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Tag: Amaju Pinnick

  • NFF Elections, its implication on football future in Nigeria

    As the 2018 Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ) elections get underway today in Katsina, there is no doubt that it would only pave the way for further drama in the Nigeria football house.

    The unfortunate leadership crisis in Nigerian football that has plagued the football body since 2014 has indeed been a big setback to the country in many ways.

    The Glass House has been occupied at different times by both the Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick factions of the federation’s congress.

    This occupation has, however, been with the aid of men of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services at such times.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that battle for the seat started shortly after Pinnick won a parallel election in Warri in 2014.

    Giwa had dragged the Pinnick-led board to court over forceful takeover of the NFF secretariat following Pinnick’s emergence as president in an election conducted on Sept. 30, 2014.

    The election prevented Giwa, who emerged as NFF president at an earlier election held in Abuja on Aug. 26, 2014, from assuming office.

    The NFF Congress had disregarded the order of a Jos High Court to stay action on the Warri election until the determination of the suit brought before it by Giwa.

    The matter eventually got to the Supreme Court which in April, set aside a 2016 judgment of the Appeal Court on the leadership tussle and sent the matter back to the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, which had earlier mandated Giwa to take over as president.

    As part of the reconciliatory move to resolve the crisis, the Amaju-led faction of the NFF held an Extra-Ordinary General Assembly in Benin City on Aug. 2.

    The Benin congress had, among other issues, directed a review of the NFF election guidelines in a bid to accommodate all aggrieved parties.

    The directive, which was part of the communique issued by the congress at the end of the meeting, also asked all parties to withdraw their court cases.

    The congress also considered lifting the ban on Giwa and members of his faction.

    The NFF Congress had at the assembly suspended the statutory provisions of the 2010 NFF Statutes, NFF Electoral Code 2009 and Guidelines for Elections into the NFF 2018.

    However, Giwa who spoke with NAN through Victor Iroele, his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, said the congress was not only illegal but inconsequential, adding that it was a mere gathering of Pinnick and his friends in Benin City.

    He also rejected Pinnick’s advice to Giwa to withdraw the orders of court recognising him as the NFF president with a view to contesting in a fresh election.

    “What he sees as a compensation is out of place and an outright injustice.

    “A Federal High Court sitting in Jos has declared the elective Congress of 2014 that brought Pinnick as illegal, null, void and of no consequence in law.

    “The court has also, through Justice Haruna Kurya, affirmed that Giwa shall hold office as NFF President pending when the suit before that court will be determined.

    “The same orders have been re-affirmed by the Supreme Court. However, Pinnick continues to parade himself as the NFF president.

    “The plea to reconcile with Giwa has indeed exposed his desperation to remain in office by having the court orders withdrawn,” he said.

    Iroele also said the Benin congress had challenged the court’s competence and jurisdiction, adding that any reconciliatory move was supposed to be at the instance of Giwa and not Pinnick.

    NAN also reports that as a fall out from the Amaju-Pinnick led Extraordinary Congress, the Electoral Committee announced an adjustment of the election time-table from Sept. 30 to Sept. 20.

    Giwa, once again, reacted in a statement in Abuja, saying that his board would have nothing to do with the adjusted 2018 NFF Elective Congress time-table.

    He said that the time-table must be disregarded, as “it has no place in law and was not sanctioned by our legally-recognised board’’.

    He warned those parading themselves as members of the electoral committee to desist from doing so as they were in breach of the laws of the land.

    Giwa told NAN that he would not relinquish his mandate, which was given to him in an earlier election by the NFF congress in Abuja and urged his supporters to be calm as the rule of law runs its course.

    “By the grace of God, we employed patience to go through the judicial system of the land as guaranteed by Article 1.1 of the NFF Statute to reach where we are.

    “Except if the law and the judiciary is no more significant can what happened on Monday be allowed. Evil will not thrive over good.

    “I urge our friends, allies and supporters to remain calm. Truth shall return to the centre stage.

