FIFA-licensed agent and sports activities analyst Babajimi Ogunlana, popularly generally known as Jimmy Carto, has brazenly questioned the reported demand by Tremendous Eagles head coach Eric Chelle for a large wage improve in ongoing contract discussions with the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF).
Babajimi Ogunlana was reacting to experiences that Chelle is searching for a rise in his month-to-month wage from $50,000 to $130,000 — a 160 per cent bounce.
Whereas admitting that some points of the coach’s calls for fall inside acceptable international requirements, Ogunlana burdened that others elevate severe issues about proportionality and accountability.
“Let’s be clear: a furnished workplace, web entry, correct gear, tenting applications, scouting journey and non-interference in staff choice should not luxuries,” Babajimi mentioned.
“These are fundamentals. In the event that they weren’t already embedded within the contract, then that’s an institutional downside.”
Nonetheless, he was crucial of the lifestyle-related requests allegedly included within the negotiations.
“A personal SUV with chauffeur and safety in Nigeria’s present financial actuality raises questions,” he said.
“Safety is comprehensible, however are we working a nationwide staff or a presidential convoy?”
Ogunlana additionally questioned the reported provision of business-class flight tickets for Chelle’s spouse and kids, warning towards shifting the main focus from soccer improvement to non-public consolation.
“Is that this a soccer undertaking or a household relocation programme?” he requested.
“Many Nigerian coaches have served this nation with out flying prolonged household enterprise class throughout continents. Why ought to taxpayers carry that burden?”
On efficiency, Ogunlana argued that the monetary demand doesn’t align with outcomes delivered on the pitch.
Whereas acknowledging Chelle’s Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal with the Tremendous Eagles, he insisted it doesn’t justify such a steep improve.
“Respectfully, you received bronze — not gold, not the AFCON title, not a World Cup semi-final,” Ogunlana mentioned. “The place is the efficiency delta that justifies a 160 per cent valuation improve?”
He additional cited the staff’s poor exhibiting on the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as a part of the efficiency evaluation.
“If we’re benchmarking, let’s benchmark correctly,” he added. “Coaches who delivered silver, gold, even historic AFCON triumphs — did they earn $130,000 month-to-month?”
Ogunlana additionally raised issues concerning the reported demand for the NFF to concern contracts to Chelle’s backroom employees, warning of potential authorized and monetary ambiguity.
“If they’re your chosen technical crew and your wage consists of them, then you definitely contract them,” he mentioned. “If the NFF is paying them, then the NFF negotiates the construction. It can’t be each.”
He equally questioned the inclusion of a private assistant within the nationwide staff bonus pool.
“With respect, why is a private assistant a part of a nationwide staff bonus construction?”
