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That This House May Not Fall

By By Victor Enyinnaya on June 13, 2022

It is intriguing that, 77 years of inaugurating Federation Football Nigeria in (1945) the legacy left by the forerunners of the then NFA has been rubbished via maladministration which has seen the country’s football till date.

Therefore what our beloved but beleaguered football entire set up i.e, foundation of our football arena that is heavily distorted needs now is a brand new beginning. Even more interesting is the fact that today’s national football is steadily going down and no holistic measure (s) is/are being taken towards getting it back on track than the usual traditional hiring of sub-standard foreign coach whose high wage bill is being shared with those on the saddle.

This system has not changed even the current handlers went this mill. The founding fathers of Nigerian football project must be turning in their graves now that things have gone astray in the round leather game they cherished, labored so hard and, built, sustained and nurtured.

By definition, founding fathers of a thing or even nation are builders and vessels of honour. And for instance, football as nation- building, like any other enduring structural construction, necessarily involves the laying of an appropriate solid and firm foundation.

Therefore as we deliberate on this today, we must, then, ask what happened to the foundation laid by the likes of Sunday Dankaro, Anthony Ikhazabor, Emeka Omeruah etc all of the blessed memories with other indefatigable seasoned and veteran administrators who made and showed great zeal and true patriotism that grew Nigerian football?

Another question here is, was that foundation fundamentally flawed? Did we commence our experiment in our national football construction without even bothering about a foundation? Or is it that we, who inherited the founders’ mantle, have deviated from the guiding master plan envisioned by the exemplars of the struggle for better footing of Nigerian football project? Or have we built on foundation laid in a reckless manner that now threatens the safety of the inhabitants of what is supposed to be a secured dwelling?

If so, it is by miracle that our football building, despite several nearlies or mishaps in our football evolution, has not caved in on our heads for last seven decades plus sojourn in football building and search for solid ground. Is this part of the inexplicable enigma that makes Nigerian football one of the veritable wonders of the World?

As one ponders these several questions on the present day Nigerian football dilemma, we cannot but recall that audacious American Journalist, Karl Meir who wrote a book on Nigeria with the rather provocative title “THIS HOUSE HAS FALLEN” . Of course, some of our compatriots could not fathom such seemingly reckless presumption on the part of an outsider! But who, particularly after 1996, witnessing the dangerous rocking and shaking of Nigerian football ship of state. In short, the loss of faith in the very idea of Nigerian football would have come to a different conclusion?

It is the vehement belief of this columnist that Karl Meir did us all an unsolicited but very profitable service. Nothing could have been more dangerous than harboring the illusion that we were perfectly safe; that all our dwelling required were many patches here and there when, like those ill-fated outings of being unable to go beyond the round of the last AFCON held in Cameroun and the inability of the present leadership of the NFF to led Nigeria to qualify for the forthcoming World Cup in UAE. They are titanic all, we are now faced with the prospect of a horrifying catastrophe in our football.

At times like this, however one cannot but recall with strong feelings of nostalgia how the game was some few years back enroute our watershed year of Atlanta Olympics 1996. It is on the above note that we need a complete and total break from the past as this year’s delegates election of the NFF holds. Nigeria and her numerous football fans need who will give new face and fresh breathe administratively going forward. We must vote against the status quo. The problem is the lopsidedness of the delegates that favour the sitting administration.

There must be a clean slate to start from this term. The dare consequences therefore facing us right now is if we fail this time to elect those that have programme for the good of our football it will be too bad. The present regime and the people angling to succeed Amaju Pinnick if allowed would no doubt plug our football into unbearable crisis.

It is why Emeruwa Christain and his young but very brilliant compatriots should be supported to aspire to take over football administration in the country late this year to enthrone football best practices as obtainable in the civilized world. Let us keep our fingers crossed as we keep shooting hard till next week!! Meanwhile, we wait.

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted June 13, 2022