    “What you have seen is like the different scenes in a Nollywood film. All I know is that the rule of law will not lie low against the rule of might and influence peddling,’’ he said.

    Following a FIFA threat however, the Federal Government on Aug. 20, chose to recognise Pinnick and his men as the authentic leadership of the NFF, to avoid the country being expelled by the world football governing body.

    FIFA in turn sent a correspondence confirming the receipt of a letter from the Federal Government as tweeted by Laolu Akande, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

    Sadly enough, the crisis cannot be said to be completely over from all indications as the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, only recently insisted that the forthcoming elections into the NFF board would be in futility if the court order was not obeyed.

    The comments by Dalung was coming shortly after the Federal Government had assured FIFA that all was well with the country’s football and that Amaju Pinnick was recognised as NFF boss which allowed the country escape the FIFA hammer.

    The Chris Giwa-led faction on the other hand staged a meeting in Abuja in spite of the Federal Government’s decision to back Pinnick and go in line with FIFA’s statutes as they await the verdict of the case which was adjourned till Sept. 25.

    With the Sept. 20 elections in Katsina and the effects of the crisis, football lovers, stakeholders and administrators are however eager to see the seemingly intractable crisis rocking the football sector laid to rest.

    Will the elections be the panacea to the crisis? Only time will unravel the facts.
    It is, however, important to be focused on how the country’s football will be in the next four years.

    Pinnick, who is now CAF’s Vice-President and committee member of FIFA, is eyeing a second term but there is a strong opposition from Aminu Maigari, a former NFF President and Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, a former NFF Secretary-General.
    Also, Ogunjobi, who lost at the last election in Warri is competing again this time.
    The three football buffs are the gladiators of the election, while first Vice-President Seyi Akinwunmi is also seeking re-election.
    It expected that his love for the growth of the game will give him an edge over other contenders, however, you never know with football politics in Nigeria.

    Interestingly, the football scene has been too calm about the election maybe due to the crisis.
    It is normal that there will be intrigues and keen politicking in the next few days but truth is football politics is not like the conventional one.

    All the aspirants into various positions are expected to plan well and play their games well respectively to win.
    The leadership crisis of the last election lasted the whole tenure and it is important that we do not have a repeat of the same scenario.

    The country’s domestic football league was on break during the crisis and after the escape of FIFA ban, it was also difficult to run the full course of the season.

    The elite league was 14 weeks away from the end and there were only seven weeks before the deadline given to all countries by the Confederation of African Football to submit the names of representatives for African Championships.

    For leading the table for most part of the 24 Match Day of the Nigeria Professional Football League 2017/2018 season, the League Management Company and the club owners decided to end the season with 14 games to go and announced Lobi Stars as the champions and the country’s representative for the CAF Champions League next season.

    The decision generated so much negative reactions but the chieftains of the game in the country stood firm on the unpopular decision.

    A former international, Victor Ikpeba, noted that it was a bad decision for the growth of the game in Nigeria.

    A former English football superstar, John Fashanu, also criticised the decision to award the title to Lobi that were just two points above the second team, Akwa United, before the break.
    There are other effects of the abrupt end to the league.

    The match officials who make their living from officiating games will be counting their losses, while fans and the petty traders who make brisk business during league matches will also be lamenting over this development.

    This, certainly is a bad precedent that could affect football development in the country.

    It is left to see how football stakeholders will resolve the lingering crisis, while FIFA and the Executive arm of government continue to back Pinnick, even as the ruling by the Judiciary had favoured the Giwa-led board.

    After all said and done, the truth is, we need peace in our football so that the players can flourish and the administrators will be in the right frame to take the right decisions and move the game to enviable heights in which all Nigerians can be proud of.

  • FIFA ban: Clark calls for Sports Minister’s sack

    Edwin Clark has called for sack of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, for allegedly discrediting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for recognising Amaju-Pinnick-led Board of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

    The elder statesman Clark, who made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said reports of “disloyalty and parochial utterances’’ credited to Dalung in various media reports were embarrassing.

