Benin national team coach, Gernot Rohr, has pulled back the curtain on the chaotic travel arrangements the team faces and is calling for drastic improvements.
In a direct appeal to the Benin Football Federation (FBF), Rohr revealed how poor travel logistics hampered their recent match against South Africa, urging the federation to adopt a more efficient system, similar to the one used by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
During a crucial meeting with FBF President Mathurin De Chacus, Rohr detailed the struggles the team encountered as some players were forced to buy their own tickets due to issues with validation.
Players like Yohan Roche and Andrea Hatoundji covered their own costs, while others received their tickets at the last minute, causing some to arrive only moments before the match.
“We had serious issues organizing travel. When I was with Nigeria, we had much better conditions, and it made a huge difference,” Rohr said, highlighting how Nigeria’s travel system sets a high bar for others in Africa.
Gernot Rohr. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Rohr didn’t stop there he shared his own frustration with the travel conditions. Despite his contract specifying premium-class travel, he and the team endured grueling 24-hour journeys across Africa in economy class.
“It’s not the issue of seat space for me; it’s about the toll it takes on the players,” he explained.
He further emphasized the unsustainable nature of the team’s travel arrangements, citing a brutal 26-hour journey, including long layovers in Addis Ababa and Johannesburg, before arriving in Durban.
“It’s just not sustainable. This kind of travel is detrimental to our players’ performance.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
Rohr’s remarks serve as a bold call to action for the Benin Football Federation to overhaul their travel systems, making necessary improvements to ensure smoother, more efficient travel for the team, especially as they look ahead to critical World Cup qualifiers.
