NFF Spokesperson Olajire Responds to Waldrum Outburst, Highlights Flaws
In response to Coach Waldrum’s recent outburst, NFF spokesperson Olajire shed light on the coach’s deficiencies and decisions, emphasizing the need for practicality and focus on the upcoming World Cup.
Olajire began by questioning the timing of the coach’s demands, considering when the European season ended. He pointed out that the coach had initially requested a two-week camp exclusively for home-based players, despite showing little consideration for them in his provisional list.
“Two weeks ago, he finalized his squad of 23 players, rendering any additional camp for home-based professionals unnecessary and wasteful of resources,” Olajire stated, highlighting the coach’s oversight.
Rather than acknowledging his own glaring deficiencies, the coach resorted to venting his frustrations, Olajire noted.
Furthermore, Olajire addressed the coach’s choice of players, highlighting the omission of key individuals. He explained that the absence of players like Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde, due to visa issues, was already known, yet the coach failed to include experienced players like Ngozi Okobi and Regina Otu in the squad.
Olajire clarified that the NFF believed it would be more logical for the 23 selected players to proceed directly to Australia and acclimatize themselves to the weather and conditions for 15 to 16 days.
The spokesperson expressed the NFF’s desire for the coach to groom a home-based goalkeeper, similar to how Chiamaka Nnadozie was nurtured. However, the coach consistently favored Yewande Balogun, who had a background as a goalkeeper coach, without considering the potential of home-grown talent.
Drawing attention to the goalkeeping situation, Olajire highlighted the limited success of the chosen goalkeeper, who had only kept a clean sheet in one friendly match over the past two years, and that was due to Chiamaka’s unfortunate injury.
Olajire dismissed the coach’s outbursts as mere afterthoughts, emphasizing that his comments came just three days before the team’s departure for the World Cup.
Responding to the coach’s claim of not knowing any home-based goalkeepers, Olajire pointed out that the coach himself had identified players like Oluwatosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, and Deborah Abiodun during the U20 World Cup, where home-based goalkeepers were present.
Concluding his response, Olajire asserted that there was no need to dwell on the matter any longer. With the World Cup rapidly approaching, he urged the coach to direct his attention and efforts towards the task at hand.