    According to Clark, for the minister to discredit the very patriotic and timely intervention of Osinbajo as Acting President, to recognise the Amaju Pinnick-led Board of the NFF is unacceptable.

    The elder statesman further said there was no sense in the minister of sports discrediting a laudable action that saved Nigeria from ban by the world football governing body FIFA.

    “This was an action taken by the Acting President at a very critical stage of our football history to avert FIFA’s ban on Nigeria.

    “Osibanjo restored to the global platform of honour, an action commended by all and sundry, locally and internationally.

    “If this action was not taken by the Acting President at the time he did, it will have been a disgrace and a setback for Nigerian football.

    “But here is Mr Dalung, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, who unfortunately, thinks and behaves differently.’’

    Clark said the action of the vice president called for commendation and not condemnation.

    “Instead of rejoicing and towing the line of the government under which he is serving, he has unfortunately showed total disrespect and disloyalty for the Acting President and the government in his open show of ignorance and incompetence.’’

    Clark quoted Dalung as saying, “as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who took oath of office to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will prefer to stand with the Rule of Law, instead of the opinion of men.

    “We are a constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers is the foundation of democratic experience.

    “Therefore, the Rule of Law is the only mechanism that guarantees liberty and freedom of citizens.

    “This administration is elected on the change mantra, meaning that impunity has no accommodation anywhere.

    “So, Nigerians must learn to believe and practice the doctrine of the Rule of Law. I believe we shall overcome this if we remain within the confines and dictates of the laws of our country.’’

    Clark noted that the decision taken by Osibanjo was well informed, adding that, he is a Prof. of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Lagos State.

    He stressed that Osibanjo had for decades, taken the oath of Office to defend the same Constitution and the Rule of Law.

    “I also swore to the same oath when I qualified as a lawyer 53 years ago. What is the minister talking about defending the constitution and obeying the rule of law?

    “After reading what the Honourable Minister says, one is left to wonder in whose interest he is serving, because it is obviously not in the interest of government and the Nigerian people.

    “He never showed any concern whether Nigeria was banned by FIFA or not, except his own interest.

    “For instance, the minister knows that Mr Chris Giwa had been banned for five years by FIFA, yet, he put him on the list of a 15-man delegation to FIFA in Switzerland.

    “Another clear case is when Mr President directed the Department of State Services (DSS), to flush out Mr Chris Giwa and his subordinates from the Glass House, Dalung was not only believed to have encouraged Giwa’s return.

    “He is reported to have facilitated the resurrection of the leadership feud within the NFF, which undermines the great successes of the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF on the nation’s towering football engagements,’’ he said.

    According to Clark, in the overall interest of the future of football, and for Nigeria to maintain its position as the largest country in Africa, the Ministry of Sports is not the place for the likes of Mr Dalung.

    He noted that given Nigeria’s present status, disloyalty, indiscipline, arrogance and mediocrity should not be condoned in any area of public service.

    “The legal profession which I have cherished and belong to investigate all my adult life cannot be ridiculed by certain persons who are bereft of character and honour required of public officers.

    “One should expect that the minister should strive to see how permanent peace will be restored to Nigerian Football administration, particularly now that he has set up a reconciliation committee.

    “He should not be personifying the disagreement within the NFF, but seek out of court settlement in Jos High Court, where the Supreme Court referred the matter to.

    “The Supreme Court did not give any definite judgment in favour of anybody and therefore, it was very improper of the minister to drag in the Supreme Court in his offensive statement.

    “It must be emphasised that, the unity of Nigeria is very paramount, and football is one of the contributory factors to this unity,’’ he said.

    Clark said “as an elder statesman of 91, an incurable football enthusiast, and having remained so since my youth, and my days as a student in England, I was a strong supporter of Manchester United, until I returned to Nigeria in 1965.

    “I continued to show my interest in football and other sporting activities from primary to secondary school levels when I was appointed Commissioner for Education in the old Midwest State.

