Uyo, Aug. 31, 2016 – Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Imama Amapakabo has denied a report in the media that he was asked out of the team’s camp in Uyo by Franco-German Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.
The Enugu Rangers FC head coach was part of the team’s first training session in the Akwa Ibom State capital on Tuesday evening before leaving for Enugu on Wednesday morning to take charge of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ in a rescheduled NPFL match. But a report stated that he had been shoved out of the team by former Paris Saint Germain FC defender Rohr.
“There is no truth in the report that I was told to leave the camp. On Tuesday, the Technical Adviser (Gernot Rohr) arrived camp and held a first meeting with everyone in camp, in a wonderful atmosphere.
“He preached team spirit and insisted each and every person in camp is important. After the day’s training, I went to meet him for permission to travel to Enugu and lead my team against MFM FC in a rescheduled NPFL match on Wednesday. He saw the need for me to be there and wished me good luck. The TA (technical adviser) also told me that it was important I returned to camp immediately after the match.”
Rohr, who had earlier declared his readiness to work with Nigerian indigenous coaches in order to leave a useful and positive legacy at the expiration of his contract, corroborated Amapakabo’s statement.
“I never dismissed him. Rather, I was excited that we have a member of the technical crew doing so well with his club and I have heard many people say Rangers have a good chance of winning the League, and I know it is a great club with a great tradition. He (Amapakabo) told me it was important for him to go as three points from there would see his team topping the table, with few matches left in the season. You can only encourage such a person.”
Team official Dayo Enebi Achor confirmed thenff.com that former Nigeria junior international Amapakabo is being expected back at the team’s Le Meridien Hotel in Uyo on Thursday morning.
