Super Eagles Job: Eriksson Lied, Name NFF Officials That Demanded Bribe From You- Uchegbulam

Super Eagles Job: Eriksson Lied, Name NFF Officials That Demanded Bribe From You- Uchegbulam 

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

Amanze Uchegbulam, a former 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation has insisted that there isn't any iota of truth in the book of former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson where he quoted that the NFF in 2010, demanded half of his salary before he would be given the Super Eagles job to the World Cup in South Africa, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

Reacting to this trending allegation, Uchegbulam, Chairman Imo State Football Association said: "It is very important I put things in proper perspective. I was the first vice president then. Because we had a chequered journey to qualifications for the 2010 World Cup, President Goodluck Jonathan's government set up a Presidential Task Force with then Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman. other members included Segun Odegbami, John Fashanu, and Austin Okocha, among others while Patrick Ekeji was the Secretary.

"Some of us resisted the interference which landed us in trouble. Our Executive Committee decided to settle for late Amodu who qualified us for the World Cup, but the Government never wanted that. The PTF interviewed some foreign coaches and later settled for Lasse Lagerbäck who took the Super Eagles to South Africa.

"The outcome is now history. Lulu's Board never wanted a foreign coach and consequently, didn't interview anybody. I am sure Eriksson may be referring to the PTF led by Rotimi Amaechi not the NFF Board then. We didn't interview any foreign coach and there is nowhere anyone on the Board could have interacted with him. 

Uchegbulam further challenged the Coach to name those that requested him. 

The Swedish football coach said his inability to play balls with the football authorities deprived him of the opportunity of leading the Nigeria team to the first World Cup on African soil – South Africa. He wrote in his book titled 'My Story'.