Confusion reigned yesterday over the true position of Super Eagles coach Berti Vogts as to whether he had resigned or was still Nigeria’s national football handler.
While a very popular football website reported that he had thrown in the towel apparently fed up with the antics of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), the Glass House vehemently denied that the German had taken any such action.
But according to KICK OFF Vogts lawyers, the firm of Brehms and v. Moers of Germany, had written to the NFA since May 25 informing them of the coach’s decision to end his contract and requesting that the NFA either pay up Berti's compensation - which, as KICK OFF disclosed exclusively in March, could be in the region of around $1.2 million - or renegotiate new contract terms.
Wary about the poor reputation of the NFA, Berti's lawyers had drawn up a water-tight contract containing get-out clauses to ensure his protection from the NFA's now notorious inefficiency.
Included in the contract was the provision that Berti's $50 000 wages must be paid on or before the 21st of every month. After the initial three months wages ran out in April, Vogts next payment - on a monthly basis - was due to come in on May 21.
It did not arrive, and a termination clause was triggered.
This means that the NFA would have to renegotiate a new contract or pay him compensation, which implies paying him off for the remainder of his contract at full monthly value.
The German has however, decided to take the high road and offered the NFA a chance to renegotiate, but with all the speed bumps intact. So far, there has been no response from the NFA.
It was learnt that according to the protocol established for paying the German, the NFA were expected to initiate the process by writing to sponsors Globacom. On receipt of the communication, Globacom would then begin processing the payment, a procedure that could take anything up to 10 days.
However, it took continuous pressure and reminders from Berti's camp before the letter finally arrived at Globacom, on May 24, three days after he was due to be paid!
But competent sources in Germany informed that the coach's ire was drawn more by how the NFA's dilly-dallying on his tax clearance which almost got him into trouble with the German tax authorities.
In effecting Vogts' three months salary, the NFA had deducted 25% of the sum at source as tax, which they claimed to have paid to the Nigeria tax authorities. Berti then requested for the tax clearance papers in order to file with the German authorities.
For three months, the German did not see the tax papers, and with German tax officials breathing down his neck and threatening him with prosecution and jail time for tax evasion, the former Scotland coach lost his patience and threatened not to come for the Uganda game.
It took the intervention of a very top NSC official, who flew down clandestinely to Germany to deliver, not the tax papers, but the cash with which Vogts paid his tax directly to the Germans.
Consequently, the German had threatened to stay away from both the Kenya and Uganda games but in the letter from Vogts' lawyers, signed by Stefan v Moers, the German made it clear that he would honour the fixtures as a sign of good faith, while requesting the NFA to process his payment, tax inclusive pending the contract renegotiation.
Throughout the stay in Kenya and Kampala, the relationship between the coach and his employers was strained, with the German complaining to the international press about the shoddy organisation of the NFA.
But FA spokesman Ademola Olajire insisted that the report was wrong stressing that the coach was yet to formally submit a letter of resignation to the Glass House.
“Until we receive such a letter Vogts’ purported resignation is just a rumour and we intend to treat it as such,” said Olajire.
THISDAYSports was made to understand that Vogts had in fact been in touch with the Secretariat informing them that he would be arriving the country on Sunday to commence preparations for Nigeria’s next Ghana 2008 tie against Niger.
And in a related development the NFA yesterday said it has summoned a meeting of its board to deliberate on the behaviour of Vogts during the match against Uganda in Kampala.
The borne of contention is the alleged shunning of a dinner party put together by Nigerian embassy for the Super Eagles by the coach and some of the players after the ill-fated match in Kampala.
Speaking on the development Olajire said the country had fulfilled its obligations to the coach, having paid all his entitlements in due measure and therefore saw no reason for such an action.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=80161Na wa oh.Vogts na thief.We better have Equaveon n Keshi coach d national team.I do not think Vogts is d man.Y didnt we hire Carlos?D guy is doing good in South Africa.
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