Minister Finds Solution To Football Crisis

Sports Minister Yusuf Suleiman has called for pragmatic solutions that would help to curb the incessant recurrence of crisis in Nigeria’s football.

While inaugurating the Ministerial Committee of Experts on the Reform of Nigerian Football,  in Abuja, Monday, Suleiman said  it was sad that efforts and time have been consumed by crisis in the sport.

“It was clear to me immediately on assumption of office that my first assignment should be to bring peace to the football family because a lot of efforts, time and resources have been consumed by the crisis,’’ he said.

The committee headed by a former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), retired Brig.-Gen. Dominic Oneya, has nine members and four resource persons.

The minister, who is also the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), said there was  need for peace in the football family in order to promote sustainable development.

“There is the need for peace in order to promote football, especially as we have all realised that those good resources and time could have been better utilised and we all know there is need for reforms too,’’ he said

Suleiman pointed out that sports administration in Nigeria had now reached a crucial point where it had to face the necessary challenges in a better way.

“We are at a crucial moment in our sports administration when we must face our challenges adequately, knowing that we have the capacity to deal with such challenges in view of our talents and resources.

“This is why this committee must complete this assignment very expeditiously and come out with pragmatic and achievable solutions that will help us end this crisis once and for all,’’ he said.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Oneya assured that the members would do a good job in order not to disappoint the nation.

“We know there is  need for a peaceful atmosphere to prevail for our football to grow, and we will, in this line, not disappoint. We will deliver as expected and hope that there will not be any regrets thereafter,’’ he said.

Oneya commended the minister for his efforts in getting the warring parties to a roundtable, saying “we are grateful to the minister for hitting the ground running, just days after coming into office.

“This gives us an assurance that you are a Sports Minister we can count on for a sustainable development of sports in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The committee is expected to work between now and October 31, with six terms of reference, which include the revision of the NFA statutes.