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Tag: Amos Adamu

  • No regrets working with Hayatou- Adamu

    No regrets working with Hayatou- Adamu

     

     

     

     

     

    Former CAF Executive member Amos Adamu has declared that former CAF  Presdent Issa Hayatou did his best while in office, adding that he has no regret working with him.

    The 71 year old Cameroonian who  was voted out Thursday in Addis Ababa  he said has contributed his quota to the game in the continent and it behooves on the new government to build on whatever he has achieved.

    While congratulating Madagascar FA President Ahmad Ahmad who emerged new CAF President, Adamu whose stay away from football order was further extended by World Soccer ruling body FIFA recently, said the new president must realise that the elections and over and all pre-election divisions must be closed to move CAF forward.

    “Hayatou has done his best and I don’t regret working with him. I congratulate the new president and urge him to build on what Hayatou has achieved as there is always room for improvement in every organisation,” he said

    The former Director General National sports commission (NSC) advised the new president to work closely with all the football federations in the continent as he will need the support of all to take CAF to the next level.

    “There is no doubt that he needs the support of all to succeed so he needs to  work closely with FIFA and all football federations to achieve his aim,” added Adamu who recently revealed his decision not to appeal his ban by the World Soccer ruling body.  ” I don’t intend to appeal the ban, I have not been to keen on matters concerning football lately, I have other interests,” he had said shortly after news of the additional ban was announced.

  • Another FIFA hammer for Amos Adamu

    Another FIFA hammer for Amos Adamu

    Nigerian administrator Amos Adamu is facing another ban from all football-related activities by Fifa.

    The investigatory chamber at the world governing body’s ethics committee has been looking into alleged breaches of its code of ethics since March 2015.

    It has now recommended a two-year ban and a fine for Adamu, a former Fifa executive committee member who was banned for three years in 2010.

    A final decision on his punishment may several take months to be determined.

    A Fifa statement says Adamu, who was also once on the Confederation of African Football board, violated three articles – covering general rules of conduct, loyalty and conflict of interest – of its Code of Ethics.

    “For reasons linked to privacy rights and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the adjudicatory chamber will not publish further details at the present time,” the statement reads.

    The 62-year-old was a member of Fifa’s executive committee for four years until 2010, when he was banned from all football activity for three years.

    He was found guilty of asking for money in exchange for World Cup votes – an accusation he denied.

    Adamu’s suspension expired in October 2013.

    A high-ranking government official for Nigerian sport for 20 years, Adamu was once considered to be a leading candidate to succeed long-serving Issa Hayatou as Caf president.

  • Odegbami blames Kalu, Adamu for failed FIFA bid

    Odegbami blames Kalu, Adamu for failed FIFA bid

    Former Nigeria skipper, Segun  Odegbami , has blamed ex-FIFA executive committee member Amos Adamu and rival Orji Uzor Kalu for his failure to get the backing of other African countries in his quest to become the new FIFA boss.

    Odegbami, who was endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to run for the FIFA presidency in February, could not muster nominations from five African soccer federations by Monday’s deadline to enable him stand for the FIFA elections.

    “Where were Amos Adamu and (Orji) Kalu yesterday (Monday)? It’s a Nigerian thing to bring down others,” africanFootball.com quoted Odegbami as saying on a radio interview monitored in Abuja Tuesday morning.

    “Well, I have done my own bit and it is left for others to do theirs.”

    Former Abia State Governor Kalu was linked with the FIFA presidential race, but he did not submit any documentation for his candidacy to the NFF.

    The NFF therefore endorsed Odegbami at the weekend.

    Adamu, who is now being investigated by the FIFA ethics committee, has publicly endorsed Kalu as the best candidate from Nigeria for the FIFA presidency.

  • Amos Adamu backs Orji Kalu

    Amos Adamu backs Orji Kalu

    Support has continued to pour in for the FIFA presidency bid of former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.

    Speaking  yesterday, former FIFA  and CAF executive committee  member,  Amos Adamu said: ” Orji Uzor Kalu is  eminently  qualified to lead  world’s football governing  body  FIFA. I have absolute confidence and believe that he would do well as head of FIFA. Once the position is vacant Orji Kalu should run for the top post.

    A man  that led Enyimba to win the CAF Champion’s league twice cannot be ignored in world football. A man who was a governor twice and a  successful  businessman must  be supported to  run  the  affairs of FIFA. If we sell his candidacy well who says he cannot win?,”  Adamu affirmed.

    “We are trying to convince him to run so that he can bring his wealth of experience to bear on the game  of  football. Each confederation have their needs, so we  should ensure that he gets the mandate of the other bodies so that those needs can  be  met. We should ensure  that  players  have a place in his  administration  because he  has  shown enough capacity  for their welfare.”

    Adamu said he was consulting widely to ensure that Kalu gets the mandate.

    “I’m using my contacts to sell his candidacy to the public and some people who may not know him. Nigeria is a giant in football compared to countries like Jordan. Prince Ali should go and develop football in his country. If we are talking of a people with football pedigree  we are over qualified. We are consulting and getting very positive  responses. It will be a pride of Africa if Orji Uzor  Kalu wins the bid. It’s time for Africa to rule FIFA,” Adamu  said.

    Notable ex-players  like John Fashanu  and Peterside Idah have  been  at  the  forefront of the Kalu  for   FIFA presidency bid.

