Government threatens to sack Niger Tornadoes management, technical crew over team’s dismal performance

The Niger Government on Monday in Minna handed down to the management and technical crew of the state-owned football club, Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna, a win-or-get-busted order.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2017 Aiteo Cup national competition runners-up are currently taking part in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League.
Mohammed Gana, the Permanent Secretary at the state’s Ministry of Sports, said in a statement that the state government has asked the club to win their next five NPFL matches.
He said government would view failure to win the next five matches as a grave offence and it would result in an outright change of the club’s management and technical crew.
Gana said the Sports Ministry was worried about the dismal performance of the club in the ongoing abridged 2018/2019 league season which began on January 13.
He said: “The ministry has viewed with dismay the dismal performance of the club from week one of the league, to the extent that of the four matches played three were drawn and one lost.
“This is detrimental to the fortunes of the club and to Nigerlites in general.
“In this regard the management of the ministry is issuing a stern order to the club’s management and technical crew.
“Henceforth, from this week’s match up to the next five matches, we want to see the club (move) up the league table as any loss may result to outright need for a change.’’
The ministry, through Gana, then urged the club’s supporters to remain resolute and pray for the success of the team “in this trying period’’.
NAN reports that efforts to speak with the club’s Technical Adviser, Bernard Ogbe, and club chairman, Mustapha Gawu, were unsuccessful as they were unavailable and their telephone lines were switched off.
Niger Tornadoes are in the league’s Group A with 11 other clubs and are occupying the third position from the bottom of the table.
After three draws and one loss from four matches, they have scored two goals and conceded three.
They visit Katsina United on Sunday in a Match Day 6 fixture.