    “Then, football and other sporting activities were domiciled in the Youth Directorate which was directly under my supervision as Commissioner for Education.

    “It was our policy then to develop football and other sporting activities and our footballers and athletes excelled in all competitions.

    “In order to develop sporting activities, therefore, the School of Physical Education was established at Afuze, now Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze in the then Owan Division, now Owan Local Government Area of Edo.

    “This is what I expected a Sports Minister who knows his onions to concentrate on.

  • FG endorses Pinnick as NFF President

    The Federal Government has announced its recognition of the Amaju Pinnick -led executive as the authentic leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Laolu Akande, Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the announcement on his official Twitter handle on Monday.

    The tweet which was sent at 11.38 a.m., few minutes before the 12 p.m. deadline given by FIFA for the resolution of the leadership tussle in the Nigerian football governing body, said the government had already informed FIFA of the decision.

    “The FG has already conveyed to FIFA its firm position recognizing Amaju Pinnick-led NFF as the current & only NFF Exco.

    “Govt will also continue to work with all relevant stakeholders involved to resolve dispute in a timely manner. FG is upholding NFF treaty obligations to FIFA,’’ Akande tweeted.

    Read Also: Fed Govt writes FIFA, recognises Pinnick executive

    World football governing body FIFA had on Tuesday said it would go on to suspend Nigeria from football activities if they failed to comply with its instructions by Monday at noon (CET).

    FIFA, in a statement by its Media Office, said it had been notified about ongoings in the NFF, and it viewed them as “undue interference in their affairs’’.

    It said Nigeria must ensure the NFF offices in Abuja were occupied by the Amaju Pinnick faction of the federation’s Congress by Monday.

    NAN also reports that the Glass House had been occupied at different times by both the Chris Giwa and Pinnick factions of the federation’s Congress

    This occupation has however been with the aid of men of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services at such times.

    NAN

  • NFF saga: Anxiety as court fails to vacate Giwa’s ex-parte order

    A Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Friday failed to vacate the ex-parte granted Chris Giwa, one of the parties in the leadership crisis that has engulfed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The court had granted the order on June 5, 2018, which gave Giwa the impetus to pose as the President of the NFF.

    Following that order, Giwa moved into the NFF headquarters last month, a development that did not go down well with Giwa’s rival, Amaju Pinnick, who rushed to the court with three motions on notice asking the court to vacate the order.

    When the case came up for hearing on Friday, counsel to Pinnick, Mr Festus Ukpe, told the court that he had filed three motions on notice and was seeking the leave of court to move them.

    He said that the motions sought to ask the court to vacate the ex-parte order earlier granted Giwa on June 5, 2018 so that Nigeria could escape a ban from football activities as threatened by FIFA.

    But Giwa’s counsel, Mr Habila Ardzard, raised an objection to Pinnick’s motions, and notified the court of a pending appeal he filed before the Jos Court of Appeal in respect of the case.

    He explained that the appeal was challenging the ruling of Justice Musa Kurya which allowed Pinnick to serve Giwa a photocopy of the said motions on notice, instead of original copies.

    Read Also: FIFA turns down NFF reconciliation visit to Zurich

    Ardzard argued that any attempt by the judge to hear any of Pinnick’s motions would amount to “abuse of court processes’’ and “judicial rascality.’’

    “My Lord, this Honourable court has been informed of the said appeal before the Jos Court of Appeal, and by that, this court lacks the jurisdiction to continue with this matter pending the determination of the appeal.

    “This is the position of the Supreme Court and that of the Appellate court; if the lower court will do otherwise, it will only be setting itself on collision course with the Appex and Appellate Courts.

    “We hereby urge your lordship to adjourn the case pending the determination of the appeal by the appellate court,” he argued.

    Kurya, in his ruling, said that there were two posers – whether there was an appeal, and whether he could continue with the matter.

    In answering the two posers, the judge declared that he had resolved the two in favour of Giwa, and therefore decided to adjourn the case indefinitely.

