NFF signs deal for
Eagles coach’s salary
It wasn’t long ago that the Nigeria Football
Federation signed a deal for the payment of the new Super Eagles coach’s salary
by a consortium of private firms mainly in the oil sector of the Nigerian
economy on Wednesday.
The PUNCH learnt that the signing was carried
out by top officials of the football governing body.
Earlier on Wednesday the NFF officials released a
statement informing the public that they had no agreement with Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation on payment of Eagles coach.
They were reacting to a story in public domain
that the federation had secured the sum of $1.5m from the NNPC as sponsorship
for salaries of the incoming coach.
Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee,
Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, said, “The story is the figment of the imagination of
the writers. Nobody in the NFF or NNPC discussed the matter of salary of
Eagles’ coach and there is no iota of truth in it.
“Of course, we would be happy if the Nigeria
National Petroleum Corporation can come into Nigeria football, as we are trying
to attract more corporate bodies into the Nigeria game. But there has been no
discussion between NFF and the NNPC over payment of the new Super Eagles’ Head
Coach or technical crew.”
The PUNCH checks however confirmed that even
though the NNPC would not directly raise the cash for the NFF, the national
petroleum company helped to broker the deal. Our correspondent learnt that top
functionaries at the corporation were not comfortable when the body was listed
as the provider of the funds by the media.
“They may have been involved with helping to broker
the arrangement but it isn’t directly NNPC funded and that was why the NFF had
to clarify the situation. But soon the details will be made public because the
deal was signed in Abuja today (Wednesday),” an NFF official said.
The process for the appointment of a new Eagles
coach is on with the NFF Technical and Development Committee having shortlisted
Salisu Yusuf, Belgian Tom Saintfiet and Frenchman Paul Le Guen for a final
interview. And as The PUNCH reported on Tuesday Le Guen has taken an assailable
lead to become the coach. Saintfiet, it was reported on Wednesday, is hopeful
of securing a job with an Asian country.
The NFF committee will meet on Monday to finalise
the process and announce the successful candidate, after a presentation to the
NFF Executive Committee.
No part of this content should be copied without a written approval from the author
Title : Super Eagles Coach's Salary Deal Signed
Description : NFF signs deal for Eagles coach’s salary It wasn’t long ago that the Nigeria Football Federation signed a deal for the payment of...
