Fans bay for coach's blood
2008-09-04 12:23
Port Elizabeth - Angry Nigeria supporters were baying for Super Eagles coach Shaibu Amodu's blood when they were refused entry to watch their stars train at the Westbourne Oval here on Thursday.
The Nigerian players are preparing to play Bafana Bafana in their penultimate 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier at the ERPU Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.
Some 100 Nigerians arrived at the Super Eagles training ground only to be locked out. The South African Police Services were on hand to control the mob when tempers flared and matters turned ugly.
A fight broke out among the Nigerians when two women started beating each other. But the SAPS were quickly on the scene and defused what could have been an ugly incident.
However, the angry mob starting screaming for Amodu and demanding to speak to their players saying: "They are our players and it is our right to speak to them." It was not clear what Amodu a former Orlando Pirates coach had done to anger his fans in PE.
Qualifying
Nigerian Football Association team spokesperson Idah Peterside said the training session was closed to everyone expect photographers. Peterside, did however, take the time to answer questions in place of Amodu.
He ridiculed rumours that Nigeria would lie down to Bafana as Nigeria had already won the group and Bafana had to collect three points to keep their slender hopes of qualifying for the next round qualifying round for the 2010 showpiece in Angola alive.
Nigeria will not be doing Bafana any favours and said Peterside: "We have heard these stories that originate in Nigeria that we are going to give the game to Bafana. Never. They are just stories and absolute nonsense. There is prestige here for us and a history between the two sides.
"The coach met with the team earlier this week to thrash out this issue and told the players he would only be satisfied with a win. He is not even prepared to accept a draw. We are here to secure our fifth successive win in the group, nothing less, so SA fans can forget about us even thinking about taking it easy."
- SAPA