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By: Abiodun Adewale.
Bendel Insurance coach Monday Odigie has come under fire for his aggressive reaction during the post-match interview of their 2-2 draw against RS Berkane in the first leg, second round CAF Confederation Cup preliminary game on Saturday in Benin, The PUNCH reports.
The Federation Cup champions led twice through Osarenkhoe Imade and Vincent Augustus, but the Benin Arsenal were let down by some defensive lapses, which allowed the 2021 champions return to Morocco with the massive away-goal advantage.
The result was pretty hard for Odigie to take as he rubbed his frustration on the faces of journalists during the post-match presser by querying their tactical ingenuity.
Several stakeholders said Odigie’s attitude was not new to them, having been exhibiting such in the past.
“Odigie has been like that since his NNL days. He has a history of such attitude towards his players, backroom staff and media. He should check his attitude,” Tobi Adepoju, an NPFL follower, said.
A journalist, Mike Osareme, added, “It’s fine to show frustration at the result but never okay to reply to journalists as if you pay their wages. I engaged more than seven players from his squad and the reply from them wasn’t great, even in terms of training. Is that a show of passion to your players too?”
Another journalist, Godwin Antai, also recalled his unguarded mixed zone attitude during an NNL Super 8 tournament.
“I’m not surprised about the coach,” Antai said. “I remember interviewing him at the NNL Super 8 in Enugu. I ended the interview abruptly and I’m not mincing words.”
Since leading Insurance in the NPFL last season, Odigie has also been notable for his behavior in the topflight.
“In Ikenne during the Dozy Mmobuosi Super 4, I was moderating the interview and told him he needs to say his name but he charged back asking if they’d ask Guardiola to introduce himself. I cringed,” NPFL media consultant, Harry Iwuala, said.
“For context, the request wasn’t because they don’t know him, but a format journalists adopt in recording interviews to segment different guests but he thought they considered him an unknown coach. He threatened to walk out but I persuaded him and he said it was because of me.”
A fan Moshood Hassan noted, “This is unprofessional from the coach. Journalists are not there to only ask the questions you want to hear; they will ask you provocative questions too. It’s your ability to be emotionally aware and understand how to respond that stands you out. This bad PR won’t help him.”
Bendel Insurance have a mountain to climb in the second leg next Saturday, as they must either beat Berkane in regulation time or record a draw higher than 2-2 to advance into the group stages. A goalless draw or defeat will see Odigie’s men knocked out.
