Coronavirus remains the most discussed issue in the world today. There is no denying the fact that it is the rave of the moment. With death as a result of the virus nearing 100,000 worldwide and over a million and half infected, certainly the world is fighting a war without shooting ballistic missile or deploying nuclear warhead anywhere on the planet earth. In the words of Bola Bolawole, a former Deputy Managing Director/ Deputy Editor In Chief of the PUNCH(Nig)Limited, “the cause of the virus has spun an array of conspiracy theories-from the believable through the sublime to the totally ridiculous.

“Since coronavirus broke, the suffering has been unprecedented. The death and suffering of loved ones apart, the arduous task of survival, of sheer keeping body and soul together, has tried the soul and capacity of many – the lumpen elements and wretched of the earth more so.

It is to these that lock-downs and stay-at-home orders become a huge joke. Between coronavirus and hunger is like a man running away from a lion who meets a bear. It is the dilemma of someone caught between the rock and the hard place.

” I believe the scenario painted above by Bolawole best explains why the move by the Nigeria Football Federation to get the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, sacked, albeit though the backdoor did not dominate media space during the week as expected.

Without prevarications, the NFF has been involved in some shenanigans in its bid to get rid of the coach, probably as it’s been speculated, those sponsoring the coach’s salary are no longer able to shoulder it due to the prevailing economic situation in the country. The NFF via a media statement on Monday simply confirmed what has been spurned by the media for about a month that all is not well between the body and the coach.

Because the football house did not want to sack the coach for reason best known to it, it decided to give the coach some stringent conditions in its ongoing contract renewal talks. For the benefit of hindsight, the NFF stated unequivocally the conditions which are that the coach must live in the country; his salary will be paid in Naira and not in Euro and he must go round the league venues and see how he can nurture the players. As if expecting the coach to throw the deal away because of the stringent conditions, it stated, “If he is able to accept, we have a deal.” Rohr, who was named Super Eagles Technical Adviser on 09 August 2006, has played 49 games, won 29, drew 11 and lost 9, recording a win percentage of 59.18%. His biggest achievement was winning bronze at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo last year.

It could also be counted for him as an achievement when he qualified the team for the 2018 World Cup from a group considered the group of death, which has Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia, all former African champions. Suddenly, Rohr who was hailed a hero after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, has turned a villain in so such a time.

Reason is that his failure to qualify for the second round of the World Cup did not go down well with Nigerians. His game management was questioned after conceding a goal to Argentina in 86th minute when a draw would have given Super Eagles the second round ticket. This poor game management also reared its ugly head in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final game against Algeria in Egypt.

Super Eagles again conceded in the last minute of added time. From then on his traducers have sharpened their knives and would want him kicked out. He did not help himself with his refusal to give local players the opportunity of fighting for a shirt. To him, domestic league players lack what it takes to play for the Super Eagles.

His excuse is that he will only invite the best Nigerians into the team. But it was in this league that Late Stephen Keshi, as Super Eagles coach, discovered Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben and Chigozie Agbim among others. His bogus salary has also come under scrutiny. His achievement does not in any way compare to what he earns-45,000 Euros per month.

But Roland Ogbonnaya, Daily Independent Group Features Editor thinks otherwise. To him, “Rohr should be given another opportunity, say two or three years, to tinker the national team. He started well by continuous identification and inclusion of young stars into the team. It has been four years of building.

He should be allowed to consolidate. If he now fails in his second mission, you have every reason to ask him to go. Generally he has not been a bad coach. One thing I will require of him though, is to always include the highest goal scorer in the local league into the national team.” Now that Rohr has expressed his readiness to continue on the job, even without pay, must have thrown NFF’s behind the scene moves into jeopardy.

Though, Rohr criticized the federation for making the conditions open, he, however, wants to continue coaching the team. “I am not worried, because I love the Super Eagles, and I can even work for free without collecting salaries.

It is not about the bonuses and allowances; it is not about the money. I am now 66; money no longer matters so much to me,” he said. What next for the NFF to get rid of him. I suggest it inserts 50% pay cut as part of the conditions. Statistics and performance have proved that Rohr is just but an average coach.

I don’t see him taking the team to the next level. A leopard can’t change its spot. Will Rohr suddenly develop interest in the domestic league players? My guess is as good as yours. Even with the outbreak of the coronavirus with European nations ferrying their nationals out of the country, is anyone sure that Rohr will want to stay back in the country? Time will tell.