The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Football Federation

  • As NFF faces the future

    The coast is clear now that there is a new order in the administration of the beautiful game in the country, with the return of Amaju Pinnick and his board to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the successful elections held in Katsina, despite the dissenting views of those who believe that nothing good can come out of the Glasshouse, except they are in charge.

    Interestingly, the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) sent representatives to witness the elections. This is part of the criteria to validate the election. Besides, the Congress decided those who scaled the hurdle, not faceless people like we saw in the past that led to a stalemate. What this indicates is that we followed FIFA’s statutes to decide those who won.

    Indeed, the cordial manner in which those who lost the ultimate prize – NFF President -embraced the winner suggested that they were satisfied with the process. This is the clincher, which thankfully the winner described as a no victor, no loser scenario, meaning he is ready to work with everyone. It simply means victory for the beautiful game.

    Today, we have a football federation where majority of members partook in the country’s preparations for the Russia 2018 World Cup. And the board’s biggest niche was the ability to convince the private sector to key into its programmes in a bid to be financially solvent. Today, key members of the federation have been integrated into core committees in FIFA and CAF. They have transferred what they learned to the operations in the Glasshouse, so much so they clashed with the Sports ministry. No surprises because football is a money-spinner for those who know how to utilise its marketing windows.

    It is to the credit of the past board that Nigeria prosecuted the Mundial in Russia with little funding from the government. In fact, government cash got to the federation four days after the competition began. Surprised? Don’t be since the bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with governance would have contributed to the late release of the funds. The past board’s foresight in getting the private sector to handle problematic areas of the  World Cup campaign ensured that coaches’ and officials’ wages were paid promptly; players’ entitlements were paid upfront and this created the enabling environment for the team to prepare for the competition. It didn’t come as a surprise when the players raised their hands up to accept that they didn’t live up to expectation in the games against Croatia and Argentina, even though they beat Iceland, which isn’t in Nigeria’s class in terms of World Cup pedigree, with due respect.

    Preparatory to the Mundial in Russia, Nigeria played some of the best friendly games against renowned countries, such as England (June 2), Serbia (March 27), Argentina (November 14), Poland (March 23), Czech Republic etc. These games helped sharpen the players’ skills and showed other countries that we have the players to give them a good game anywhere in the world. Such markers are the difference between serious football nations and jokers. It won’t be surprising if in 2021 Nigeria approaches England or Serbia or even Argentina for the second time to come to our country for an international friendly game. It won’t be out of place if France, Brazil, Croatia, Belgium etc accept to play the Eagles to prepare for the Mundial in 2022.

    This writer has been thrilled by the synergy existing between the federation’s president and his first and second vice chairmen. The trio have struck a bond, especially now that some all-knowing members have been replaced. The exit of these members should bring peace to the board. It will also help the board to regain the confidence of the private sector.

    It was soul-lifting to see billionaires, such as Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, rubbing minds with FIFA  and CAF presidents at the FIFA The Best Awards held in England on September 24. Amaju Pinnick has opened  a new vista for the board with this noble initiative because both men are big stage players and won’t let the opportunity of doing business with global brands, such as FIFA and CAF’s slip off.

    Indeed, it will be easier for Pinnick and his members to convince Dangote and Otedola that they can be trusted, based on the cordial relationship the president and his members have with FIFA and CAF. For such wealthy and successful businessmen, what counts for them is the international platform where these football ventures play. Associating their brands with FIFA and CAF in big sporting events, such as the World Cup, across all the cadres, Confederations Cup, Olympic Games’ soccer events and the Africa Cup of Nations, is one of the biggest forms of networking which both men would happily exploit.

    A notable football lover, Dangote is reportedly worth over $15 billion. Interestingly, he has not hidden his desire to buy over Barclays English Premier League side, Arsenal FC of London. A business relationship with FIFA and CAF and their business associates would enhance his chances of convincing Gunners’ fans that he has the wherewithal to take the team to greater heights.

