‘Shut up and do your work’ – Sports minister to Rohr

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jul 02, 2021. 11:00

Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, has laid down the law to Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, insisting that the German should focus more on his job and less on talking to the media.

The minister visited Nigeria’s camp in Abuja – ahead of their July 4 friendly against Mexico – and expressed his concern at Rohr’s perceived overlooking of locally-based talent.

“Rohr’s attitude towards home-based players is unacceptable, it’s negative to our football development in this country and I call on the NFF [Nigeria Football Federation] to call him to order,” Dare is quoted by Premium Times.

“I call on the NFF to call him to order and hold him accountable by the contents of his contract but beyond that, he needs to shut up and do the work which he was hired to do. He talks too much.”

He added: “I’m happy that the conversation and the meetings we’ve had in the past several months with the NFF about changing the phase of our football development is beginning to bear fruits.

“I’m an advocate of a blend of home-based and foreign-based players to create a level playing field.

“They are all talented, so we need to give them an equal chance to compete for the Nigerian jersey. That has been the history and tradition of Nigerian soccer.

“So, the opportunities should be the same. Let them fight for the spots. Whether home or foreign-based, it’s your talent that counts.”

Nigeria will face Mexico in a match in Los Angeles on the morning of Sunday 4 July, with kick-off scheduled for 04:30 CAT.