If the feelers filtering out of the media are anything to go by, German-born Bruno Labbadia, who was announced as Head Coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in August but abandoned the job some four days later, says he is coming back as coach of the men's senior national football team.
The 58-year-old Labbadia had been in discussion with the NFF about handling the Super Eagles before officials of the Glass House, prematurely announced the German as the coach of the senior national team, without having the patience to wait for him to sign the dotted lines.
Not too many persons were happy with the NFF's decision to hire a relatively unknown person to tinker the Super Eagles who are preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations but such persons consoled themselves with the adage that half bread is far better than not having any at all.
The Super Eagles had been without a coach since the departure of Joseph Peseiro, especially as the national team had two crucial Nations Cup qualifiers against Cheetahs of Benin Republic and the Amavubi of Rwanda, so football-crazy Nigerians badly needed a coach for their national team. That was why Nigerians reluctantly accepted Labbadia.
And as if to rub salt on a cancerous injury, the German walked out on the Super Eagles and Nigeria, just after four days, citing never-before-heard-of conditions, that after being paid his full salary, the NFF should also be responsible in paying his tax obligations in his home country. When the NFF refused to budge, Labbadia bolted, embarrassing Nigerians in the process.
The board of the NFF appointed Head of Technical Committee, Austine Eguavoen in an interim capacity. Thankfully, Eguavoen had a modest scorecard to show; beating the Cheetahs, coached by former Super Eagles Handler, Garnet Rohr 3-0 in Uyo and pulling a respectable away draw in Kigali after the Amavubis forced the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw.
The NFF licked its wounds and has forged on, putting the sad episode of Bruno Labbadia behind it. And from nowhere, the same Labbadia, who dumped the Super Eagles job at the first instance, emerges to announce to the world, via social media, that he is heading for Nigeria for his coaching job. He posted his picture and the flag of Nigeria, suggesting that Nigeria is the new chapter in his coaching journey.
He wrote: “New Chapter 🇳🇬”.
In a swift reaction, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau and General Secretary, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed have distanced themselves from the rumours of re-appointment of Bruno Labbadia as coach of the Super Eagles.
When contacted, the NFF President is reported to have said "It's not true" while Secretary General, Sanusi Mohammed, in his response said he was hearing this for the first time since there has never been any further discussion with him since after he left of his own volition in August.
Labbadia's social media post has evoked reactions from some Nigerians, who believe the German is not the best man for the Super Eagles job.
"Come to think of it, even if we set aside his arrogance of walking out on Nigeria, he is certainly not the class of coach the country needs. Let us allow Austine Eguavoen do the job. If Eguavoen cannot or does not want it, why not let us try Samson Siasia?" a young Super Eagles follower, Ekiyor Martins asked rhetorically.
Another respondent who pleaded anonymity, said "A cursory look at the records shows that Bruno Labbadia has a history of dismissals. He has been dismissed on more than three occasions. If he were good, would they be dismissing him? The most recent of his dismissals was last year when he virtually took VfB Stuttgart to relegation. Barely a year later, the same VfB Stattgart qualified for the Champions League under a new coach, Sebastian Hoeneß".
Head of Sports, New Waves newspaper, Ambassador Loveday Herbert said "The claims by the purported coach to the Super Eagles shows the rot within our football administration. NFF is made up hustlers who do not mind the feelings of football stakeholders. Everyone within the corridors of NFF wants to cut corners. They are all agents trying to link up their friends to the job placement in order to make gains".
Does Labbadia see himself as the Maradona or the Messi of the coaching world that he would walk out on Nigerians and expect the same job back on a platter of gold? Certainly not. Someone should wake him up from his dream because that is what he is doing; dreaming. After waking him up, he should be told that the Nigerian national team players are some of the finest individual footballers around the world and that as the sixth best team in Africa and the 39th best in the world, the Super Eagles are among the "big boys" of global football.
A Yenagoa-based journalist, Stanley Imgbi had this to say, "He was offered a job and he walked out on Nigeria. If the story is true at all, the NFF should have the courage to turn its back on him. What effrontery? He must be a joker to think the job he abandoned would still be waiting for him.