    Convincing Dangote and Otedola to rub minds with international soccer buffs offers NFF the opportunity to talk to the billionaires. Little wonder Pinnick told the international media in London: “Alhaji Dangote is perhaps the biggest business brand in Africa, and one of Nigeria’s leading Ambassadors. I am very happy to be in a position to invite himself and Mr. Otedola to such an event of global stature and essence.

    “As a nation, it is important that we continue to showcase our best brands in all fields. Doing this enhances the stock of our country globally. Alhaji Dangote and Mr. Otedola were happy to meet the world’s top governors of football and the football governors were also happy to meet them.

    “Our objective as a Football Federation is to attain financial autonomy so that the Government can channel resources otherwise taken up by football into other critical sectors, and we believe that if we have persons like Dangote and Otedola partnering with Nigerian Football, we will get there faster,” said Pinnick, who is also the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football.

    “The NFF has invited Alhaji Dangote to a couple of matches previously, including the friendly match with England in London before the FIFA World Cup in Russia, but he was unable to attend. Now, we are discussing with him on a relationship with Nigerian Football and he is showing immense interest.”

    “Football has tremendous capacity to be self –sustaining and even contribute significantly to the national GDP. That is the station we are targeting at the moment. I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate our other sponsors and partners, Coca Cola, Zenith Bank, Nigeria Breweries PLC, NIKE, Cadbury PLC, WAPIC Insurance, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, TGI, 1XBET, Peak Milk, Payporte for making us to attain the present 65 per cent private sector –funding status,” said Pinnick.

    Good talk, Pinnick. NFF should exploit the marketing windows in the sport to get funds to run our football seamlessly. It is the government’s responsibility to create the enabling environment for sports to thrive, build facilities and fund contingents to international competitions like other countries do.

    Getting into sensitive federations, such as the NFF should not be a platform for the boys to celebrate mediocrity, knowing that Nigeria has been at the biggest football fiesta, World Cup six times (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018). No mean feat, especially with our players’ exploits in the European game till date. NFF shouldn’t be for people who want to go to the government cap in hand for funding. We should emulate the English FA, Brazil FA, Belgium FA, France FA, Germany FA and Argentina FA, to mention a few because our players outshine some of the talents from these civilised soccer nations in their European clubs. Our players have left the administrators in terms of development, hence, Pinnick’s and his members’ new templates for growth should be embraced wholesale. It is the way forward.

    Dangote is channelling all his energy in trying to buy Arsenal. But his chances of landing the Gunners’ looks almost impossible now, especially after Stan Kroenke, owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, completed his buyout of the North London club and is now the sole owner of shares in the club.

    The American billionaire agreed a £600million deal with Alisher Usmanov in August that took him beyond the 90 per cent ownership threshold after which he was obliged to buy all remaining shares.

    A statement from Arsenal Holdings PLC said: “Further to the announcement made by KSE, UK, Inc. on 28 August 2018 confirming the closing of its offer for Arsenal Holdings PLC, the compulsory acquisition by KSE of all of the Arsenal shares not assented to the offer completed on September 25 2018.

    “As stated in KSE’s announcement on 28 August, the trading in Arsenal shares on the NEX Exchange Growth Market will be withdrawn with effect from close of business today.”

    However, Dangote can be convinced by the Pinnick-led administration to help raise a football empire in Nigeria by investing locally. And to have Africa’s richest man involved in Nigerian football will be the a good deal.

     

  • Pinnick re-elected as NFF President

    Incumbent President of the Nigerian football Federation, NFF, Mr Amaju Pinnick, was on Thursday re-elected for a second term in office to superintend the Football Federation.

    The election which was held at the premises of Katsina State local Government Service Commission in Katsina saw Pinnick polling 34 votes to beat other three contestants to retain his seat.

