15th July, 2015
Taiwo Adelu
In what appears to be a kind gesture to help the new chief coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh to succeed, President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick announced a three-month advance payment of salary to the new coach during the unveiling ceremony in Abuja today.
Apart from Oliseh, Pinnick also announced that all his assistants, Alloy Agu, Belgian Jean Francois Losciuto and Salisu Yusuf would also get three months salary in advance. This, according to the president is to show how serious the NFF wants Oliseh and his coaching crew to succeed and as a source of motivation.
This shows that without doing any work, Oliseh will be smiling to the bank with a whopping sum of N15 million as the NFF has signed a monthly package of N5m salary deal with him today.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles’ captain, resumed life as head coach of the team on Wednesday, with a clear message to the generality of Nigerians: “I come to serve my country, not to wage a war.”
There were several questions at Wednesday’s colourful official presentation ceremony bothering on Oliseh’s perceived ‘stubbornness’, but the former captain swiftly differentiated between being principled and being stubborn.
“I have come to serve, and the NFF has promised to give me all the support I need to succeed. They are the employers and I am the employee. That distinction has to be appreciated at all times.
“I have had meetings with members of the Technical and Development Committee, led by Chief Anyansi-Agwu, very knowledgeable people all. I have met members of the Executive Committee and the General Secretary. I believe we will all work together excellently. It is a huge honour to be Head Coach of Nigeria.
“One thing I will say, dear compatriots, is that I am not a Messiah. I have come to do my very best, give 150%, to take Nigeria football to the next level, with the support of my assistants, the NFF and relevant stakeholders. I am optimistic that we will lift the Nigeria game to a new height.
“My assistants and myself will not invite to the camp of the National Team of Nigeria, any player who is not playing in the top division in the recognized Leagues of the world, including Nigeria. The only exception would be those players from any of the age-grade National Teams that we find exceptional and deserving of an opportunity to try and win shirts in the senior team,” he said.
The multi-lingual coach, who played professional football in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, and won Olympic football gold, Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze and played in two FIFA World Cup final competitions, signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional another year.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick presided over the event, supported by Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, Executive Committee members Anyansi-Agwu, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Babagana Kalli and Ahmad Kawu, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other members of NFF management, including Technical Director Shaibu Amodu.
The NFF leadership later presented Oliseh and his assistants to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Al-hassan Saleh Yakmut.