Learn From Nigeria Football Federation - Rohr Urges Benin Republic FA

Learn From Nigeria Football Federation - Rohr Urges Benin Republic FA

 Sampson Adedeji

Benin national team coach, Gernot Rohr, has called on the Benin Football Federation to adopt better travel arrangements for away games, similar to the system used by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

During a meeting with Federation President Mathurin De Chacus, the Franco-German coach highlighted how poor travel logistics affected their recent match against South Africa.

"Some players had to buy their own tickets because the original ones were not validated," Rohr revealed. "Players like Yohan Roche and Andrea Hatoundji had to cover their own costs, while others only received their tickets 24 hours before departure, with some arriving at the very last minute."

He stressed the importance of proper travel planning, especially for crucial World Cup qualifiers.

"We have serious issues organizing travel. When I was with Nigeria, we had good conditions for traveling, and that already made a big difference."

Rohr also shared his personal experience, stating that despite having a contract stipulating premium-class travel, he and the team endured long and uncomfortable journeys.

"We traveled for 24 hours across Africa in economy class, even though my contract specified premium, which was not respected. But it doesn’t matter—I’m 1.76m tall and can fit into a small seat; that’s not the issue," he said.

However, he lamented the toll such grueling travel schedules take on the players.

"Traveling for 26 hours, with a four-hour layover in Addis Ababa and another 6.5-hour wait in Johannesburg before a flight to Durban, is simply not sustainable," Rohr concluded.

His remarks served as a call for the Benin Football Federation to make urgent improvements to ensure smoother travel arrangements for the team.