Erstwhile Akwa United coach John Obuh says administrators of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs do not respect the contract terms of the coaches.
The former Rangers handler left his role at Akwa United in December after overseeing just 8 matches, with The Promise Keepers placed 16th on the league table and two points above the drop zone at the time.
The ex-Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets coach had previously worked with defunct Sharks and Kwara United in the NPFL.
The 60-year-old Obuh stated that it is almost impossible for coaches to be paid their financial entitlements following the termination of their contracts, as the Club Owners would not abide by the terms of their engagement.
“The truth about the whole thing is that our administrators don’t respect contracts, and most times, it is the same administrators that are managing our football,” Obuh said in a radio interview in Enugu.
“And when you try to make case, you know we cannot go to [an] ordinary court, and whatever you are going to do, definitely you are going to pass through them to do it.”
Obuh added that coaches who seek redress at higher football authorities outside the jurisdiction of Nigerian administrators are usually ‘blacklisted’.
“The one that did not pass through them, even if you get victory, maybe you pass through FIFA and you get victory, you’ll be blacklisted. Most times you find out that so many of our coaches who fought for their money will end up not getting another contract from another team because the caucus that are managing football are the same.
“It is not about contracts, I know how many clubs that I signed a very good contract (with) and they did not complete paying me. And by the time you really want to follow it up as a case, just be rest assured that you might not able to have another contract because most of these managers are the same all over.”
