Sports
Mixed Reactions Trail FIFA Ban
Following the recent
ban placed on Nigeria by World Football governing body, FIFA, over what it sees as government’s interference, which will bar the country from participating in any international games, Nigeria are sharply divided over its propriety and impact.
While some see it as an ill-wind that would take the country several years back in the game, some said that it would be a blessing in disguise.
FIFA had in a letter dated July 4, 2014 demanded for the immediate reinstatement of the ousted Aminu Maigari-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, which was removed in line with an order from a High Court in Jos.
The world body insisted that the ban will only be lifted once the court action is withdrawn and the ousted executive committee members reinstated.
According to a coach with Rivers State Sport Council, who did not want is name in print, the ban is a huge setback for the country and underlines the many problems trailing the organization and administration of football in Nigeria. He called on the authorities to do the right thing that would lead to the lifting of the ban.
Former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu expressed disappointment over the ban and feared for the future of the game. “I am sad to hear that FIFA has banned us. From all indications, if things are not done according to FIFA, we will miss out of the 2015 African Cup of Nations, our U-20 girls won’t play in Canada and lots more. Our football will suffer a lot as this can only take us backwards,” Chukwu said.
Coach Justin Jenger said it was a shame that we have to do the right thing by FIFA. “This is the saddest thing ever to happen to Nigerian football, where are we heading now?” he queried rhetorically.
But the Assistant Coach of Rivers Angels FC, Port Harcourt, Whyte Ogbonda threw his support behind the sacking of the NFF board and said that if the FIFA ban is the price the country has to pay to reorganize the administration of football in Nigeria, let it be so.
Ogbonda said that the ban would turn out to be a good omen that may help Nigeria. He urged the authorities in Nigeria not to placate FIFA by reinstating the ousted NFF board, describing the NFF as a very corrupt institution that has been running the game aground.
When reminded that the ban would affect even club-sides on continental assignments, the coach said that such clubs should persevere and see it as a sacrifice or the rebirth of the sector in Nigeria. He however urged that the period of the ban should be used to restructure football administration.
Meanwhile, former FIFA Adviser and member of FIFA Study Group, Festus Onigbinde has urged Nigeria to call the bluff of the world body, while he wants Nigeria to obey FIFA, he wants government to hands off football sponsorship.
According to Onigbinde, he who pays the piper dictates the tune and if FIFA doesn’t consider Nigerian government’s sponsorship and investment in football as interference but intervention as a result of court order to ensure peace and order as interference, then my advice is that the government of Nigeria should hands off entirely the financing and sponsorship of the game in the country. Let the administrators removed by the NFF congress be reinstated and start sponsoring football all alone without the support of the government of Nigeria.
“If FIFA says we should bring them back, let’s do so but they must look for their own money to run their affairs because giving them money will also amount to interference. What the nation should do now is to sit down and restructure our football physically and technically.”
The National Sports Commission (NSC) says it will no longer pay athletes training grants in foreign currency.
The development came after sprinter, Kayinsola Ajayi, alleged foul play regarding the disbursement of training grants by the Commission.
Head of NSC’s Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board, Yusuf Alli, told Tidesports source on Friday that it was wrong of Ajayi to rubbish the good intention of the NSC, saying: “I have been in athletics for over 40 years now, and this current NSC Board, led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, has done what others could not do. So far, the NSC has spent over N200 million in payment of training grants for athletes ahead the 2026 Commonwealth Games and preparation for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”
The NSC sourced the money from the private sector. It has never happened before. “I expected the athletes to encourage the NSC so that it can do more instead of raising unnecessary alarm and making allegations that is capable of discouraging them (NSC) and even the sponsors. It takes good initiative and trust for sports administrators in Nigeria to convince sponsors to donate money for welfare of athletes,” he said.
Speaking further, Alli, whose long jump record of 8.27m set in 1989 (35 years ago) is still unbroken, said: “We have decided that henceforth, all payment of training grants will be in Naira. No more payment of grants in U.S. dollars. We are Nigerians, and everyone knows that the exchange rate is not stable. As at the time Ajayi got his money, the rate of dollars to Naira may have changed
“I expected him to make a call either to myself or anybody in the Elite Board, or even the NSC to find out what happened instead of resorting to such allegation.
“If we make payment in Naira, any athlete who wants to convert his or her money to any foreign currency can tell their people back home to do so. I am sure this will solve the problem. If anybody wants to know how much he is entitled to, he must first of all find out the category that he or she belongs to.”
Alli disclosed that coaches, who train the athletes would soon get their grant. “They train the athletes, and the NSC feel is it not proper to leave them out in payment of grants. We have compiled their names, and very soon, the coaches would get their money,” Alli stated.
The chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has directed that a minute’s silence be observed before kick-off at all Matchday 30 fixtures this weekend in honour of former Green Eagles captain Henry Nwosu, following the death of the former midfielder at the age of 62.
In a statement made available to Tidesports source on Saturday, the league body confirmed that the tribute would be held across all matches to recognise the contribution of the former international to Nigerian football.
Elegbeleye described Nwosu’s passing as both a personal loss and a painful moment for the country’s club football community.
Nwosu, who was the youngest member of Nigeria’s squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja after a brief illness.
The former midfielder had reportedly spent several days in hospital receiving intensive care before his death.
Elegbeleye said the late footballer was more than a colleague within the sport, describing him as someone with whom he had maintained a long-standing personal relationship dating back to his time at the National Sports Commission.
He said the former national team star had remained supportive of him in various moments of his career, including when he was nominated for the Pitch Football Awards.
Reflecting on Nwosu’s legacy, the NPFL chairman said the news represented the loss of a major figure in Nigerian football, noting that the former midfielder distinguished himself not only at club level but also later contributed to the development of the domestic game as a coach.
Elegbeleye said the death of the former international was “the death of a true ambassador of the domestic and national team football because he not only made his mark as a player in league clubs, but he also coached some of the league clubs.”
He added that death remained a submission to the will of God and prayed for the repose of Nwosu’s soul while urging strength for his family as they mourn the loss of their loved one.
Earlier confirmation of the former midfielder’s death came from former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami, who revealed that Nwosu died after spending five days in hospital. Odegbami said the former player passed away at about four o’clock in the morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment in intensive care.
“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON,” Odegbami said.
“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at four o’clock this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in heaven”.
At the club level, the former international spent most of his career in Nigeria, starring for New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and African Continental Bank FC of Lagos during a period when both sides were among the dominant forces in domestic football. His performances later earned him moves abroad, where he also played for ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon.
