Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick for giving him the total freedom to select players for the senior national.
The German tactical qualified Nigeria for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations after the team maintained its leadership in Group L of the campaign.
Recall that on Tuesday, the Super Eagles crushed Lesotho 3-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos in a 2021 AFCON qualifier a few days after defeating Benin to remain unbeaten.
Speaking with Hip Tv, Rohr stated that he’s grateful to Pinnick for granting him the opportunity to decide on the team’s selection.
“I’m working with him now since five years, and there is complicity, there is confidence, trust, and also for me, it’s important that he lets me work in my independence.
“I can choose my players, I can do my list, and I also appreciate his loyalty.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
17 Comments
Honestly speaking, Pinnick like every human, might have faulted at certain times but he remains to me the best NFF chairman ever, putting into consideration the very difficult situation his administration has had to contend with. Imagine foreign managers making fun of SE before he came into power. Multinational companies refusing to identify with the SE brand, wherein we struggled to get any sponsor, almost every footballing nation refusing to play friendlies with us. Most times it is always easy to forget how bad it was, when things starts to look good. In criticising him, we must do it with the hindsight of threat made by criminals like Chris Giwa, Darlung etc as well as understand he is just the Chairman of NFF which has other personnel like Dikko, Akimwumi, etc. Pinnick/ NFF, from the look of things,played a smart one bringing Yobo without coaching badge to assists Rohr. (1) To put a clog in the wheel regarding selfish/senseless calls to sack Rohr n (2) knowing Yobo doesn’t have coaching badge, that he will have no choice but stay humble to learn under Rohr, which thus guarantees protection to Rohrs job. A master class I call that trump card.
Kudos to Pinnick/ NFF crew, they have beaten all to the game, Yobo is enjoying every moment working with Rohr and oga Rohr is truly in appreciation of the genius in Pinnick. I had a sense Yobo/ Rohr will turn out a workable blend, though I too fell for the trump card. Good for Yobo he is using the very rear opportunity to better his chosen carrier n happy Rohr is carrying him along really well. BY NOW THOSE WHO INTENDED TO USE YOBO TO UNSEAT THE GAFFER ROHR, MIGHT HAVE JUST HAD THEIR FINGERS IN THEIR MOUTH THINKING THEY ONLY MEANT TO BITE IT. LOLZZZ. LIFE NO BE GRAGRA, HENCE THE MAFIA SAY OMATTA. IS ROHR ONE?
Refrain from calling names. Emeka Emereo is the best NFF Chairman Nigeria has ever had, not Pinnick.
I agree
Too true, Emeka Emerio is a legend. We should refrain from calling names.
Pinnick is the best. Half of the super eagles are igbo, that’s why the team stay winning because he knows igbo’s are the best players
Ethic bigot
You are a big fool, hadn’t been igbos are the minority and the team is performing well, I am sure you wouldn’t have call him the best. Like Rohr said, he was given total freedom to choose his trusted weapon, maybe Rohr is Igbo too?
Maduke Okoye, Samuel Kalu, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi, Paul Onuachu, Chidozie Awaziem, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Henry Onyekuru. Igbo’s are the minority? Stop it and embrace it, they are the better footballers. They are carrying this team, the proof is in the pudding
“Pinnick Gave Me Freedom To Invite Players To Super Eagles – Rohr”
If this is true then you can’t build this team.
Many people be wondering why did I say that but I have my own reasons for that.
Reason no1. The game against Lesotho should be used for the unused players such as Ajayi, the two home based players and with the mixture of pro that doesn’t play regularly in the team.
But again, Oga Rohr have failed on that. Although, he got 3 goals and 3 points in the last game. But was that enough?
I don’t think so. Awaziem didn’t play in the last game. The home based goalie would have been tested in that game as well.
So tell me the reason why the gaffer invited those players for dead rubber match without using them.
Our local coaches did that before without fear in their minds why coach Rohr?