    “Since there is an appeal before the appellate court, I don’t want to be involved in any judicial rascally, therefore I hereby adjourn the case indefinitely,’’ he declared.

    The latest attempt is the third by Pinnick to convince the court to vacate the Ex-parte order it granted Giwa.

    The court’s position had created anxiety in soccer circles following the threat by FIFA to ban Nigeria if the NFF leadership crisis is not resolved.

    FIFA had given Nigeria up to Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 to resolve the NFF leadership crisis between Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick or face ban on all football affairs

    NAN

  • NFF Crisis: Ex-internationals urge parties to avoid FIFA ban

    Two ex-internationals, Friday Ekpo and Bright Omokaro, have urged the Ministry of Sports and individuals involved in the ongoing Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) crisis to tread with caution to avoid FIFA ban.

    The ex-internationals gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.

    NAN reports that FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, had said on Friday said that the world football body recognises only Amaju Pinnick as NFF President and would not accept any outside interference in the organisation’s affairs.

    Read Also:Nigeria risk ban over NFF crisis – Infantino

    Infantino, while responding to questions at a news conference in Moscow on Friday, said Pinnick was duly elected and in accordance with FIFA rules.

    Ekpo, a former Super Eagles player, said that FIFA statement on the ongoing crisis showed that a ban is inevitable if the issue was not urgently resolved.

    He said that such crisis which had become a regular occurrence in the country’s football over the years had done a lot of damage to football development.

    “This ongoing confusion or crisis in Nigeria football is dragging the sport back.

    “FIFA has spoken and as a member of the body, we should comply with the rules and regulations governing FIFA if we don’t want to be suspend,’’ he said.

    The former player said that Pinnick should be allowed to end his tenure, saying it was the only solution to the ongoing quagmire.

    Omokaro, also told NAN that the crisis should be worked out amicable to avoid the wrath of FIFA.

    He said that the suspension of the country from FIFA would cripple football in the country, urging all parties involved to take precaution.

    “Issues like this require diplomacy and this statement attributed to the FIFA President shows that they are fully aware of the drama going on.

    “The funny part of it is that those in the middle of the crisis have never played football, so they are after their own selfish interest.

    “If anything goes wrong, history will judge them but if they want the best for the sport, they must resolve it as quick as possible,’’ he said.

    Chris Giwa and the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF board have been involved in a leadership tussle, after an order from a Jos High Court had stopped the election which brought Pinnick to office in 2014.

    NAN reports that the crisis took a new dimension on July 2 when Giwa resumed at the NFF office in Abuja, as the president of the body after the Supreme Court judgement in his favour.

     

  • NFF: I don’t want to go prison for contempt of court – Dalung

    The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung said on Friday he would prefer to keep his reputation intact in the crisis bedeviling the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The minister said he complied with the Supreme Court judgment in the matter in order not be jailed for contempt of court.

    Dalung spoke in Asaba, Asaba, while inspecting the ongoing construction work at the Stephen Keshi Stadium venue of the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championship (ASAC).

    The minister said Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick tussle for the top NFF post had rocked the peace in the sports community.

    There is resurgence of crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in recent time and I think it is important that Nigerians are informed about this crisis,” he said.

    Dalung said he believed both parties have learnt the hard way from the recent Supreme Court judgment, adding that the way forward was for the feuding parties to shift ground and allow peace rein.

    He said the Federal Government did not interfere in the dispute but was dragged into it by the feuding parties.

    He said: “For us as government, we have basically just complied with the order of court and let us not forget that government is limited from interfering with the domestic affairs of football. And both parties dragged government into this matter, so, government is just a victim and not even when people argued that FIFA will ban the country.”

     

  • NFF Palaver: EFCC Invites Amaju Pinnick

     

    The crisis in the Glass House may have gone beyond mere power tussle as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday  invited  embattled President of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick.

    The Nation scooped that Pinnick who is still in Russia as Executive Member of FIFA has been informed about the invitation  and is expected to jet in soon.

