June 29, (THEWILL) – Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, celebrated his 70th birthday recently and took time to reminisce about a remarkable incident he encountered while managing the Nigerian national team.
Rohr, who had an extensive playing career and later transitioned into coaching, took charge of Nigeria’s team in 2016 after serving as the Technical Director for several national teams in Africa. His five-year tenure with the Super Eagles included memorable achievements such as securing early qualification for the 2018 World Cup and guiding the team to a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The intriguing incident he recalled involved the Nigerian Minister of Sports, who unexpectedly, attended one of the team’s training sessions accompanied by a group of journalists. In order to avoid potential consequences, Rohr and his team swiftly organised a ball-playing session to accommodate the Minister’s desire to participate.
Reflecting on the incident, Rohr recalled his surprise at the Minister’s unexpected appearance and the subsequent pressure to let him join the training session. He narrated: “Two years ago, in Nigeria, suddenly, the Minister of Sports showed up at the training with 40 or 50 journalists and wanted to participate. I was perplexed. My assistant told me that we had to let him participate otherwise, we would all be sacked the next day. Without further ado, we organised a rondo for him, and everything went well.”
Rohr’s achievements with the Super Eagles aside, his tenure ended in 2021, just on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. He has since taken charge of the Benin national team, embarking on a new chapter in his illustrious coaching career.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
