Oliseh stuck between Enyeama and NFF

In from Nifemi Daniel…

Incoming Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has pleaded with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation to soft pedal on the disciplinary actions to be meted upon Captain Vincent Enyeama following his failure to appear before the football body’s panel to defend his comment on the choice of Kaduna as match venue for the team.

The NFF leadership confirmed on Wednesday that Oliseh will head the consortium of coaches which also include a foreign Dutch assistant coach.

But Oliseh who is noted for his pragmatic approach, pleaded with the NFF on the need for him to start on a clean note stating that the coach should be the interface between the players and the federation.

“Oliseh is pleading on behalf of Enyeama who is already penciled down to be banned from the national team, a move the incoming coach feels will be counterproductive to the rebuilding process,” a source revealed to Ripples.com.ng.

“He is opting for an option of a fine and public apology in order not to kill the morale of other players who look up to the captain to represent their interest, but the NFF is insisting on a hefty sanction to serve as a deterrent to other players.

“Oliseh who opined that his first match in charge is a crucial away match against Tanzania and Nigerians would judge him by his results,” the source added.

Read also: Oliseh to replace Keshi as Eagles coach

The bargaining for Oliseh seems to be his first major battle against the football body that is noted for always engaging in battle of supremacy.

NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick, met with Oliseh in London on Wednesday to discuss the modalities of working with a foreign technical assistant, and other Nigerian coaches including the newly appointed technical director of the NFF, Shaibu Amodu.

NFF Technical and Development Committee chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, stated that an offer has been tabled before the former midfielder.

“An offer has been made, and there is understanding, but we have to work out the final details of the agreement in a few days,” said the Enyimba FC boss. “Of course, the Executive Board has to give approval for his appointment based on the final terms to be agreed.”

He also stated that Oliseh’s foreign assistant will have the task of developing programmes, and will work with youth teams and certified academies across the country with the aim of developing the game from the grassroots.

The identity of the foreign assistant however remains unknown but it won’t be the first time Super Eagles will be arriving in the company of foreign assistants as Keshi and his predecessor, Samson Siasia, did likewise with Valere Houandinou and Simon Kalika respectively.

On the choice of Oliseh, Pinnick said: “Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and will certainly add value to what we are doing. He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigeria football. He will command the respect of the players and we trust he has the temperament to work harmoniously with the Technical and Development Committee, the Technical Directorate and the Technical Study Group.

“On our part at the NFF, we will give him all the support to succeed as we have been giving to all our coaches. Subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee, we will conclude negotiations by weekend and he will be unveiled next week.”

Oliseh, 40, won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles as well as an Olympic gold medal in 1996.

You may also like: NFF, Enyeama head for showdown

A former captain of the Super Eagles, Oliseh played at two World Cups, in 1994 and 1998, and played at various clubs in Europe, including RSC Liege, Regianna, Cologne, Ajax, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund.

Oliseh retired from the national team at the age of 27, after being dropped from the squad to the 2002 World Cup for disciplinary issues; with many in the Nigerian FA back then vowing never to work with him again, as he is said to be difficult to persuade.

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