Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has rejected only one of the conditions put before him by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as terms for a contract extension that will see him continue as handler of the country’s national team, megasportsarena.com reports.
In contrast with widespread fears that Rohr would not accept conditions that he will henceforth be paid in Naira, not foreign currency, and that he will now have to live in the country, rather than come in from Europe only when matches are at hand, as well as still having to pay his assistants through his own wages, Rohr accepted all those terms.
The only area the Franco-German has refrained from accepting in the terms put before him in the new contract proposal drawn up by the NFF is the one directing him to should submit his team list to the technical committee, as he expressed reservations with the proviso that would curtail the independence he requires in issues concerning his choice of players and tactics.
While accepting the larger chunk of terms on the new contract, the 66-year-old tactician, who stressed that he still has two job offers he has not responded to, pending the outcome of his talks with the NFF, confirmed that he made some amendments to the proposal put before him, even as he waived three months worth salary to help Nigeria during the coronavirus pandemic.
Although he stopped short of giving details, as he prefers not to discuss his contract in public, the former Niger Republic, Gabon and Burkina Faso tactician, whose current contract ends in June, said he has nothing against residing in Nigeria and being paid in local currency, which he also said he has already communicated back to the NFF president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick.
He went on to state that he has a good working relationship with everyone in the NFF, including the first vice-president, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, as well as League Management Company (LMC) chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and all others, but he refused to disclose how much of his $55,000 a monthly pay will be deducted for charity and for his assistants’ salaries as well.
While reiterating how much he loves the Eagles’ job, especially with the opportunity of further nurturing Nigeria’s array of young players and aiming for continental glory with the squad next year, Rohr concluded by revealing that he has already returned the NFF’s contract proposal with the changes he wants and certain demands of his own, then expressed hoped that an agreement will be reached, even as he wants them to give him freedom over technical matters in the team.
Rohr told espn.com: “I accept because I think that my mission in Nigeria is not finished yet, and I know very well my players. I know very well the officials. We are now just like a family, and I think it is good to continue especially in this period now where it is difficult to change, to travel, to see new people.
“I heard like everybody what was said by President Pinnick, that I have to accept to be paid in naira, and I have to be resident in Nigeria. I agree to these two things, and even I agree to have a lower salary. I am not doing my job for money. I am doing my job because I like it.
“Because we have built a team like you know, money is not the most important. But I also have to look after my assistants. For me it is a little bit special because, as you know, with my salary, we are four people. It is not only me. I have my three assistants, Tunde Adelakun, Nabil Trabelsi and also Jean Luc Royer. I can speak in the name of my assistants because we are in touch all the time
“I don’t speak in public about it. I never spoke about my salary; I only saw that it has been published. But it’s for four people and not only for me. A lot of people don’t know that. I want to work free in all my responsibilities. Independence as coach who is responsible for results.
“It is always good to be sure you can do a work with confidence and be free in the choice of good players. We have a good relationship with Pinnick, with Seyi and with Shehu. So, I think we can find an agreement. There is no big problem to change.
“All I can say is that we are discussing in a good spirit with NFF. They sent me the proposal, I sent my answer. There are some little things to discuss about, and then we will see. Everything can be discussed. They have my answer and now I will wait for the proposal coming back.”
