Clemens Westerhof.

I loved this man so much. I used to go to war on his behalf.

After I finally got to interview him in 2009 I could have just quit. At the end, I said "Thank you, Clemens". He replied "No, thank you, nobody has asked me some of the questions you asked me".

I remember him cos of that DG being on the pitch with the Super Eagles. Dehm, Clemens never joked with his squad. He dragged the Super Eagles management and helped change the way his players were camped and treated. "These are Nigeria's best so you must give them the best".

October 8th 1993, Algiers, Algeria. The Super Eagles needed a point to make the US '94 World Cup. 2 weeks earlier in Lagos, CIV had been battered 4-1 to set up with this first WC appearance chance.
The man in charge of Sports then was Alex Akinyele. He was given the winning

Allowance for the players and coaches in $$ Cash. Was instructed by Aikhomu to pay the players as soon as qualification was done. What Chief did not know was that Westerhof was informed of this too.
Westerhof used this info to "motivate" his players in pre match talk - as usual

In the game, Finidi George lashes home a deflected Amuneke cross to give Nigeria the lead. A lead they took into the half time break. It was at this break that drama happened.
Akinyele left his plush VIP seat to enter the dressing room. Got there and was telling off the players

Saying they were not playing well bla bla facking bla. Smh. Until that day no Nigeria Green/Super Eagles side had ever led Algeria in Algeria at half time. Westerhof was not having it. He shouted down the Chief and ordered him out of his dressing room "I was so angry" he said

"I called him a thief and told him to make sure he has the boys' money for qualification".

Team went out and held out for the point that got Nigeria her first taste of the FIFA World Cup. Of course, Chief did not take the money to Algeria but no one really cared at the time.

Fast forward early '94 and Super Eagles had a friendly with Ghana before departing for Faro for pre AFCON '94 camp. We were all waiting at the stadium yet the players did not come out. They were asking for that money from October '93. Match was delayed for over an hour.

A surety was given before the goalless draw match was played in Lagos.

Westerhof never suffered foolish political class gladly. Not for him would you have a non technical/playing staff on his bench as Toro did with Jo a few years later.