Gent Coach Says He Is Not Fighting With Gift Orban

Hein Vanhaezebrouck, the manager of Belgian Pro League club, KAA Gent, has insisted that he is not fighting with Nigerian striker, Gift Orban.

Gift Orban who is seen as Gent’s most promising footballer, was benched for some league games last season and the trend has continued in the 2023-2024 Jupiler Pro League.

The Nigerian international prospect has openly expressed his unhappiness about playing from the bench as he believes he is good enough to start games regularly.

Due to the prolonged period, Orban has been sidelined for no obvious reason, Belgian media are speculating that there could be a fight between the Nigerian star and the coach.

But coach Vanhaezebrouck who also benched Gift Orban throughout their Sunday league game against Mechelen insisted that his style is to rotate players which the Nigerian is a victim of.

The rotation strategy which has made Orban’s future in Belgium uncertain, seems to have affected the 21-year-old Nigerian star more than other elite players at the club.

However, Naija News gathered that Gift Orban who is said to be wanted by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, started the Europa Conference League third qualifying round against Pogoń Szczecin on Wednesday, August 9, and the Nigerian star scored a hat-trick in Gent’s 5-0 win.

Despite his outstanding performance in the game, coach Vanhaezebrouck substituted him in the 89th minute.

“I am not a coach who immediately calls a disgruntled player to order. There is no problem between Orban and me. But in the meantime, everyone knows that I am a coach who rotates when I can rotate”, the coach said.

He added, “Orban is 21, he’s a young guy, and his time will really come. In world football there is sometimes an experienced name who sits on the bench every weekend. I’ve seen internationals smash the dug-out out of frustration.”