Abuja -The National Sports Commission (NSC) says it is untrue that it is instrumental to the sacking of former Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi and the engagement of his successor.
A statement by the commission’s Deputy Director of Press, Stephen Nelson, quoted Alhassan Yakmut, the NSC Director-General, as saying the Commission had no statutory right to be involved.
“The Commission has no statutory right to determine who coaches the national team,’’ it quoted Yakmut as saying this during a visit by a delegation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NFF had recently sacked Keshi and had immediately after this engaged his former national teammate, Sunday Oliseh, to replace him.
The delegation led by the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, was in Yakmut’s office to present Oliseh to him.
The statement further quoted Yakmut as saying the commission rather serves as a conveyor belt for sports development in Nigeria.
“NSC is not authorised to select coaches. It is left to the NFF. Our own is to ensure that due diligence and process is followed.’’
It also quoted Yakmut as emphasising that NFF had the sole authority to employ the right coach to guide footballers in making history in this dispensation of change.
“The responsibility of the commission is to convey the functions of the football federation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“We will however by this remind the federation to always ensure that they are guided by due process in their management functions, as well as to maintain a symbiotic relationship with the Sports Commission,’’ Yakmut said.
The statement said Yakmut also commended NFF for liaising with the Bureau of Public Procurement in the process of employing Oliseh, and advised him to put in his best and “make a difference’’.
It also quoted the NSC Director-General as saying the new coach was a man who would succeed “having been an experienced football player and now a coach’’.
The statement also quoted Pinnick as describing the NSC Director-General as “a very professional personality’’ who has the experience to make a difference in the sports sector.
“The NFF is undergoing a transition, thus there is the need for a new coach who has a vision of football culture.
“The new coach of the Super Eagles is considered the right coach, being knowledgeable in both league and comprehensive football programmes.’’
The statement further said the NFF President pledged to maintain a cordial relationship with the NSC in matters affecting football in the country.(NAN)