    His closest rival and former NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Magari polled 8 votes, while the former Secretary of the NFF, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi who also contested for the seat, polled 2 votes. Honorable Chinedu Okoye, a new entrant in the contest, did not gather any vote at the election

    Read Also: Pinnick battles others for top job

    In all, 44 delegates from states’ football federation and other bodies including coaches, referees associations and players’ unions ,participated in the election, which was largely adjudged transparent and peaceful

    The chairman of the Electoral Committee for the election, Muhammed Katu announced the results.

    FIFA representatives, Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege were among football chiefs who witnessed the election.

    Elections into the other offices such as first Vice President, Chairman of Chairmen and other members of the NFF board were still in progress as at time of filing this report.

     

  • Super Eagles Coach drops assistant Salisu over ‘bribery scandal’

    Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, has reportedly confirmed that his assistant coach, Yusuf Salisu will not be part of the team set up against Seychelles.

    Salisu had his hands soiled in an alleged bribery scandal and this probably explains why the German tactician ruled the embattled Nigerian coach out of the Seychelles party next month in Victoria.

    This development, since the early hours of Friday, has elicited reactions among Nigerians with popular views saying that there is nothing wrong with the decision to drop the assistant coach for the sake of the country’s reputation.

    Others, however, wondered if the football governing house has by extension relived the CHAN Eagles Coach from his duty?

    See the reactions from Twitter below on the report titled’ BREAKING: Rohr confirms Salisu will not be part of the team set up against Seychelles.

     

    Rohr who spoke with newsmen on Friday, however, explained: “we have to wait for the report from the Ethics committee, it is not in my position to answer weather he(Salisu) will be back or not.”

    He continued, “it is the duty of my employer of labour that will determine whether he will be in the team next match. Mine is to coach the team and not the administrative point of view.”

    Rohr had on Friday released a list of 24 players for the next month’s 2018 Africa Cup of Nations crucial qualifying clash against Seychelles in Victoria.

    Rohr, expectedly, dropped captain John Mikel Obi, who recently returned from an injury, Victor Moses and Elderson Echiejile on the list.

    The duo of Shehu Abdullahi and Tyronne Ebuehi who were part of the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia also miss out due to injury.

    Chidozie Awaziem, Ola Aina, and Henry Onyekuru make a return to the team after missing out on the World Cup team.

    There was first time invitation for Kelechi Nwakali and the little-known duo of Semi Ajayi who plays for Rotherham United and SC Paderborn of Germany center-back Jamilu Collins.

    Four other players; Uche Agbo, Stephen Eze, Musa Mohammed and Blessing Eleke have been placed on Stand-by.

    The only home-based based player in the team, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, the coaches and the backroom staff will leave for Victoria on September 2nd for the game while the foreign-based are expected to start arriving camp in Victoria on September September 3rd.

  • Retirement: NFF to discuss with Moses- Sanusi

    *commends F.G for timely intervention on Fifa ban

    The Secretary- General of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed has commended the federal government for the timely intervention on Fifa ban which would have adversely affected millions of youths and age grade competitions.

    Sanusi said, football is a unifying factor which will not be put on hold while we wait for the amicable resolution of the crisis.

    The head of NFF Secretariat said the Federation will ensure adequate preparations for the national U-17team (Golden Eaglets) and the Super Eagles for the Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Seychelles next month

    “All the Federation is doing now is to prepare our national teams for competitions. We have two qualifiers, the Super Eagles in Seychelles, and Golden Eaglets in Benin Republic.

    Also we have Africa Women Cup of Nations billed for Ghana in November.

    What the federation is doing now is to ensure that Nigeria qualifies for all competitions and perform well”. Said Sanusi

    The former head of competitions revealed that the Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr has been directed to make himself available in preparation for the qualifier against Seychelles.  He said the Eagle’s handler has been in contact with players he intends to use for the game.

    On the exit of Victor Moses from the national team, Sanusi said “the football house is talking with him to find out the reason and if possible convince him to rescind his decision for the sake of the country” and the youth who look up to him.

