By News Express on August 27, 2018

For keen observers and analysts, the hen is yet to come home to roost as far as the crisis rocking the nation’s football is concerned. It is obvious that the dispute is far from being over as it was only just a deadline given by FIFA not to make real her threat to ban Nigeria from participating in international football tournament. However, it is instructive to note here that Daily Sports again scored perfectly by following religiously the Amaju-Giwa imbroglio even as it finally came to an end.

The authoritative all sports portal in this page last week predicted correctly where the pendulum would swing with the headline, ‘Federal Government vs NFF: The fittest smiles Last.’ After going through all the events, Amaju Pinnick led authentic NFF was finally backed by the same federal government who through Chris Giwa and Solomon Dalung instigated the avoidable crisis that rocked the body before and after the Russia 2018 World Cup summit via the courts.

The federal government saved its face by towing the path of sanity. After it lost its spirited bid to wrestle the NFF from those it purported are not its supporters and haven been deceived that FIFA has no power over the laws of our land especially from the Supreme Court, Dalung further insinuated that by so doing FIFA will backpedal and recognise Giwa.

It became clear to the federal government that Dalung deceived it when FIFA locked her doors against Dalung and vowed that it has nothing to do with him as it does not discuss football matters with government and its officials except through its affiliate federation which NFF and Amaju Pinnick represents. Federal government not only denied Dalung but also left him at the middle of a lonely road, hence his outbursts on the matter which FIFA, the custodians of the beautiful and exciting game has long buried.

Showing how naïve and silly the Minister is, he said so many unprintable lies and manifested undue ignorance in the name of saving face. He only succeeded in ridiculing the federal government and himself thereby exposing Nigeria as a country without a defined system where mediocrity holds sway.

There may have been some lessons learned in the whole NFF crisis. However, our leaders have often learned nothing and forgotten nothing, at the same time insisting they are right in the heat of obvious mistakes, as Dalung recently displayed. The Plateau man is just one of the thousands of so-called leaders.  

What we saw was the usual Nigerian government way of displaying raw silly power play where there was supposed to be none. The stand of this Columnist is clear from day one as regards our Supreme Court pronounced judgment on NFF. I did say dear readers that though I have lots of respect for the highest Court in the land and the judges that constituted the much respected Court, that football matters are not heard in open courts except FIFA”s  Court of Arbitration for sports.

I also said that both Amaju and Giwa are my friends that I have never failed to tell where each erred.  I have maintained that stand which did not go down well with Giwa and Dalung supporters even among colleagues. It was not funny seeing colleagues supporting what is wrong and beating their chests that the illegality was the right way to go.

The dust is now a bit settled and it beholds on the dramatis personae, to be honest to themselves and the game and stop crying wolf where there is none. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the forthcoming NFF election will be all-embracing and transparent so that people that would emerge after the September 2018 polls will be those that would give the fast declining sports new lease of life and great future. The war is temporarily over. Hopes are high that in the spirit of the game, every stakeholder that has the interest and growth of the game at heart would emerge and all parties willing to participate in the election will be given a level playing ground in the spirit of fair play. Giwa and his rebels should be forgiven and told in clearer languages that this is not the time for unnecessary finger pointing and needless antagonism.

One believes that Amaju and his men would be fair enough and in the spirit of the game allow the sleeping dog to lie. The battle will be finally won but to remain focused and steadfast, resolute and determined to change the cause of history.  Amaju has a date with history in that important aspect.

The stage would soon be set revealing whatever will be the future of Nigerian football. Fact is that there must be no mistakes about it. It is an uphill task reinventing the game.    We must call a spade by its name and advance forward with progressive football management and visible growth of the sport in the land. Our collective demand also must be tailored towards ensuring that there is accountability, fair play, and transparency in that agency, notwithstanding the corruption syndrome in high and low places.

Let us keep our fingers crossed and discuss further on this burning and trending issue on our Twitter handle, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. There must be a clear and marked improvement on how our football is run forthwith. It is a well-deserved clarion call if we are not deceiving ourselves in every sense of the word.

Keep shooting hard till next week!!

Source News Express

Posted August 27, 2018

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