The coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has revealed that he has accepted to take a pay cut and has also accepted the conditions on his proposed contract because he intends to stay with the team to finish what he has started.
Gernot Rohr and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have been having lingering differences as far as Rohr’s contract renewal is concerned.
The German tactician started coaching the three-time Africa Nations Cup champions in 2016. His current contract with the country will expire in June 2020 and there have been talks between the representatives of the coach and the NFF over the renewal of the contract.
When NFF President Amaju Pinnick revealed to the press some of the conditions in the proposed contract for Gernot Rohr, pundits in Nigeria thought the coach would not want to accept it which would consequently lead to his exit from the team.
One of the harsh conditions is that Rohr will have to base in Nigeria rather than in France where he usually stays when the Super Eagles are not playing a match. Another condition is that the coach will be paid in Naira instead of in dollars as he used to.
Contrary to people’s assumptions, Rohr says he has seen the contract and has accepted the conditions with little adjustments which he has resubmitted to the NFF.
He told ESPN that he was waiting for NFF final reaction to the adjustments he has made on it before he makes his next move or considers listening to other football federations that are seeking for his service.
He also revealed that he has told the NFF to cut his salary for three months as a sign of solidarity with the football federation at this critical time of coronavirus crisis which has halted football across the world.
He said: “I never talk about my contract in public, as you know. But I heard like everybody what was said by President [Amaju] Pinnick, that I have to accept to be paid in naira, and I have to be resident in Nigeria. I agree with these two things, and even I agree to have a lower salary.
“I am not doing my job for money. I am doing my job because I like it. Because we have built a team as you know, and money is not the most important. But I also have to look after my assistants.
“I accept because I think that my mission in Nigeria is not finished yet, and I know very well my players. I know very well the officials. We are now just like a family, and I think it is good to continue especially in this period now where it is difficult to change, to travel, to see new people.
“If the answer I give with some little changes in my contract is positive, I will continue. If not, I have to see what they give me because I have still the requests from two other federations. I received it – they are waiting for my answer – but I will take my time to give the NFF to make the final draft before I answer them.”
Since Rohr has been coaching the Super Eagles, he has only managed to qualify them for the 2018 FIFA World Cup where they crashed out at the group stage and also won bronze in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