  • 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

  • FIFA turns down NFF reconciliation visit to Zurich

    World Soccer Ruling body FIFA has rejected outright Nigeria’s request for reconciliation cum normalisation meeting in Zurich.  Sportinglife.ng gathered that last minute effort being made by Nigeria Football Federation and the Ministry of sports with intent to stop the looming ban.

    The latest move is coming barely 48 hours after Ghana succeeded in reaching agreement with FIFA to set up a nomalisation committee to run its affairs and navigate the country’s football federation out of crisis invested waters. But the same cannot be said of Nigeria as FIFA did not only quarrel with the composition of the delegation but noted that going ahead with Nigerian delegation as composed amounted to dictating for the soccer ruling body.

    Before the ‘please stay away order’ response from FIFA, a 16-man delegation to be led by the Sports minister Solomon Dalung had hoped to jet off to Zurich for the round table parley.

    Also included in the delegation are permanent Secretary Ministry of sports, Olusade Adesola, and two former NFA chairmen, Kodjo Williams and Ibrahim Galadima as well as former General Secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba.Also included are the two waring men for the soul of the Glass House Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa.

    FIFA President, Gianni Infantino is said not to be particularly tickled by the inclusion of both waring parties considering that the Giwa is still under FIFA ban.

    Nigeria has till 12noon Monday to sort the crisis out on face the hammer that will not only put football activities in the country on hold but will also see Confederation cup campaigners Enyimba who billed to face Djoliba on Sunday, kiss goodbye to the competition irrespective of the result they get in Bamako.

  • Jersey Scandal: Giwa led NFF rescues Flying Eagles

     

    *Buys kits for team before departure to Mauritania

    The Nation’s Under 20 team Flying Eagles, returned to the country after pulling a draw against Mauritania last Sunday, but it has now been revealed that the team would have hit Nouakchott without kits but for the intervention of the Chris Giwa led Nigeria Football Federation.

    An impeccable source told Sportinglife.ng that it was discovered that there were no kits in the store of the Glass House forcing the new board barely three weeks in office to go shopping for kits for the Paul Aigbogun led team to avoid national embarrassment.

    It is further understood that the Nike contract which the senior national team, the Super Eagles enjoyed ahead of the just ended World cup in Russia, did not cover other national teams.

    “The flying Eagles were set to depart and it was noticed that there were no kits in the store, so the new board had to quickly buy kits for the team before departure,” the source informed.

    But for the timely intervention the nation would have witnessed a re-enactment of the scenario few years back when the national team players were forced to cut their trousers to honour a match because the national jersey was left behind.

    Abubakar Ibrahim grabbed Flying Eagles goal in the seventh minute of the match at the Stade  Olympique, but the celebration in the Junior Eagles camp lasted only for four minutes before the hosts grabbed the equalizer.

    The Team will be hoping to consolidate in the return leg billed for Saturday July 21 at the Agege Township stadium. Coach of the team Paul Aigbogun who doubles as coach of CAF Confederation Cup campaigners Enyimba, remained optimistic that the team will post a better result at the home ground of premier league side MFM, otherwise dubbed the Temple.

  • AITEO Threatens to Quit Nigeria Football

    • Gives NFF 14-day ultimatum to resolve crisis

    Aiteo on Wednesday handed down a two week ultimatum for the leadership crisis rocking Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) be resolved, otherwise it will withdraw all its deal with the glasshouse.

    The major sponsor of Nigeria football  made this known in a signed statement made available on Wednesday afternoon.

    It reads, “The persisting situation makes it difficult for us, as a law-abiding entity, to operate responsibly within the demands placed on us.

    ”Accordingly, we are constrained to indicate that unless these issues are resolved satisfactorily in the manner dictated by the requirements of the world governing body FIFA within fourteen (14) days hereof, we will deem ourselves compelled to reconsider our position with respect to participation in the various arrangements in which we are involved.”