    A source in position to know, confirmed the Commission has been inundated by weighty petitions which only the CAF Executive member can provide answers to.

    The invitation  is coming less than 24 hours after the football fraternity across the globe woke up to behold a change of guard at the Nigerian football Federation Secretarial popularly known as the Glass House in Abuja  with Ambassador Chris Giwa now firmly in charge in compliance with court order and directive from the Minister of Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung.

    Although the content of the petitions and the petitioners cannot be ascertained as at now, there are hints that the issues raised could include but not limited to issues of due process, financial transactions and administrative actions among others.

    The world cup in Russia which kicked off on June 14 will be rounded off on July 15 and Executive members of the World soccer ruling body will be expected to stay put till the end and even attend a closing meeting before departing Russia.

    Aside from that Pinnick has been appointed match commissioner for Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter final match between France and Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod.

    The former Delta State FA chairman will also take charge of the first semi final match, scheduled for Saint Petersburg’s Zenit Arena on Tuesday, 10th July, as well as the third place match at the same venue on Saturday, 14th July, an indication that he may not return till the end of the World cup.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Confusion trails judgment on NFF leadership tussle

     

    There is no end in sight for the confusion trailing leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) even with the Nation still leaking her wounds following early exit of the Super Eagles from the ongoing World cup in Russia.

    The power tussle between incumbent President of the Federation Amaju Pinnick and Ambassador Chris Giwa which has continued to swing like a pendulum in the courts, took a new dimension on Monday when the Sports Minister Barrister Solomon Dalung directed Pinnick and his Executives to obey the court order of June 5th 2018 delivered by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos.

    The minister said the directive became necessary after he received a written notification signed for the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure compliance.

    The notification according to the Minister states thus;

    ‘I have been directed to notify you of the Orders dated June 5th 2018 made by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos in respect of the above mentioned suit between Yahaya Adama Vs Alhaji Aminu Maigari which states that the election of the NFF held on August 26, 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa be given recognition pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this case and that  the purported ban of the Executive Committee elected on August 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF is unconstitutional, null and void.

    ‘It is trite law that court orders are sacrosanct and any act of disobedience to it constitutes threat to the rule of law. Consequent upon the above, you are hereby advised to comply with the orders of court made therein which for now, is the valid and binding order of court, in the absence of any other subsisting order or judgment to the contrary’.

    Consequently, Barrister Dalung has however directed the parties involved to comply with the court order.

    “This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders.

    Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Mr Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same.” the minister’s statement said

    Dalung who prior to his appointment as Minister of sports was working with the Prisons washed his hands off the consequences of non compliance with the court order saying” “This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders. Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Mr Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same.”

    Giwa reportedly addressed staff of the Glass House on Monday with Amaju Pinnick still in Russia as an Executive member of the World Soccer Ruling body FIFA.  While Giwa supporters insist the ruling means immediate vacation of office by the Amaju Pinnick group, others say continuing the legal battle is almost unnecessary as a new election is due in September with no guarantees that the incumbent will return.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Port Harcourt to host Super Eagles versus Congo Friendly

    The Rivers State Government has announced its  readiness to host the International Friendly between the Super Eagles and the  Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the  Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018.

    The agreement for the hosting of the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018 was reached after a high-profile meeting between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinick and Super Eagles Coach, Gerhard Rohr at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting at the Government House, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye said that the state government will do everything possible  to ensure that the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium is ready for the International Friendly.

    The State Government thanked  the Nigeria Football Federation for their collaboration targeted at the  development of football in the country.

    He said: “Governor Wike has done well in terms of funding national sporting events.  He hosted the African Wrestling Championship on behalf of the Federal Government.  Now he is hosting the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the Federal Government.  This is something that is worthy of commendation”.

    Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick commended the Rivers State Government and the people of the state for their unflinching support for the Super Eagles.

    He said that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is happy with the state of facilities at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium.

    “We are playing on the 28th of May, 2018 against the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the match, the Rivers State Governor will host the two teams to a dinner”, he said.

