NFF, Edo govt owed Amodu about N28m, says Coach Aisien

By Patrick Omorodion

Veteran Edo-born coach, Pa Alabi Aisien has added his voice to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF’s penchant for owing its coaches debunking claims by the federation that it is not owing any coach, dead or living.
The nonagenarian who turns 91 in October this year, while reacting to a question on Channels Television Sunday Sports, said he was aware that the NFF was owing his former protege, Shaibu Amodu before he passed on some years ago.
“I know that the NFF as well as the Edo State government were owing Amodu about N28 million. If they had paid him what they were owing him, maybe he wouldn’t have died”, he said.
He said he is not complaining about the government or the NFF not supporting him medically because “I have very good children who are looking after me now”.
On his advice for football administrators, Pa Aisien who handled Bendel Insurance as well as the Super Eagles at some time said they should upgrade themselves and also be patient with their coaches.
“My advice to those managing our football is that they should upgrade themselves with the new trends in administration,” adding, “they should also be patient with the coaches. They should not be in a hurry to sack a coach because he loses a match. They should allow them learn from their mistakes,” he stressed.
Pa Aisien who said he still watches football matches told the Channels Television interviewers that he was leaving for the stadium to go watch the game between Bendel Insurance and Heartland of Owerri at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Sunday evening. .
“I still watch matches. I watched the match between Bendel Insurance and Akwa United. I was surprised when Akwa United scored a goal by punching the ball with the hand”, Pa Alabi said, adding “how will they justify that kind of goal”.
He commended sports writers for helping him develop on his coaching job while it lasted as well as helping in the development of football in the country.