21 March 2011
There are two types of coaches those who have been sacked and those who will soon be sacked.
Several coaches have already been shown the door by the first round of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Erasmus Onuh (Bukola Babes), Kennedy Okogba (Ocean Boys), Tunde Abdulrahman (JUTH), Ladan Bosso (Niger Tornadoes), Emmanuel Osigwe (Heartland) and Ndubuisi Nduka (Plateau United).
MTNFootball.com now lists the top five coaches most likely to get the chop as the league hots up in the second round.
5. Fatai Amoo (Shooting Stars)
The former Eagles assistant coach is first to admit that his team were the biggest underachievers of the first round of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).
They lie in 14th place, only four points from the drop zone, despite an improved financial assistance from owners, Oyo State government.
Amoo is also realistic to tell MTNFootball.com that the job is about hiring and firing.
I agree we have not met expectations as the results have not been coming, but at the same time we are trying to build a new team, argued Amoo.
Im ready for whatever outcome because this job is all about hiring and firing.
But I also trust my management because they know we are heading in the right direction, all the hard work is beginning to manifest positively and the fans should just be patient.
4. John Zaki (Lobi Stars)
With vice-chairman and former international Dominic Iorfa breathing down coaches, the coaching post at Lobi Stars is easily one of the most unstable in the league.
Former schoolboy international John Zaki is supposedly been calling the shots at his hometown club, who are within the top 10 clubs in the first round, but face a more difficult second round that could see them slip down the relegation pack, if their cash problems persist.
The consequence would be Zaki having to look for another job elsewhere
3. Bernard Ogbe (Gombe United)
The experienced former Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba coach may have eaten more than he could chew as his Gombe United are looking more and more ordinary with every kick of the ball.
When the Desert Scorpions insist on veterans like Bala Manu, who should be knocking the 40s, and Alhaji Kwaranga, very little should be expected of them.
Relegation will certainly sound the death kneel for Ogbe.
2. Garba Gusau (Zamfara United)
Zamfara United have managed to hang on to top flight action for several seasons now despite having a shoestring budget.
However, it is looking increasingly likely that their luck will not hold out this term and they will slump to the lower tier finally.
This would mean that coach Garba Gusau will be made one of the scapegoats for this demotion.
1. Larry Eceli (Ocean Boys)
The little known Ocean Boys coach is top favourite to be sacked in the second round of the season after he was placed on half salary following his teams thrashing at Heartland on the second to the last game of the first stanza.
His team, champions only five years ago, will barely squeeze past an unlucky 3SC on the final day of the first round as the sword of Damocles hangs over him.
