…Says Rohr has promised to swim, sink with team
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reassured soccer-loving Nigerians that the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon would be under pressure when they confront the Super Eagles in the double header of FIFA World Cup qualifier encounters next month.
Head of the technical department and National Technical Director (NTD), Bitrus Bewarang, who spoke to Daily Sunsports on telephone from Jos, Plateau State, also dismissed the impression that the faceoff between the Eagles technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr and the technical subcommittee of the federation would pose a threat to the Eagles.
The former Eagles assistant coach also revealed that he has been in constant touch with Rohr over his reported resignation, adding that he (Rohr) assured him he will swim and sink with the team. Requested to give Nigerians technical update on the qualifier ties, he said:
“It would be out of place to react to the technical arrangements for the match because we are still waiting for the technical adviser to submit his program.”
On the misunderstanding between the technical crew and technical committee, he said: “I don’t think there is any harm it would have on the team. As far as I am concerned, it is natural to scrutinise the team list the technical crew submits.
“You will agree with me that the team was not coordinated in the game against South Africa. There was a clear case of lack of fitness and naturally the technical committee and department must be concerned. It is becoming obvious that some people are poisoning Rohr’s mind.
“We are not compelling him to bring in any player but it will be unthinkable that a technical committee with six ex-internationals would not have any input to make in the list of invited players. The Minister of Sports did not summon the federation board but the technical committee.
“We must try to find a way of avoiding the lacklustre outing recorded against South Africa. There was no coordination and I was not personally happy. What we want from Rohr is to explain to us how he came about this or that player. He even invited players in the second cadre of less fancied foreign leagues.”