NFF cuts Eagles bonus, coaches salaries

The Nigeria Football Federation has taken a very significant
step to curtail overhead cost in the administration of football
in the country. The Technical and Development Committee of
the federation, which met in Abuja on Tuesday,
recommended for immediate implementation, a list of
decisions that would substantively cut down the cost of
prosecuting games involving the national teams.
One of the major decisions is the review of the salaries of all
the national team coaches, including that of Super Eagles
coach, Stephen Keshi. Even though he has a contract still
running, The PUNCH learnt that every coach in the
employment of the federation would be affected as soon as
the implementation begins.
The General Secretary of the NFF, Mr. Musa Amadu, told our
correspondent on Tuesday that the federation was simply
facing the reality on ground.
He said, “If you take just a simple look at the period around
June and the cost implication for the country, for instance,
you will understand that the measures being taken have
become very necessary. We cannot continue like this; there
has to be sensible auditing.”
The NFF added that based on the poor financial situation, the
committee has also recommended the staff auditing of the
technical crew and backroom staff of all the national teams.
This move will see the national team coaches being cut down
to maximum of two assistants and a goalkeeper trainer. The
Eagles have three assistant coaches plus a goalkeeper trainer.
The other backroom staffers are to be cut down too.
The players themselves were not spared in the latest decision.
Their win bonus, which was raised to $10,000 some years ago
has been cut down to $5,000. The bonus became an issue after
the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa as the NFF could not
pay the final game bonus after it was nearly doubled from
the pre-tournament rate.
“The Committee regrets the financial situation that has also
necessitated the pegging of bonuses, review of allowances
and salaries of coaches of the national teams,” the committee
communiqué read.
The committee also considered the employment of coaches for
positions of Technical Director of the NFF and the coaching
staff of the U-23 national team but no names were listed.
The committee also deliberated on the war of words between
Keshi and his players and assured that peace would reign
before the country embarks on the series of matches for the
2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as well as the 2013 FIFA
Confederations Cup.
Culled from Punch