Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Sani Lulu Abdullahi has commended Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi for qualifying his team for the next edition of the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa.
He however declined to offer tips on what the Eagles should do to excel at the competition. The ex-Glass House chief argued that although he was competent to speak or render advice on the matter, he would not do so because of national interest.
Lulu said: “You know that I have a court case pending in the court bothering on national interest; I have written an open letter to Mr. President and patiently waiting for his response, so, I don’t think I can render any advice whatsoever now, until those issues are finally cleared up.”
The former FCT Director of Sports, who spoke in Gwagwalada Abuja at the weekend where he came to watch his pet team FOSLA Academy forced to a 1-1 draw by the Gwagwalada Youth Academy, said the problem with youth football development in the country has been lack of proper documentation of the players, thereby leading to age falsification.
“What I saw while in office was that there is no control and documentation of players in various Academies in the country.
“What we have done at FOSLA Academy is collect the background information of the players through their birth cerficates, and information retrieved from their parents and their various primary schools. I believe before they finish their secondary education and get to the tertiary level, these boys would have attained the international standard.
“The greatest challenge we would have would be to have the support of the various authorities that are to manage and supervise the boys at that level.”
Lulu said he was motivated into starting the project to ensure that he gave back to society what the society gave him. “I am a citizen of Nigeria and the society has been good to me; and I have realised that. So I feel this is the time for me pay back, and that is exactly what I am doing.
“It is born of the experiences which I have acquired all over the world, and I think the best I have to do is to go back to the grassroots, which is exactly what I am doing. I have seen that it is very problematic to nurture these youths, but I want to continue to give my best to get them to world standard. I have a lot of time now to work with them and fine tune it.
“I am happy that the boys are on the right track and I am sure the future will be better. My dream is to make some of these boys not just the best in Nigeria, but the world. I think with the support of Nigerians, less privileged Nigerians will surely smile.
“As I said, I grew through the grassroots; I have seen it all because I am a product of this level, having played actively, and rendered services as a public servant. I have been so exposed to give my service as communal service, I feel that the option is to get to the grassroots. This programme started over twenty years ago,” he concluded.
The match was a curtain raiser match for the finals of the Gwagwalada League which was won by Real Marshal FC by five goals to three over Babayaro FC.
