Sports
‘Football Organisers Do Not Have Powers To Sanction Clubs’
The League Management Company, (LMC), organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL; the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL); the Nigeria National League, (NNL), and the Nationwide League One, (NLO), does not have powers to sanction, punish or reprimand clubs participating in their leagues.
Former Nigeria Premier League, NPL and second Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Chief Ramson Baribote, stated this recently.
In an exclusive interview, the chairman of Nembe City Football Club opined that the league organisers lack the statutory powers to sanction, punish or reprimand clubs playing in the various leagues in the country.
Chief Baribote, a legal practitioner, stated this in the wake of a two million naira fine imposed on Naija Ratels Football Club by the Nigeria Women’s Football League NWFL board last week, which has generated wide views on its desirability.
In announcing the heavy sanction, the NWFL board said “In case of Naija Ratels, the letter addressed to the club Chairman, Barrister Edeh, and signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the NWFL, Modupe Shabi, the Women’s league board, stated that: “We kindly refer you to the Match No. 2 between Nasarawa Amazons FC and Naija Ratels FC, scheduled for the 16th May, 2022 in Benin City, Edo State. You will recall that your club failed to wear the Tulcan Energy branded jerseys even though the other participating teams agreed to wear the sponsor’s jersey. This single action by Naija Ratels FC almost brought the game to disrepute and the credibility of the league into question.”
“In view of the above, Naija Ratels FC contravened the NWFL Statutes on Sponsorship, in Articles 7.8, 7.9, 7.10.
And consequent upon these, Article 23.2.2 says:” Any club owner/official that brings the game into disrepute or ridicule the NWFL in public through utterances, misconduct, communication or any form of communication will be sanctioned with the payment of the sum of (N2,000,000) Two million naira, and three months suspension.”
However, Chief Baribote countered the decision of the NWFL board, stating that no league organisers or boards have the right to interpret its own laws, adding that such power is domiciled with the Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee.
“If I comment on this, they will rain insults on me. Where is our football really heading to? I don’t understand. The League Board is likened to that of the police who prepares the case file and take to court for interpretation. They (Police) cannot sentence or impose punishment on anyone based on alleged breaches. Such powers reside with the judiciary in the instant case with the judicial body of the Nigeria Football Federation as clearly stated in Article 64 of the NFF Statutes, The Judicial Bodies;
1.The Disciplinary Committee
2. The Appeals Committee
“So if one is dissatisfied with the verdict of the Disciplinary Committee you can then appeal the verdict/ decision of the Disciplinary Committee to the Appeals Committee,” he said.
When asked about the fact that the LMC has been sanctioning clubs from time immemorial, Chief Baribote said that the fact that the league organisers are flagrantly arrogating to themselves powers they do not have does not make the situation right.
“The law is settled that one cannot be a judge in his own case. The League Board cannot interpret and enforce their Rules/Laws. I stand to be corrected. I once headed the Premier League Board and again these Club Chairmen do they (League Board) accord them the opportunity to appear and defend themselves?
“If the League Board imposes such fines and suspension, what will the Disciplinary Committee do? With what is stated above, it amounts to usurpation of the powers of the judicial bodies of the NFF by the League Boards and such decision cannot stand in the face of this.
“There is separation of powers, the judicial bodies of the NFF cannot organise League Football/ Games and the League Board likewise cannot function as the judicial organ of the NFF. But wetin I sabi sef …” he concluded in pidgin English.
Sports
CAA Wants Ghana To Host 2026 Athletics Champions
The Confederation of African Athletics has invited Ghana to bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 African Athletics Championships, following a successful athletics event at the just concluded 2023 African Games.
President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini, stated this and expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the Legon Stadium for athletes and Ghana’s bid to host international competitions.
With a capacity of 11,000, the Legon Stadium played a pivotal role in the recent African Games, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as various sporting events including athletics, football, and rugby.
Fuseini highlighted the success of the athletics events held at the stadium, which contributed to Ghana winning six medals.
“We have already started getting requests from the Confederation of African Athletics to bid for the 2026 African Athletics Championships.
“When they came and saw what we have put in place and the level of organisation, they told me that for the last 20 years, they’ve never seen any organisation like this before. We did three official courses. And the last one, we had 110, all of them passed. We had a lot of officials and equipment.”
Since its establishment in 1979, Ghana has never hosted the African Athletics Championships, with Nigeria being the host country twice, in 1989 and 2018.
This year, Cameroon will take the reins as the host nation, with the event set to be held at the Olembe Stadium.
Sports
‘I’m Not Under Pressure To Coach Eagles’
Finidi George, head coach of the Nigeria Premier Football Leagues side, Enyimba, has stated that he is not losing any sleep over getting the Super Eagles job on a permanent basis.
Early this month, the Nigeria Football Federation declared the position of the Super Eagles’ head coach vacant, following the exit of Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who led the side to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup Nations in Ivory Coast in February.
In an advertisement on its website calling for applications with a March 13 deadline, the football governing body stated that the prospective Eagles coach “must have proven experience at the elite level of football.”
The former Ajax man, who also applied for the job, was appointed Eagles interim coach for the international window with the former winger picking a win and suffering a defeat.
In an interview with Tidesports source, the 52-year-old tactician said he was not desperate for the job permanently.
“I felt really good when I was told to take charge of the team. I have been with the team for almost two years, I know all the players, their strengths, and their weaknesses but I am only here to serve Nigeria the way I know how to do stuff.
“I will just take these two games and go back to my club. Whatever the decision is taken after, so be it. I’m not under pressure to say I must get the role permanently.”
Sports
‘Reasons Why Eagles Lost To Mali’
The friendly games against Ghana and Mali were to serve as an audition for George Finidi, who was in charge of the team on an interim basis, but the Eagles’ lacklustre display in those friendlies has called for his further evaluation.
Finidi kept faith with ex-coach Jose Peseiro’s defensive formation against Mali on the back of his first win (against Ghana) in charge of the team four days earlier.
But this time, his defence was punished following a combination of defensive errors and poor passes.
The Eagles struggled to play out of defence due to the high pressing of the Malians and it was no surprise that the first goal by Les Aigles was a direct result of their aggression.
Chidozie Awaziem, who started on the right of the back three alongside Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi, lacked composure and was pressured into making a pass across his box straight at Bilal Toure, who made no mistake in getting the ball past Stanley Nwabali. They missed the calming presence of injured William Troost-Ekong.
Vice captain, Kenneth Omeruo, was also culpable of misplaced passes and was beaten for pace when Kamory Doumbia ran past him to seal Mali’s first win in over four decades, firing his shot past a helpless Nwabali, who stood no chance.
Eagles wing backs, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamilu Collins also did not do enough to support the team in attack when they had the chance to.
Lack of creativity
Finidi paired Raphael Onyedika and Wilfred Ndidi in a double pivot in midfield. Both players are naturally anchor men and neither is a box-to-box midfielder.
They both do not possess the offensive capability to drive the team’s attack forward, which left the Eagles once again craving for a natural creative midfielder.
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