Emmanuel Amuneke who led Taifa Stars of Tanzania to their first Africa Cup of Nations finals in 39 years is still in the East African nation waiting for the payment of his outstanding four months salary arrear and other contractual entitlements, weeks after his contract was terminated on mutual agreement with the country’s FA, Completesports.com reports.
Tanzania were knocked out in the group phase of AFCON 2019 in Egypt, and the former Barcelona and Nigeria winger mutually parted company with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), even with one year still remaining on his contract.
Completesports.com understands that the TFF preferred to make do with their indigenous coaches due to financial constraints in funding Amuneke’s pay package, but will have to settle outstanding debt to the Nigerian Olympic Soccer Gold medal winner in 1996.
Aside that, TFF will also settle Amuneke as regards the remainder of his contract.
“We agree to disagree. Now we’re trying to get everything sorted out especially as it has to do with money,” starts Amuneke when he spoke to Completesports.com on Friday from Tanzania.
“The reality is that the funds are not there, it is not about Tanzania alone, but Africa generally.
“They want to make do with their own coaches, which, to me, is not a bad idea. I wish them well.
“They needed me and I needed them, who says we can’t meet again or somewhere in future, that’s football for you, that’s the spirit.”
Tanzania last played in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Lagos in 1980 before Amuneke was hired last year to steer the Taifa Stars to their second AFCON finals in history with a ticket to the 2019 showpiece in Egypt.
After an illustrious playing career that spanned through Julius Berger, Zamalek of Egypt, FC Barcelona of Spain, amongst others, Amuneke joined the coaching ranks and steered Nigeria U17s to glory at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile in 2015.
In 2016, he took charge of Nigeria’s U-20 National Team the Flying Eagles, but a defeat to Sudan in the last qualifying game left the former Nigeria left-winger shattered emotionally, but would thereafter gather the pieces and took up a coaching job with Sudanese Premier League club, All Khartoum SC, before landing the Tanzania job last year.
By Sab Osuji
5 Comments
TFF please coach Amunike so that he can forge ahead jo.
TFF please pay …
Here we go again with this rubbish. Some fat cat is sitting on this money.
Take them to CAS if they fail to pay up.
This is the issue with some Africa football federation, when it comes to money, insincerity is at its best.