IN Bauchi, descendants from the popular Maigari family are known for many things, especially royalty and football.
Today, a scion of the family, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, is holding forte at the helm of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the amiable man has brought so much verve to the game with unprecedented success in recent years.
Yet Maigari maintains a modest mien in an exclusive interview with The Nation’s Sport & Style, saying nothing gives him so much buzz in life than the beautiful game of football.
“All my life, it has always been football and I have devoted my life to the game of football,” says Maigari, sitting behind his desk in his office adorned with assorted trophies and awards.”I played from my school days and I was at one time or the other, a captain, team manager, FA chairman and all that.
“I have devoted all my life to football because apart from playing football, I had been chairman of all the major clubs in Bauchi and was also chairman of Bauchi Football Association for a decade.
“I was the chairman of Bauchi sub-seat when Nigeria hosted the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009, a board member and acting president of the NFF until I became the president. By and large, I have been a football person and devoted the significant part of my life to the game.
” I actually stopped playing recently as a result of my knee injury which was operated upon in 2010; you can see that I have been a football person all my life and I want to remain so,” he said as a matter of fact.
When you talk about a country, you talk about the First Family. The Maigaris are truly passionate about football and the NFF’s President was forthcoming on some of the faces behind the scene of his successful reign.
“The football family is like my extended family because I’m at home in any part of the country,” maintains Maigari, who was recently crowned ‘the Igwe (King) of Nigerian football on a social network platform for his meritorious performance since he came on board in 2010.
“Oh! Moraks, you want me to talk about my personal family?” he protested initially.”Okay, I have a fairly small family of about 10 people. “My first son who is now a businessman played football casually but my third child is a keen football lover and he is the captain of his school’s football team at the University of Sunderland in the UK.
“My first daughter is happily married with two kids and I have others who are still in school and they all love football. It may also interest you to know that my late father was a big time footballer during his days in the 1940s and 1950s when football was played for peanuts.
“You can see that football has been and would always be part of my family,” Maigari enthused as he spoke eloquently about other things dear to his heart. Excerpts…
You were recently called the Igwe of Nigerian football on a social media platform, how do you feel personally about the achievements recorded so far under your tenure as NFF’s President?
There is nothing to be compared with the recognition of one’s contribution to Nigerian football by the public and press, but it reminds us about the fact that we have to do more. Like every human being, I’m delighted that a majority of Nigerians are happy with what we have achieved so far. All of these achievements were as a result of a peaceful atmosphere within the football family as well as the support we get from Nigerians, especially that of President Goodluck Jonathan. What I’m saying in effect is that the achievements we recorded so far were as a result of significant support from the football family and Nigerians. On our own part, we shall continue to work hard to make Nigeria great.
The next big project for you is the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, how prepared is the national team for the assignment?
We are focussed and prepared right from the players to the coaches; the board and management team of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).The government has already given us its full backing towards ensuring that we do well in Brazil. We equally have tremendous support from the football family; stakeholders and Nigerians as such, what we are waiting for is the kick off of our first game against Iran on June 16.
But there are rumours that you are not at peace with the Super Eagles’ coaching crew, especially Stephen Keshi, how true is this?
Just want to use the opportunity of this platform, to let Nigerians know that we are solidly behind the Super Eagles and the coaching crew; as such, we are not going to do anything to undermine them. If we don’t trust Keshi from the beginning, we wouldn’t have picked him as our coach and I want those who are spreading this unfortunate rumour to put an end to it. We are preparing for the biggest football tournament in the world and we don’t need any distraction. I want to appeal to everyone to let us face our World Cup preparations without distractions. The World Cup is not about the NFF or Keshi or Maigari; it is about Nigeria and I’m therefore appealing to the public and the media to allow us do things under a favourable environment. We believe that the Super Eagles have all it takes to do well in Brazil but that can only be possible if we provide them the enabling environment to prepare. As far as the NFF and I are concerned, we have given our coaches maximum support and the free hands to pick the players for the tournament and we are also doing everything to ensure that they have adequate preparation before getting to Brazil because it is our mandate to do well at the World Cup.
