The German Bundesliga, that most businesslike of European top flights, is ready to bring the curtain down on another gruelling campaign. But do not le...
The German Bundesliga, that most businesslike of European top flights, is ready to bring the curtain down on another gruelling campaign. But do not let the finality of the season fool you. For some of the league's most celebrated dugout occupants, the journey may already be over. As the penultimate weekend of fixtures came and went, the results on the pitch spoke louder than any official communiqué from the powers that be. The writing, as they say, is on the wall for a handful of coaches whose sides failed to give a good account of themselves when it mattered most. At the BayArena, the situation surrounding Bayer Leverkusen. �s coach Kasper Hjulmand has become untenable. For weeks, there has been considerable doubt as to whether the Danish tactician would continue in his role next season. Now, following a performance that lacked the usual bite and clinical edge that the club. �s hierarchy demands, that doubt has evaporated into cold certainty. The lion. �s share of the blame for a disappointing campaign that has seen the club tumble out of Champions League contention has been placed squarely on his shoulders. The Nigerian international Victor Boniface, who has been a formidable presence in the final third when fit, could only watch as his teammates struggled for rhythm. The club. �s directors will not wait for the final whistle of the season to make their decision. In the scheme of things, a fresh start is required in the dugout before the summer transfer window swings open. Meanwhile, down in Frankfurt, Eintracht Frankfurt. �s own coaching situation remains equally precarious. A nervy final day awaits the club, with their manager walking a tightrope with every misplaced pass from his defenders. The faithful at Deutsche Bank Park have grown restless, seeing their team fall short of the consistent standards required to challenge for European spots. The club. �s summer planning is now held in abeyance, hanging on the outcome of that last match. Should they slip, the manager. �s fate will be sealed. At the end of the day, the Bundesliga is a league of high stakes and even higher accountability, and no coach is allowed to hide behind the shirt. Back in Lagos and Abuja, the conversation at the viewing centres will be animated. As patrons sip their cold bottles of malt and soft drinks, they will shake their heads in understanding. Our own local football aficionados know all too well the impatience of club owners who demand instant results. They will nod in agreement with the German model, arguing that a coach who fails to improve his squad week after week must be shown the door. And they will spare a thought for Boniface, praying that Leverkusen. �s next appointment brings out the very best of the Super Eagles striker, so that he can continue to fly the Nigerian flag high in Europe. �s top leagues without the disruption of constant managerial changes."