  • Adamu welcomes Blatter’s resignation

    Adamu welcomes Blatter’s resignation

    Former FIFA executive committee member, Dr. Amos Adamu, has said Sepp Blatter did the right thing to resign as president amidst a corruption scandal rocking the world soccer governing body.

    Blatter stepped down on Tuesday four days after winning a record five-year term in the elective congress at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.

    Adamu told supersport.com that the rot in the world football body has reached an alarming height and nobody can successfully cover it.

    “It’s the right thing to do as people know what is happening there (at FIFA) is not right.

    “Sepp Blatter did the right thing to resign his position as FIFA president in the face of corruption charges among key officials.

    “FIFA has been covering a lot of things, I think it has reached the point where you cannot continue to cover it anymore,” Adamu told supersport.com.

    “The rot in FIFA is like an overheated or overloaded transformer which is bound to explode.

    “I wish him well in his future endeavours either inside or outside football.”

    He took time off to chastise the Swiss football administrator for poor handling of the case that saw him being shut out from football for three years.

    “Blatter handled my case politically. The poor handling of my case was the beginning of his downfall.

    “FIFA claimed that the Nigerian government owed the body a huge sum of money which they are making no move to redeem.

    “I was bluntly told that the witch-hunt was not directly at me per se but where I come from (Nigeria).

    “Coincidentally, Blatter is out right now and I’m in,” said Adamu in direct reference to a recent CAF appointment into the Africa Cup of Nations Organising Committee through 2015 and 2017.”

    Blatter has immediately called for an extraordinary congress to elect his successor.

  • World Cup 2014: Adamu warns Eagles not to underrate opponents

    World Cup 2014: Adamu warns Eagles not to underrate opponents

    Amos Adamu, a former Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), on Tuesday said that the Super Eagles must be wary of their 2014 World Cup opponents.

    Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that there were no longer minnows in football as all the teams had the potential to win the cup.

    NAN reports that the Eagles will play in Group F of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, alongside Argentina, Iran and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

    “How I wish they win the World Cup. One fundamental thing we mustn’t underestimate is that all the teams that qualified for the World Cup are potential winners.

    “So we don’t have to start looking down on a country and feel that they are not threats to us. Every team emerges from a competition.

    “So no team in Brazil is a cheap party. But I think we are at our best now and with a little bit of good luck, we’ll thrive,” Adamu said.

    He noted that there was need for the team’s technical crew to give other players a chance, adding that it would help strengthen the team.

    “The team is good and has been consistent but we can’t rule out the fact that the team needs to be strengthened in some departments.

    “Therefore, I think it would be important to recall some players who appear to be doing well in their clubs at the moment,” he said.

    NAN reports that Nigeria would play its first match in the group stage against Iran, its second against Bosnia and the last one against Argentina.

    Soccer pundits had expressed the belief that Nigeria and Argentina would likely qualify from the group but, however, warned the Eagles of complacency or overconfidence.

  • What next for Amos Adamu?

    What next for Amos Adamu?

    Just two weeks ago, this column wrote about the absence of Dr. Amos Adamu was banned by FIFA from partaking in any football event for three years after a panel constituted by the world football governing body found him guilty of demanding money for votes on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights. The Ogbomoso-born sports administrator was caught on video by undercover reporters asking for $800,000.

    It is now a new dawn for the former boss of Nigeria Sports Commission as he served out his ban a few days ago and thus regained the freedom to do what he knows best. Adamu might have gone off the public glare while the ban lasted, but some reactions to the piece done on him earlier on this page indicated that he remained as powerful and influential as ever even while his ban lasted.

    Now that the owner of Balmora Hall on Oregun Road, Lagos is back, it is not clear in what capacity he will function.

  • Where is Amos Adamu?

    Where is Amos Adamu?

    How funny life can be. It is hard to believe that former FIFA executive member, Dr. Amos Adamu, could become so scarce on the social scene. Until he fell out with the world football body after he was accused of demanding bribe, Adamu oozed with power, influence and fame.

    The Ogbomosho-born sports administrator was an institution of some sorts. His words were virtually laws as far as sport administration in Nigeria was concerned. And as would be expected of a man of such immense stature, he enjoyed a large followership. His presence at any social function simply added substance and colour.

    But Adamu, the owner of Balmora, a popular event centre in Lagos, has since become a shadow of his former self on the social firmament. Not even his 60th birthday months ago could pull any comeback magic for him. His son now runs the family business.

  • Ekeji bows out as NSC DG

    Ekeji bows out as NSC DG

    Dr Patrick Ekeji on Tuesday in Abuja relinquished power as the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    He handed over to Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed, the Director of Finance and Human Resources Management and the most senior director at the commission.

    Ekeji, who served five sports ministers as the NSC director-general, took over from Dr Amos Adamu, in April 2009 on a four-year contract after Adamu retired from public service.

    He was the first Director of Sports Development in Nigeria to lead the country to win the All Africa Games in October 2004 after he defined the constituent complement of the Abuja Stadium in July 2001.

    Ekeji, who hails from Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo, was a former Green Eagles player and Green Eagles coach, and a lecturer at the National Institute of Sports in Lagos.

    He was appointed Director of Sports Development at the erstwhile NSC in 1994 and became Director of Sports, Imo State Sports Council in 1993.

    He was the first Nigerian to undertake an international coaching assignment when he became the Technical Adviser to Sierra-Leone Sports Council. (NAN)