of the team he is building for Nigeria which looks promising and has earned some good results since he took charge…
“But he cannot continue to nonchalantly cause the NFF as a body, and Nigeria as a nation, reputational damage through his utterances and actions.”
“As at today, the only money that the NFF is owing Rohr is the differential in his new contract (about $30,000) which our financial advisors have to align and interface with AITEO (an NFF sponsor responsible for paying Rohr’s wages) before payment (as the improved contract came into effect in the last half of the year)… He will soon be paid.”
“Mister Rohr has tal