    He said that the CAF President will watch the International Friendly  in Port Harcourt.

    “Everywhere is home to the Super Eagles.  Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Kano, Kaduna or Minna. They are Super Eagles of Nigeria and every part is integral to the development of football “, Pinick said.

    The NFF President outlined the World Cup preparation programme of the Super Eagles, saying that the target of the team is to lift the World Cup.

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr said that the Super Eagles need three major international friendlies to be prepared for the World Cup.

    Rohr said that he expects the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium to be fully ready for the Congolese  friendly by the next  four weeks.

    He said that some key players of the team are injured, adding that those on the injury list will be nurtured to fitness ahead of the World Cup.

  • PINNICK: Untold story of Super Eagles qualification for Russia 2018

    It is not the greatest love story that was almost never told like the Shakespeare secret affair but a journey of passion and grace.

    But the process of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 was also as beautiful and some of the intrigues made it even more fascinating. The Super Eagles were well underrated after they failed to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under a lot of scrutiny and their competence questioned.

    Those criticisms turned into fuel for the thick-skinned leadership of the NFF and they delightfully turned things around and delivered a precious sixth World Cup ticket for one of Africa’s biggest football powerhouse.

    Nigeria qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in spectacular fashion ahead of favourites Algeria, Zambia and current African Champions Cameroon.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick at an event captures the interesting details of how the Super Eagles achieved such a feat, engaging the services of German Coach Rohr at a time when coaching Nigeria was seen with disdain, playing the necessary politics and the Aiteo partnership which has provided financial security for the National Teams and NFF, reports CHIJIOKE EZEALI.

     

    Planning ahead with Akinwunmi and Dikko

    I recall that I was asked “Do you think if (Issa) Hayatou is there we’ll qualify?” For two nights I slept and thought about it – Cameroon being in our group and this man is already 71 years old and possibly if he wins the elections that will be his last time.

    What about a parting gift to Cameroon off the field? We looked at Algeria, they had the best record – they had gone about 13 games unbeaten. Zambia were AFCON winner, then I saw a news that in the history of World Cup qualification, the group we are in was the toughest in the history of World Cup qualifier anywhere in the world.

    Three of them were AFCON winners and in very rich form. We looked at all these and said to ourselves that we must overcome these. Three of us (Shehu Dikko, Seyi Akinwunmi) held each other and said, ‘let’s go and let do it’ and thank God we did it and, today, we are in Russia.

    How NFF arrived at the choice of Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr

    The first thing we did was getting a new coach. Of course, we all remember Claude Leroy – to us it was a blessing in disguise. Because when we decided again that we wanted a coach, of course

    everyone knows that I’m an Arsenal supporter, so I reached out to Arsene Wenger for consultation for a coach. I tried to reach out to Gerrard Houllier and so many other eggheads in coaching and technical expertise and one name came to fore and that was Gernot Rohr.

    I remember, one of them asked “Will he (Rohr) want to leave his lucrative job with the German federation, heading one of their technical groups to come to Nigeria.”

    I was told he was a very comfortable coach; he has two hotels, he lives very well and he is very happy. Even at a point, he was going to coach Madagascar free of charge because his wife is from there. I prayed over it and believed he would come – that’s where the journey began.

    We called him and because I prayed – I believe in prayer; if you don’t, please start to pray because it is very important and the first thing he said was “if you offer me the job, I will try and redefine Nigerian football because you have huge talent. Where I worked before, we struggled with talent but the kind of talents you have in Nigeria is amazing and I will try but I’m not telling you that Iam going to do this or that but I’ll do my best.

    “But one thing you will do is support me because modern day football has a lot of off-the-field arrangements that impact on the field.” And I asked him what and he said: “We need a chiropractor, an Usthropath, a Yoga coach, a match analyst for defence, attack and midfield and everybody will have a major role to play.”

    I asked him: “What do you need a yoga coach for, no be Chinese we dey fight nah?” and he said to me: “Yoga training calms you down and gives you concentration.”

