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| Nigeria: VOGTS completes his staff |
German Berti VOGTS who recently signed a four-year deal to ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has just appointed his compatriots Thomas HAESSLER and Uli STEIN as the assistant coaches of the Super Eagles.
Former German midfielder HAESSLER who was part of the German squad that won the 1990 World Cup and the 1996 European championship will work with the Super Eagles on a part-time basis since he will keep his job as the assistant coach of the German second division side Cologne. As for the 52-year-old STEIN who took part in the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico with the Mannschaft of Germany he will train the Nigerian goalkeepers.
Two top officials of the NFA (Nigeria Football Association) gave different explanations about VOGTS' decisions to recruits his compatriots. First of all NFA's Secretary General BOLAJI OJO-OBA said: "The only thing we know is that we have employed VOGTS. We don't know anything about the appointment of his assistant HAESSLER. We only read about that in the newspapers." But later on and contrary to recent reports the NFA appeared to have approved of VOGTS' appointments, and by the way NFA Vice-Chairman AMANZE UCHEGBULAM told BBC Sport that "it doesn't come as a surprise to us, we were well aware that Berti VOGTS would be coming with two assistants. His assistants will be travelling with him whenever we have games and that is part of the agreement in his contract."
It is interesting to know that according to BBC Sport correspondant in Lagos OLUWASHINA OKELEJI, STEIN's arrival "now means that the Super Eagles have six coaches: VOGTS is already assisted by Austin EGUAVOEN, Daniel AMOKACHI and Ike SHORUNMU, the latter being the present goalkeepers trainer."
VOGTS is due to arrive at Nigeria to start his job at the beginning of March. He signed a four-year deal in February and his main target will be to qualify Nigeria for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. His salaries will be paid by GLOBACAM, a telephone company which is one of the major sponsors of the NFA.
25/02/2007 |
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