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By Emma Njoku
Former Super Falcons’ striker, Patience Avre-Odeli, has faulted recent decision of the Delta State Sports Commission to suspend the Head Coach of Warri Wolves Football Club, Napoleon Aluma.
The management of Warri Wolves, through a letter from the sports commission Chairman, Onos Oborevwori, said poor results led to the suspension of Aluma. But Avre-Odeli described the decision as a huge error. She said the suspension of Aluma after six games into the current Nigeria Premier League season amounts to victimisation and unnecessary power display by the sports commission and Warri Wolves’ management.
“How do you suspend a coach after six games? I remember that Warri Wolves sensationally defeated Katsina United in an away fixture in their first game before outclassing oldies, Rangers International of Enugu.
“The team that has not been officially appreciated for gaining promotion from the NNL faced undue pressure before and after the first home draw in the fixture against Kwara Utd. There have been uncertainties over salaries, allowances and sign-on fees. Some players have not even negotiated with the club regarding sign-on fees and other welfare packages.
“I thought the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, should have called the sports officials to order. Delta State deserves a true professional football club, not one whose officials would resort to blame game after subjecting players and officials to four days road trip to and from Maiduguri for their Week 5 encounter with El Kanemi Warriors. The players are poorly fed and this should be tackled immediately.
“My appeal to the Delta State government and the sports officials is to encourage Coach Napoleon Aluma to continue with the good work he has begun. He has a track record of producing male and female football stars, including my humble self.
“Warri Wolves would be greater if the present rapport between coaches and players is not jettisoned by muscle-flexing officials. The officials should source for funds and radically improve the welfare of the players and the technical crew. Instead of constant threats, there should be love and general team spirit.
“I saw the highlights of the team’s loss to Shooting Stars; Wolves were unlucky not to scored the much needed goals. Perhaps, it was due to fatigue after the Maiduguri road trip. But they are bound to do better under their trusted coach, Napoleon Aluma. The current situation calls for sobre reflection rather than pressure”, Avre-Odeli said,
as she recalled her Super Falcons’ experience when the squad canceled a three-goal deficit to at the FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter in the United States of America in 2009.