    The Africa Conglomerate company however called on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene on the glass-house crisis and also advised that this should be done to safe time as the 2019 African Cup of Nations beacons.

    “AITEO lends its voice to that of many well-meaning Nigerians to call for the quick and decisive resolution of the current issues especially as future campaigns for glory in the African Nations Cup are imminent.

    “Indisputably, certainty and stability with the leadership of the NFF remain pertinent to sponsors like us to continue to commit to the growth of Nigerian football in the manner that we have done,” it said in the statement.

    Aiteo has been sponsoring the Nigeria football since April 2017 and it played major sponsorship role in the just concluded FIFA 2018 World Cup for the Super Eagles.

  • ‘Only PMB can stop shenanigans in NFF’

    Nigerian football is in crisis and it is there for all to see that there is no immediate solution in sight with the lingering tussle over the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) amidst fear of an imminent ban by the world soccer ruling body, FIFA.
    Yet football promoter and founder of Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, pulls no punches about the unending imbroglio even as he made a clarion call on President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) to broker a truce among the contending forces in this explosive interview with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN. Excerpts…

    How will you rate the Super Eagles’ scorecard and performance at the Russia 2018 World Cup?

    The Super Eagles is a darling team to all Nigerians and no one can describe the affinity we have for the team even when they are under-performing. Unfortunately, it’s aching that over the last few years we have not been able to produce a team that could match our credential as a strong footballing nation. We should be the king of football in Africa; apart from Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana that have shown some magical stuff on the world stage, we have the talents to best everyone. We have to take our dominance as a superpower in African football to go out there and show that we can contest for the World Cup.  Russia 2018 was a dismal performance by the Super Eagles.  We thought we had built a team until we started getting bad results from late friendly matches. Reasons were given for that since we felt the payers were trying to avoid injuries but I knew we only had a team that could just participate in the World Cup and that has been the bane of the Super Eagles and, unfortunately, most African teams in recent times. We can’t see the justification in preparing and committing so many resources into our teams as compared to teams we have in Europe that have the strong mentality about winning the World Cup. Is anybody surprised that all the four semi-finalists of Russia 2018 are all European teams?  I’m not a pessimist, yet I wasn’t so optimistic that we had a team that can go as far as the quarter finals in Russia because we didn’t have that long-term plan to prepare a team that can win the World Cup. Preparations meet opportunity and I’ll say to the extent we prepared, we exited the World Cup in Russia. This is one World Cup that had showcased surprises; but our focus was that we just wanted to participate and ruffle few feathers. Only if we knew, we would at least play in the semi-finals. At this World Cup we have seen that preparation and determination helped the giant-killers.

    In honesty, did you think the Super Eagles were going to win the World Cup in Russia?

    Football is not a rocket science and there is nothing impossible or anything that suggested that the Super Eagles can’t win the World Cup with good preparation. With human determination, we can always achieve whatever we want to achieve; it takes determination to climb Mountain Everest and if we have such approach, there is nothing we can’t achieve. It takes just resolve and determination that we want to do it and I think as a brand, Nigeria can win the World Cup. We have proved it over the years at other levels with the U-17, U-20 and Olympics, so what’s stopping us from winning the real thing?  If we’d won the U-17 World Cup; got to the final of the U20 World Cup and won the Olympic Football Tournament, we can win the World Cup with solid developmental plans. There was no strong desire on the part of the payers and the coaching staff to win the World Cup at Russia 2018. It’s never too late to plan for the future and  it would be better  if we can identify the crop of players that can help our course in order to achieve this objective of winning the World Cup. If we’d prepared well, there was nothing stopping us from getting to the semi-finals of Russia 2018 because this was one of the most open World Cup in recent years.  If we have the right players, coaching crew and the administrators are ready to invest on long-time plans, there is nothing stopping us. If we have a common goal from the presidency to the ordinary man on the street and plan well to do achieve it, we can win the World Cup. But that plan has to start from now and I bet you, in three years’ time we would have been able to build a team that will be strong enough to compete against the rest of the world.   At this level of our development, we should not be running from playing the grade A matches that would expose our players to the required standard and level of the top footballing nations. It took eight years for the German team that won in 2014 and having the right psychological frame of mind, we are going to see very soon how they’ll respond to their set back in Russia. If we have well-laid plans and infuse the team together, we would be on the right path; and that, as we can see, took all the four teams to the semi-finals of Russia 2018 even without a magical player as was in the case of Portugal with Ronaldo or Argentina with Messi or even Brazil with Neymar. We can borrow from their templates and build a formidable team for the future.  We still have to look inwards to our domestic league and find the players that can contribute well to this task.

