According to a Premium Times report, Henry Galliano,
an American football agent, was physically assaulted by
assistant coach of Nigeria’s U-17 team, Emmanuel
Amuneke, at the Rockview Hotel in Owerri.
The story claims that the incident occurred, because
of Kelechi Iheanacho’s decision to pick Galliano as his
agent, instead of the one recommended by Amuneke.
Iheanacho, who was voted the best player at the just
concluded U-17 World Cup in UAE, has been
attracting interest from top European clubs and it is
understood that he signed an agent deal with
Galliano. A copy of this agreement was sent to the
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on October 21.
Recalling the incident, Galliano and his Nigerian
partner, Solomon Oluwaseun, said: “The coach invited
us, we went to see him and he started threatening
Kelechi that he should follow him to Abuja to sign
with his agent who is working with a Nasiru Jubril, a
staff of the NFF; or else Nasiru, the man in charge
of the ITC (International Transfer Certificate), will not
release kelechi’s ITC to him and they will both make
sure that he is banned from Nigeria football; also he
will not get a good club.
“When the agent tried to talk back, the coach
slapped him and beat him up in the presence of over
25 people,” Solomon said.
Galliano, on his parted said: “I
came here to take Kelechi to his
club. FC Porto and Manchester City are interested in
him but Manchester City has a better package. This
was our discussion and conclusion when Mr. Amuneke
sent for me, and asked me to go back to my cousin.
“He called me names, beat me up and embarrassed
me, he said it’s impossible to just take his players,”
Galliano, who also accused Amuneke of making racist
comments, said.
Galliano also revealed that Keshi threatened Iheanacho
and ordered him to follow him to Abuja.
“Kelechi is nowhere to be found, he started crying
after the threat made against him, the small boy is
afraid and I hope he will not lose hope,” he said.
“Amuneke said he will delay his ITC and deal with him,
he called vulgar words, cursing the boys and the
players.”
Iheanacho’s phone could not be contacted and his
father refused to comment on the situation. Amuneke
however confirmed that he indeed slapped Galliano, but
denied involvement in Iheanacho’s possible transfer.
“Yes, of course I slapped him very well and I will do it
again whenever I see him,” Amuneke said.
“He is an idiot, useless white man, he wants to come
and reap where he didn’t sow.
“Kelechi is a nobody; yes, I said we helped him into
the team, made him, moulded him into what he is
today, he shouldn’t allow anybody to fool him.”
When asked about his role in the Iheanacho and
other players’ transfer business, he replied: “I care so
much for my players, I am a coach.”
“I’m not an agent but I just look out for the boys.
He wants to come and sign a player just like that,
he’s an idiot, I will not allow him.
“Because the boy’s parents are poor and illiterate, he
wants to use them.
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