Former Super Eagles’ winger, Dimeji Lawal has said that it is not fair for soccer lovers in the country to be pushing that the contract of the coach of the national team, Jose Peseiro should not be renewed.
He also urged the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF to take caution on the case of the coach following Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday night because it would not promote the nation’s football.
Speaking with our sister publication, ParrotXtra in Ibadan, Lawal, who is currently the General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC said Nigerians should keep faith with the Portuguese gaffer and retain him for the nation’s football to grow.
“How can we be bent on not retaining Peseiro after our feat at the just concluded Africa Nations Cup? It is not fair and it will not be good for the growth of our football.
“Out of the 32 nations that featured in the tournament, we came second and what we are now thinking of is to dump our coach. I believe that will look like an act of ingratitude,” Lawal said.
Speaking further, Lawal, popularly called Kabongo by his admirers, said “in the game of football or any game for that matter, you win some, you will lose some and the country can easily built on the success of the second place the country achieved at the Nations’ Cup to build a formidable team with their handlers rather than dumping the coach.
“Instead of dumping Peseiro, NFF should retain him to work on the formation of a stronger team to help in the country’s qualification for 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2025 African Nations Cup,” he said.
Lawal, also used the opportunity to thank all family members, friends, colleagues who commiserated with him when his father, Pa Olanrewaju Atanda Lawal died on the 20th of January this year.
“I thank His Excellency, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde, top government officials, the management of Shooting Stars Sports Club, our players, our friends from far and near, I am very appreciative.”
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
