NFF should not hire a foreign coach’

Some football administrators and fans alike in Delta have condemned the recent sacking of Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The NFF announced termination of Keshi’s contract on July 4, citing that he lacked the required commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives as contained in his contract

Some people who spoke on Monday in Asaba said the latest action could portend grave dangers for the stability of the National team.

Edema Fuludu, the Vice-Chairman of the Delta Football Association (DFA) said that although the NFF might have their reasons to terminate Keshi’s contract, but that the timing was not right and could turnout to be counter-productive.

“This is not the right time to sack the National team coach, most especially as the qualifying matches for next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are ongoing.

“However if the allegation against him proved to be true, it will be regrettable but I want to believe that as a coach, he should realise that he is under a valid contract.

“But I expect the NFF to have realised that the timing is not healthy, especially now that the team was still being re-build,’’ Fuludu said.

Mike Ikeogwu, the Delta State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said: “It is very disappointing that the NFF is playing politics with the development of our national team.

“I am not surprised because the NFF chairman has never hidden his dislike for Keshi’’.

He cautions: “the NFF should not hire a foreign coach, but rather look inwards and pick another indigenous coach to continue from where Keshi stopped. We should give our coaches a platform to develop their potential’’.

Chike Onuarah, an ex-footballer and Secretary of the Asaba All-Stars football team said: “how do you explain this kind of sacking? Why can’t our football administrators for once take into consideration the interest of football development in our country?

“The unstable management of our team handlers is not good for our football. We are presently playing qualifiers and imagine what impact this removal can have on the players’’.

Uche Obialor, a football player said: “anytime we have an indigenous coach, some football administrators will not rest until the coach is uprooted. They are always pushing for a foreign coach so that they exploit their contract.

“It is not because the coaches are not good enough, but because some selfish elements in our football system are interested in the `chips that fallout out’ from foreign contracts’’.