Sports
Ex-Referees Boss Okays Blatter’s Re-Election Bid
A former member of the Ni
gerian Football Federation (NFA) and former president of Nigerian Referees Association, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, has thrown his weight behind FIFA president, Sepp Blatter to re-contest as president of the world football body next year.
Dr Jaja, who was speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, last Friday, said the level of performance and improvement in the game of football justifies the re-election of Blatter for sustainability of the gains achieved in the game.
He noted that the 77 year old Blatter should be encouraged to contest if he desires while citing his predecessor and that of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president.
On the world cup provisional list released by coach Stephen Keshi, the Rivers State born former sports administrator, urged Nigerians not to distract the coach because he has the technical know-how to know the players that would prosecute the world cup for the country.
He, however, justified the defence of the list before the technical committee of the NFF, since according to him, the coach needs to explain to his employers his programmes and how he hopes to carry it through.
Jaja urged Nigerians to have confidence on coach Keshi, knowing that he won the Nations Cup and qualified Nigeria for the world cup, emphasising that Nigerians are very critical people, where every body becomes football coach.
On why Nigerian Referees are not officiating at tournament level in CAF and FIFA, the former referees president attributed the development to politics, stressing that “if you watch the African Football it is dominated by the francophone countries and Nigeria have not done well too, just like other facets of human life.
He hinted that as NFF president, he attracted CAF to Port Harcourt and lamented the treatment metted out to a FIFA graded referee and number six in Africa continent, Mr. Solomon from Rivers State.
‘I thanked God that the current executive of the Referees Asssociation are doing a lot to improve the situation because referees’ academy are being established in several states of the federation”, he said, adding that in less than 10 years Nigerian referees would be listed to officiate at CAF and FIFA tournament.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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