Sports / Soccer
Namibia national team coach quits ahead of Nigeria match
11 Jun 2013 at 10:16hrs | Views
Roger Palmgren has quit as Namibia coach ahead of Nigeria match claiming that he and his family had received death threats.
Super Eagles of Nigeria who beat Kenya 1-0 in Nairobi last Wednesday had barely spent 72 hours in the Southern African country when the Swede resigned to the surprise of the Namibians.
The head of the Namibia Football Association John Muinjo told Reuters that there was no prior complaint from the coach before he quit.
"The president of Namibia Football Association John Muinjo hereby announces the resignation of the Brave Warriors' head coach Roger Palmgren who tendered his resignation with immediate effect this weekend due to serious threats directed towards him and his family, as stated in his resignation letter," the NFA said in a statement.
Palmgren was unveiled as coach on May 2 and led the team to two 0-0 draws, in a friendly against Zambia and a World Cup qualifier in Malawi last week.
Namibia face Nigeria in Windhoek in the qualifier on Wednesday, with former Namibia midfielder Ricardo Mannetti placed in temporary charge of the side. Both sides need to win the game. While Nigeria need it to consolidate group leadership, the Namibians need the full points for a realistic chase of the group ticket to the final round. Namibia trail Nigeria by four points with two rounds of matches left.
Mannetti will be assisted by Ronnie Kanalelo for the Nigeria game.
Meanwhile, in England, Chelsea returnee manager Jose Mourinho has said Mikel Obi and the other old players from his first stint will not get any special treatment. Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Mikel all played under Mourinho in his first stint at Stamford Bridge but the Portuguese said on Monday none of them would be granted special treatment.
He said, "It's important to tell you, not them because they know, there's no privileges for them," said the manager. "They know my nature; they don't have an advantage in relation to the others.
"We have ambitions to add a couple of new players to improve the squad, increase the competitiveness, but my biggest job at the moment is the all-round improvement of the squad.
"Chelsea have done very well to get some young boys in with great potential, with great ability, with great futures, and I look forward to trying to improve them."
Super Eagles of Nigeria who beat Kenya 1-0 in Nairobi last Wednesday had barely spent 72 hours in the Southern African country when the Swede resigned to the surprise of the Namibians.
The head of the Namibia Football Association John Muinjo told Reuters that there was no prior complaint from the coach before he quit.
"The president of Namibia Football Association John Muinjo hereby announces the resignation of the Brave Warriors' head coach Roger Palmgren who tendered his resignation with immediate effect this weekend due to serious threats directed towards him and his family, as stated in his resignation letter," the NFA said in a statement.
Palmgren was unveiled as coach on May 2 and led the team to two 0-0 draws, in a friendly against Zambia and a World Cup qualifier in Malawi last week.
Mannetti will be assisted by Ronnie Kanalelo for the Nigeria game.
Meanwhile, in England, Chelsea returnee manager Jose Mourinho has said Mikel Obi and the other old players from his first stint will not get any special treatment. Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Mikel all played under Mourinho in his first stint at Stamford Bridge but the Portuguese said on Monday none of them would be granted special treatment.
He said, "It's important to tell you, not them because they know, there's no privileges for them," said the manager. "They know my nature; they don't have an advantage in relation to the others.
"We have ambitions to add a couple of new players to improve the squad, increase the competitiveness, but my biggest job at the moment is the all-round improvement of the squad.
"Chelsea have done very well to get some young boys in with great potential, with great ability, with great futures, and I look forward to trying to improve them."
Source - Punch