    How can there be development and growth of the game under the prevailing chaotic environment?

    What chaotic environment are we talking about? Who says the Brazilian, Argentine, Colombian and even the European environments are not chaotic?  We have South American countries that are having it tough in terms of governance and economics yet they are pulling their weight. The reason why things are not working in this country is that we are unpatriotic people and how do you expect such people to give their best in area of sports and even in other facets of our national life?  Once you don’t have love for the country, it’s going to be difficult to die for the country.  I think that’s why an American president said ‘think about what you can do for your country but not what your country can do for you’ and until we have such attitude, it would be difficult for us to make headway.  Of course, administration has been seen as what has bedevilled the development and growth of the game in the country.  But there are bound to be rancour when you have minds that are just political and not patriotic. At the risk of being accused of taking side about what is currently going on, I think Amaju Pinnick is a man with a vision and of course there is nothing wrong that he has an ambition but a lot of people think his ambition is overriding his vision for Nigerian football. I think it’s difficult for anybody to sacrifice all his contacts, which is like social capital for the benefits of the nation, and I’m talking in respect of the sponsors and supporters that the Pinnick-led NFF board has brought for the good of the game; it’s not enough for him to bring the sponsors but he also needs the enabling environment. One thing that is difficult for us in Africa is how to understand, embrace and translate the vision of leaders. Perhaps, Amaju Pinnick’s vision has not been well articulated to some of his followers and because we are in an environment riddled with crisis, things don’t go the right way.

    So, how do we get out of this trouble spot especially now when there are cases in court and the NFF seems not to be in control of anybody?

    Frankly, the only solution in sight is for President Muhammadu Buhari to step into this crisis as the father of the nation.  It’s not enough for him to have some certain people as his eyes and I think it’s about time he called on the stakeholders to a meeting in order to fashion out ways out of this unfortunate crisis.  It will be good for him to feel the pause of the segment that brings glory to the country. Nigerians’ love for football was there for all to see on the day we beat Iceland because a country that had been in gloom suddenly burst into life.  It would be to the advantage of a sitting president if he can look at that facet of our national life and put an end to the crisis. By calling the stakeholders, he would be calling all Nigerians because we all love our football. PMB is a kind of person that everybody would be in awe at his presence and in that case, the truth will surface and we can move from there. The problem largely is our capacity and inability to manage this crisis and I think everybody is not enmeshed in this crisis in the football house, as such we have knowledgeable people outside the football stakeholders that can offer the blueprint and panacea that can take our football to the next level. All PMB needs are technocrats that he can sit down with in order to resolve the issues on ground.

    How do we stop this tussle over the NFF’s leadership which has been a recurring problem every four years since 2006?

    Frankly, something is fundamentally wrong with the electioneering process that we need to address. That thing that is wrong must be identified and uprooted.

    (Cuts in) What do you think is wrong?