And he wanted me to believe in him that “Pinnick Gave Me Freedom To Invite Players To Super Eagles – Rohr”
I won’t be deceived by that. I’m sorry not today.
Nonetheless inside life, anything can happen. The gaffer only believes in his 1st 11 but what of if most of his 1st 11 didn’t come for those two matches?
You people did not see what I’m seeing at all.
Our reserve bench is good as our 1st 11 so, why the coach so regid? Is it the way to build a team?
We were playing Lesotho in a dead rubber match and the coach couldn’t give the chance to our unused players? Come on Nigerians.
Don’t worry Oga Rohr and Mr. Amaju Pinnick, the reality show will begins in Cameroon soon.
I appreciate and thank you for a job well done but if you don’t improve yourself before the Afcon tournament in Cameroon, oh well, it is too early to talk because the truth is bitter. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!
@Omo9ja… Now you see my points yesterday. A dead rubber game and the gaffer still played our regulars. It’s Brazil going full throthle with their 2002 team against Lietchenstein.
A dead rubber game and the gaffer still played our regulars… all for the insipid excuse of trying
to establish solid blend and understanding among the regulars since world cup qualifiers are close… and I ask, What has Rohr being doing
with his team for the last five years if we are still
trying to establish just that after all this time
having attended a world cup and nations cup with him in charge? Very funny… It’s like Brazil going full throttle with their 2002 team against a team like Liechtenstein, that is at best a target-practice…
Chuckwu you are among the people that is spoiling this Nigeria if you are saying Nigerian national team is complete Igbo what are you trying to insinuate. My brother try to mature than this we are all Nigeria
Again,very senseless talk from you Omogja.As usual no head no tail. If I may ask omo9ja what do you do for a living?I Am damn sure that whatever you do for a living you can never be the best in it.I am sorry if that seem hard.The reason for my assertion is that your reasoning and analysis is too porous.The earlier you learn from noble men here the better for you.
You condemn others for nothing but yet you don’t measure up to nothing.I will admonish you to please use your precious time for typing on this forum to develop your self and be productive.Thank you.
Hahaha@emmanuel but his cousin @jimmyball always understand him very well,am very sure that Mr Rohr is spoiling this their biz,am sure this people are betting against super eagles
@Omo9ja has spoken…
But remember my brother @omo9ja, if Rohr had used fringe players against Lesotho and its back-fired, it is the same u that would ochestrate those blind bathalion of yours, compose a chorus for your visionless followers just like the case of MADAGASCAR, and finally start reciting it every now and then like a national anthem.
“A wise man uses stones that are thrown at him to build a house” says our elders….
Rohr learnt his lessons after Madagascar game…
Since we’re sword with 2 edges and we don’t realy understand the art of this round game called soccer, even if we’re playing against TAHITI, SAN MARINO, HAITI or any mino of minos; expect our full house.
We’re on a mission of “give your haters no evident/proof for any brainless criticism”….
We’re winning it all so that u pple would be without a point to use against the SE and their MECHANIC….
:::SHALOM:::
@emmanuel……thanks for your comment nd god bless……..i hate to mention names but whoever decides to take me on for acknowledging your valuable contributions is free to do so…..i promise to drag it to the VERY NADIR OF HUMAN INDIGNITY with anyone……ahahahaha
I hail all the progressive Nigerians in this forum for your firmness in criticising Super Eagles Coach when necessary which have caused Rohr to sit up and make us proud, I can happily say that the team is doing well now though there are rooms for improvement.
I congratulate coach Gernot Rohr for qualifying us to the AFCON with two games to spare, it’s a good fit, a good records you have achieved with the Eagles, though we did it together.
Big congrats to you!!
Some of my respected forumites are complaining why some fringe players are not given playing time, but I think I understand the reason, which is that we don’t have any other free windows before the beginning of World Cup qualification, coupled with the fact that the team have not played together for some time and there is need for cohesion before the showdown.
Let’s not forget the Fifa Rankings too, we have been going down lately and we need rise again.