Oliseh opens up on N20m NFF claim
The former coach of Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has addressed events that have trailed his resignation. The controversial coach, who had blasted his critics in his famous YouTube rant, took to his official Twitter handle in the wee hours of Friday, February 27, to announce his resignation. Oliseh cited unpaid salaries, lack of cooperation, among other factors, as reasons responsible for his action.
Days after, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) alleged that it had paid N20m into Oliseh’s account before he resigned, an allegation Oliseh repudiated. Oliseh who had threatened to drag the NFF to court for defamation, but on Monday March 14, made a u-turn as he instructed his lawyers to withdraw the lawsuit against the NFF.
However, Oliseh went ahead to release his February 2016 bank statement which showed that no credit transaction was made by the NFF to his bank account. In documents and video posted on his blog, sundayoliseh.tv, the former Super Eagles coach added evidence of how he spent his personal funds on the feeding of the home-based Super Eagles who were neglected by the NFF during the CHAN tournament in Rwanda.
Oliseh, made a detailed statement about his failed relationship with the NFF and warned whoever replaces him that tough times await.
Oliseh’s remarks come just before his purported appearance before the House of Representatives this Thursday, March 17, to explain the circumstances behind his shock resignation from the job.
Oliseh further addressed events that have trailed his resignation:
“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. 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 stated.