    I think it is selfish interest of some people over our collective aspiration as a people that has been the problem with the NFF over the years. Every responsible organisation must have an opening for disagreement or disagreement that would lead to agreement when there are genuine motives and love for the game rather than selfish and vested interests. The first step is to identify those vested interests and if President Buhari can call up these vested interests to the round table for honest discussion, we would be on our way to resolving this crisis.  Over the years, these vested interests have metamorphosed into camps and as time goes on, these camps began to fight one another and that is what is happening right now. So, we need to go to the roots and not look at the effects. Those vested interests are people who feel they should not be undermined; they are people who feel they should enthrone and as we all know when there is a clash of the titans, the ordinary man suffers and in this case our football will suffer greatly.

    Where do we go from here?

    It’s simple and as I said earlier, it’s only President Muhammadu Buhari that cam resolve this crisis.  Regardless of the present situation in the country, President Buhari is highly revered and feared by all. I think he’s in the best position to stop this charade. In his presence, the stakeholders are bound to speak the truth that will end this crisis.  He’s one leader I think nobody would want to insult; he has the aura and I pray he rubs that on our football and brings an end to this unfortunate crisis. With due respect, the Sport Minister (Barr. Solomon Dalung) should also be involved and come out to say all that he knows but, ultimately, it’s President Buhari that holds the ace to end this crisis.  Since the next election is just two months away, I think anybody who wants to run should be allowed and the election should be conducted in the presence of observers from FIFA, CAF and the Presidency and be televised live to Nigerians.

    You are a major stakeholder too, how does the politicking in NFF affect your own business?

    I have been involved in football business since the 1990s and I had the privilege of making a major transfer from Julius Berger during the time of the late Chief Daniel Idama. And when he saw the transparent manner I handled the job, he said ‘you are not a ‘biribiri’ (fraudulent) agent and he asked me to kneel down to pray for my continuous success in the business. That is indeed memorable for me. Over the years, I have also worked with the NFF in a very transparent and strictly professional manner so that I don’t have problem with who is ever in charge at the Glass House.  I have a track record of doing things the right way and I’m good whether a new king comes in or not, it doesn’t affect my business. I make sure I go through the required due process to get things done at the NFF and in that way there is no conflict with the way I run my business because everything is done in a transparent manner. In 2011, I partnered with the NFF to ensure that FIFA rescinded its decision of not allowing Nigerians to write its agency exams and it was at my behest that this was possible. I actually initiated the plans in 2009 and followed it up for almost two years before I got the approval and that shows I don’t cut corners in my dealings with the NFF.  My style is always to apply the Biblical principle that if you want something, ask for it and if need be, I also apply the pressure marketing that is obtainable in the banking sector in order to get what I want. With the success of the international workshop and training and re-training of agents, FIFA lifted its embargo on its exams in Nigeria. Afterwards, I also felt there was need to applaud the success of our footballers and I came up with   the Nigeria Pitch Awards which I defended in front of all the board members at the instance of the late Deji Tinubu who was then the head of the NFF’s marketing committee. We thank God for the success of the Nigeria Pitch Awards over the last six years.

    In conclusion, doing the right thing and in a transparent manner does not affect my business with the NFF.

  • Supreme Court fires NFF executive committee

    The Ministry of Youth and Sports on Monday directed the Nigeria Football Federation to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court which set aside the election into the Executive Committee of the Federation held on Sept. 30, 2014.

    The directive was given in a statement by Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Monday in Abuja.

    According to the statement, the supreme court verdict restored the orders of the Federal High Court which set aside the purported election of the current Executive Committee of the NFF. The statement reported Dalung as saying that the directive followed a written notification from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports to ensure compliance.

    “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.” The order states that the election of the NFF held on Aug. 26, 2014 under the leadership of Chris Giwa be recognised pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in the case.

    The court order added that the purported ban of the Giwa-led Executive Committee, elected on Aug. 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF was unconstitutional, null and void. “It is trite law that court orders are sacrosanct and any acts of disobedience to it constitute 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,’’ it read.

    Dalung, however, in the statement, directed the parties involved to comply with the order. “This is an 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 orders of June 5, while Mr Amaju Pinnick (NFF President) and others are also directed to comply with same.”