Sports News of Tuesday, 23 March 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Amaju Pinnick slams 'selfish and ungrateful' Oliseh

Amaju Pinnick appointed Super Eagles legend, Sunday Oliseh coach of the Super Eagles Amaju Pinnick appointed Super Eagles legend, Sunday Oliseh coach of the Super Eagles

The relationship between Nigerian Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick and Super Eagles legend, Sunday Oliseh appears to be heading to the drains after the former accused the latter of being selfish and ungrateful.

This comes after Sunday Oliseh's comment following the appointment of Amaju Pinnick on FIFA's technical committee.

Pinnick and Oliseh had a good relationship a few years back when Pinnick appointed the former Juventus and Dortmund midfielder the Super Eagles manager shortly after assuming his role as the NFF chief.

But barely eight months later, Oliseh resigned his position after alleging that his bosses had violated his contract, showed him no support, and owed him, his assistant, and players unpaid wages and benefits, according to Soccernet.ng.

Pinnick then shunned his Nigerian project and instead named Franco-German tactician Gernot Rohr as the national team’s handler later in 2016.

Traces of the ill-feeling generated by that development was evident when Oliseh, speaking on an online platform a few days ago, said that Pinnick’s emergence as a FIFA Council member is a good achievement for the NFF president and not Nigeria, reports Soccernet.ng.

Hurt by that attack from a former associate, Pinnick has hit Oliseh back below the belt, insisting that the 1994 Afcon winner missed a great chance to leave a more significant legacy with the Super Eagles.

“It shows that he only thinks of himself and does not bother how to contribute to the development of Nigerian football,” Pinnick told the Guardian.

“How can an ex-Super Eagles player and coach of the national team be so selfish.

“I don’t want to join issues with Oliseh because I have a lot to do for our football at the moment. But it is good I let him realise that he is an ungrateful fellow.

“I gave Oliseh Super Eagles coaching job and gave him all the support he needed to succeed even when many people were against it. He failed to make good use of the opportunity. He is ungrateful.”

As head coach, ex-Ajax star Oliseh led the Super Eagles to only two losses in 14 games and was, at the time, tagged the ‘African Guardiola’ by Pinnick.