    Gambling over Gernot Rohr

    How are we going to fund this? It was difficult initially and looked impossible but we looked at ourselves and decided to take the risk for Nigeria because if you don’t venture, you can’t succeed.

    Good enough, Shehu Dikko is from Zaria, they love taking risk – we know the history of Zaria. Seyi Akinwunmi is the only one that is a bit Lagos boy but he is also an Isale Eko boy whether he likes it or not. Then me, a Warri man – our life is risk.

    So, we decided to throw our hat into the ring and take the risk. And one of such risks was me running for the CAF executive committee, so that we can play all the politics necessary. Another risk was that of the coach. He (Rohr) came for the interview after I bought him the flight ticket. The technical committee met at the office of the LMC while I and Seyi were in Lagos – then Shehu ran out to us immediately after the interview and said “President, this is the coach! Trust me; we are in the World Cup.” I swear to God that’s what he said.

    He (Shehu) said, “He (Rohr) is matured, calm and even while we tried to run him rough – he was calm and answered every question thrown at him 100%. So, president, please insist that you want this coach.”

    We got the report; it was ok by the then technical committee even though there was some off course, we understand, but we went ahead and employed the coach.

    It was tough at the beginning because the companies that promised us that they were going to pay for the service of the coach withdrew because there were fundamental changes at some top level.

    Aiteo rescued broke NFF

    In my area, whenever I’m jogging – I’ll look at one MD that is jogging around and jog behind him. I will just say, ‘I’m the NFF president and we are in a dilemma, can I follow you to your house or can see you later?’ At a point, I will say Seyi, give me N5, 000 and for the first three months it was very tough before the glorious days started coming and that’s the coming of Aiteo.

    And once they came in, they didn’t look back. As I speak to you Gernot Rohr has been paid to December 31, 2017. We have offered him a new two-year contract extension. All the details will be worked out by the legal committee and other relevant committee in the federation.

    We want to keep him because assuming he won the World Cup, don’t you think that the German federation will want him? We don’t want to be like Arsenal that waited until the last minute to sign Mesut Ozil. We want to be like Barcelona that gave Lionel Messi a new deal with three years still left on his contract.

    The combo with Akinwunmi and Dikko

    It was a very tortuous journey and the first step we took was when I won election into the CAF Executive Committee. Seyi looked at me and said: “President, I told you – you have won and we are going to qualify for the World Cup. So, all the necessary politics off the field you must play. Everything Nigeria needs to qualify, you will do.”

    Another thing that came to mind is when Shehu said to me: “President, we must look for money. We must make sure we interface with the government where necessary and make sure we don’t owe the players anything. Forget that they earn huge salaries, they have families, they have responsibilities in Nigeria – they see what is going on and don’t want to be part of failure after their playing days, so we must encourage them.”

    Of course, we interfaced with the government and thankfully they responded and made sure we paid A-Z.

    Young and gifted Super Eagles

    Who do you think in the premier league is better than Odion Ighalo in attack or better than Victor Moses? During our friendly against Argentina, Sergio Aguero begged to be removed from the game, so we must always have absolute trust and confidence in our players.

    The beauty about the Super Eagles is that they are more for the future than today. All our players revolve around 19-22 years. Look at our full backs, Ebuehi and Ola Aina, central: (William) Ekong and Leon (Balogun), look at our midfield and attack while people like Victor Osimhen are still coming. So, we have a rich future.

    We have a team already and this is the German model Seyi designed for me years ago. The German model of not just having a Super Eagles of today but one for tomorrow.

    Look at Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire, they have just a team for team and that’s what affected them. So, we are also planning for the future. On the part of the federation, I’m not going to tell you that we are 100%, because we are not. I have my problem, the executive committee have their own problem, the secretariat has their problem – everybody has their own problem but because we have this problem, are you going to say every minute we should resign? So, I just want to crave your indulgence that we are out here, wanting to build, develop and strengthen football.