By Daily Sports on December 13, 2018

The Football Intermediaries Association of Nigeria (FIAN) has named Chucks Ojioma as the chairman of the electoral Committee for the forthcoming elections into some sensitive positions of the association. 

The positions being contested for include:

1. President

2. 1st Vice President

     2nd Vice President 

3. Secretary

4. Assistant Secretary

5. Financial Secretary

6. Legal Adviser

7. Treasurer

8. PRO/Spokesperson

9. Social Secretary

10. Welfare Officer

A respected players’ agent himself, Ojioma’s appointment is a reflection of the high regard in which he is held amongst players’ intermediaries in the country. 

Speaking on his task as electoral chairman for the elections scheduled to hold in March 2019, Ojioma promised a level playing field for all candidates for the election, while assuring that he will ensure that the general wishes of members of FIAN who vote would be respected and reflected accurately in the results. 

Ojioma stressed that “what’s more important at the end is that all members of FIAN come together as one to work for the development of football in Nigeria in general and to represent well the interests of players in the tough world of professional football.” 

Ojioma listed funding for the task of being chairman of the electoral body of FIAN and also pressure from candidates seeking reassurances about a transparent election process as the major challenges he is facing, but reassured that he is up to the task of conducting successful elections for FIAN next year. 

As well as being a well-known personality in the grassroots level of football, Ojioma also has worked assiduously in representing players at international level of football. 

Key issues that typically surround the activities of players intermediary bodies worldwide and in Nigeria particularly include commission fee for agents when selling players, “image rights”, “players contract” and how players earnings can be maximised, securing visas easily for players traveling internationally for transfer deals as well as how to settle disputes between players and clubs. 

                                                                    ***

Arsenal’s Maitland-Niles reveals racial abuse he suffered as a youth player 

Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles says he was the victim of racial abuse while playing for the Gunners youth team.

The midfielder said he was 12 and playing an away game in Germany when it happened but “nothing was done”.

His comments come as police investigate allegations Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was racially abused at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“It hurts to talk about it but it is so important to get rid of it from the game,” said Maitland-Niles, 21.

Social media users posted a video of an incident during the first half of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over City, during which Sterling was shouted at as he collected the ball from behind the goal.

The following day, the England international said newspapers were helping to “fuel racism” because of the way they portray young black footballers.

“I think it’s disgusting,” said Maitland-Niles. “I really do credit Raheem for coming out and standing up for himself and other players and speaking about it.

“Raheem is a brave lad for doing it and I just hope that more people put their ear towards him and have some sympathy for him, because it’s not the first time it’s happened and we just want it to be the last.”

Speaking about his own experience, the England Under-21 international said it had been “similar” to the Sterling incident and that he was abused as he went to pick the ball up for a throw-in.

“What can I do? I just got on with the game, as he did,” said Maitland-Niles. “To me, responding to it is scoring a goal to put their team down. I only thought they were doing it because I was having a good game.

“I guess that’s one way of them sort of trying to knock me off my game and make me feel uncomfortable about myself.”

He added: “At the time, I just spoke to my dad about it and he did sort of give me the heads up and showed me a few things about racism before my time, when I was playing football, just as there still is in the game now.

“I think we just really need to put our heads to it and get it cut out as soon as possible.”

•Maitland Niles story sourced from BBC. Photo shows Ojioma, chairman of Nigeria Football players’ intermediaries electoral body 

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 13, 2018

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