The General Manager of Barau FC, Dominic Iorfa, has attributed his recent presence on the technical bench to logistical hurdles rather than an encroachment on coaching duties.

In a candid interview session, the former Nigerian international addressed the talking points surrounding his matchday positioning, and his relationship with the technical crew.

According to Iorfa, the decision to sit on the bench was born out of sheer necessity after being locked out of dressing rooms during crucial away fixtures.

“When I initially took charge of Barau FC, I usually watched matches from the stands before proceeding to the dressing room at half-time to interact with the players,” Iorfa explained.

“However, I was denied access to the dressing room on several occasions, particularly during away matches in Jos, Maiduguri, Aba and Owerri.”

He emphasised the tactical importance of half-time communication, noting that observations made from the stands often require immediate relay to the squad.

“Sometimes, while watching a game, you observe certain things that you believe should be communicated to the coach at half-time. You may want to encourage the players, share observations or motivate them to ensure they approach the second half in high spirits. Unfortunately, I was prevented from doing so on several occasions,” he said.

To bypass these restrictions, Iorfa said he took a pragmatic administrative step: “Since then, I have decided to be among the seven registered officials on matchdays. That way, nobody can deny me access to the dressing room when I need to speak with the players.”

Addressing whispers of friction between him and the technical crew, he said he only took charge of the team’s training while the head coach was attending a coaching course in Abuja.

“There is no reason to suggest that there is a rift between us. The speculation may have arisen following reports that I took charge of the team’s training session after our encounter against Rangers International,” Iorfa clarified.

“The truth is that Coach Eugene Agagbe was away attending his CAF A Licence course, and I had to oversee the team’s fitness training in his absence. As General Manager, I believe in doing whatever is necessary to ensure that the team remains in good shape and continues to make progress,” Iorfa noted.

The former Chairman of Lobi Stars of Makurdi said that the extra effort paid off with an encouraging performance against Rivers United where the “Maliya Boys” forced their hosts to a goalless draw.