Sir, talking about mandate, what target has the NFF set for The Super Eagles and Coach Stephen Keshi at the World Cup?
We have not set any target for the team and our mandate is simply for them to go to the World Cup and do well. We are not putting them under unnecessary pressure. Rather, we just want them to go out there and do their best. It is unnecessary to set a target that they must win the World Cup because if they don’t, that would be a huge disappointment. For instance, the USA’94 World Cup did not win the World Cup but they are still regarded as one of the best teams that Nigeria has ever produced; so we want the Super Eagles to make Nigerians happy with their performance in Brazil.
Are you impressed with the quality of players selected and their performances ahead of the World Cup?
Personally, I’m happy with this group of players and I would implore all of us to keep supporting them. A lot of them have performed creditably well for their clubs and what they need is encouragement from all of us for them to give their best in Brazil.
People often say being the president of the NFF is a tough job, what is your management style?
It is all about patience and recognising the fact that nobody knows it all. I see myself just as a head of the family and as a good leader, I have no option than to listen to others. I tap ideas from my colleagues and I’m the type that is ready to learn. We work as a team and the all-knowing syndrome is never part of my agenda as I’m ready to learn new things. I always have it at the back of my mind that I’m privileged to be here. My style is all about love, patience and humility- to see myself as the lowest person in the midst of everybody. We are open to advice from everybody, and that is part of the secrets of this administration. Heading the NFF is just a privilege and opportunity; so one must be ready to listen to the advice from other people. It is an enormous task but I know how to delegate and micro-manage but, importantly, I have listening ears. God has been given us the wisdom to be able to deal with people and issues that come up from time to time. What I run is an open-door policy because this is big portfolio and you need to listen to people.
I learned you are a Manchester United fan, is everybody in the family a United fan too?
You will be disappointed to know that I’m not a Manchester United fan as some people claim, rather, I’m the Number One supporter of all Nigeria’s national teams. I was asked the same question when I was at one Premier League event in England. I don’t really have a special attachment to any club and it is only human to have a choice when two teams are playing but I’m not deeply attached to any team. Yes, I love watching the English Premier League but I don’t want to give myself unnecessary pressure by supporting a particular team. The teams I’m passionate about are all the Nigerian national sides and I’m restless when any one of them is playing.
Who are your all-time Nigeria’s best footballers and favourites?
One player I admire so much when I was growing up was the late Garba Okoye because he was an exceptional player with a great dribbling quality. He was a great player in his days and you can liken him to players like Nwankwo Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha, but he was greater than them. In fact, all great Nigerian players are my favourites, I admire the likes of Segun Odegbami, George Hassan, Ismaila Mabo and some those great names of the past. In the new generation, we have Sunday Oliseh, Kanu, and Okocha and at present, I’m in love with all our current players for their commitment to the national teams.
Former players have really benefited during your tenure as the NFF’s President, what accounts for this?
There is a particular stanza that I so much love in our national anthem which says ‘the labour of heroes past should not be in vain.’ These were the players who served this country so well and we are of the opinion that they should be gainfully employed even after their professional football career. We need to encourage them because they served the country so well in the past and it is part of our deliberate policy to support these former Nigerian internationals.
You look trim and fit for your age, what is your keep-fit regimen?
I eat well and, actually, choose the kind of things I eat. I exercise regularly and above all, I don’t mount unnecessary pressure on myself. As a believer in God, I allow things to take their natural course because no matter how much we try, it’s God that blesses all we do.
By the way, what is your favourite food?
Tuwo shinkafa with vegetable soup.
What determines what you wear in terms of clothing?
I like to appear simple because that is part of humility. I don’t like appearing too loud in order not to draw unnecessary attention to myself. Humility is part of my upbringing and home training and I think you don’t have to dress loud to be noticed. I’m brought up to appear simple so that I would not have a high opinion of myself. I’m a simple human being and I always want to dress very simple.
During the last Presidential Media Chat, President Goodluck Jonathan was asked if he was going to run for a second term; permit me to ask if you would run again after the end of your tenure?
(General laughter). I think the biggest task ahead of me is the forthcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil; that is my focus now. My prayer now is for the Super Eagles to do well at the World Cup.
