Former head coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has made a detailed statement about his failed relationship with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and has warned whoever replaces him that tough times await.
Oliseh was speaking on his blog, sundayoliseh.tv, ahead of his appearance before the House of Representatives this Thursday, to explain the circumstances behind his shock resignation from the job.
“Hello my name is Sunday Oliseh. I have instructed my lawyers to withdraw the lawsuit against the Nigeria Football Federation. After speaking with well-meaning Nigerians, whom I respect a lot, I also believe that it is useless joining issues with people who are bent on deceiving Nigerians and misleading Nigerians and diverting attentions from the reality. And the reality is that I decided to resign on the 25th of February because certain vested interest in the NFF put in their own interest first before the interest of our country,” Oliseh started.
“But I also believe that Nigerians deserve to know the truth. I feel that it is important to know that my position as regards Nigeria coming first was a hinderance to the personal interest of certain vested interest in the NFF. And for that reason, anybody who is going to come in and be in my position as chief coach and who puts Nigeria first will always have problems. That is for sure.
“Now, this also explains why important or very necessary expenditures that are important for the progression of our country, like wages of the players, the coaches are always placed secondary. Whereas other expenditures that have very little bearing to the progression of our country, will always be catered for first.
“I also feel in order not to let Nigerians get the true picture, they are hell-bent on tarnishing my credibility. And that is why they’ve come up with this story like they’ve paid me and then I left. I have attached underneath here, since I am no longer going with the lawsuit, the statement of my account, of the bank which the NFF deals with in the few occasions that I have been paid. I have attached it underneath here and you can see that there is no payment that was made by the NFF to me. Up till the time I resigned on the 25th and even after that, up to the 29th that the month ended, you can see that.
“I also feel that it is right you know that I asked the technical committee for information, for materials to help us as regards Egypt. And I asked them way back in July 2015. As at the time I resigned on the 25th of February 2016, there was no information for us. Even though I demanded on several occasions. By emails also, so there is prove of it, so they dare not deny it.
“But what I feel they regarded more important about was trying to influence who plays for Nigeria, who gets invited, who would play. And obviously, I refused because they are not coaches.
“I also feel that it is unfair, but that notwithstanding, to treat players the way the players have been treated. Because it influences how the players perform and how they react. So, for that reason, I have attached here also, the invoice of the food they are saying I didn’t buy in South Africa, I have attached it here for you to see. And that shows you that there is nowhere in the world the national team coach of the first team buys food for the team? And we are the richest African nation. So on that, I leave you to judge by yourself.
“Since I do not want to be a part of this, of putting Nigeria secondary, and personal interest first, there was no way this could continue. And I felt it was time to let it be, that was why I resigned, nothing else.”
Oliseh added: “On the 16th of February, I wrote a demand letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, and I gave them an ultimatum of 25th, to settle issues way back as to July 2015. And almost by midnight when that ultimatum was not met, I resigned. No phone call was made. No email was sent to try to address this demand letter. And it was very clear. And when I resigned, I resigned by email and I resigned also by post-mail. And afterwards, the (NFF) president and the vice president called me and we spoke about this up until 2 am. And they tried to convince me not to do that, but the decision had been taken.
“And before that, I had contacted the Minister (of Sports). With due respect to the Minister and to Nigeria, before I even resigned, I called him to alert and to tell him what I had decided as the father of Nigerian sports.
“So, I don’t think you need too much convincing because you’ve always known that what our federation is like. But then again, it was a pleasure to have served Nigeria as coach. Long live Nigeria. Thank you. Bye.”
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