By Adeyinka Akintunde, Lagos on August 4, 2016

The Chairman/CEO of Hot Sports Media Group, Mr. Taye Ige, has expressed worry concerning the running of football in Nigeria. He believes that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is distracted by many things, and this is causing negative effects in Nigerian football.

Speaking with Daily Sports in Lagos, the widely travelled sports journalist and entrepreneur said: “My take on the situation of football in Nigeria cannot be different from that of the average Nigerian man or the woman on the street. It is very bad, the implications in or lives are there, but we hope for the best.”

“The NFF is distracted by so many things; today they are in court, tomorrow somebody wakes up and thinks that he can resuscitate a matter that was dead and long forgotten. The administration is finding it inexplicably difficult to get its acts right in very crucial areas. There is no coach; the Super Eagles that will be playing these 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (African Zone) don’t have a rallying point as at now. In those days, it was easy to name Nigeria’s first eleven, but we cannot do so now.”

Talking about the Nigeria national team, Ige said: “Sunday Oliseh, in his reign as coach, came to unearth so many names which we did not know existed, and just as the team was taking shape, he left for another guy to take over, bringing his own different style. Late Stephen Keshi built his team throughout his time as coach, and we would have thought that by now we would have a team that would instill fear on our opponents, but not so, and now our situation has been worsened by the fact that we are in a group that is not so easy, qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. So, with all these, if care is not taken, we will not be in Russia, and it will be disappointing to miss two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations, and the FIFA World Cup.”

When asked if he supports the appointment of a foreign coach as against a Nigerian coaching the Super Eagles, Ige said: “Anyone that is good enough to coach the Super Eagles, set up a result-oriented recruitment process, and let anyone that is interested go through that process, irrespective of colour and personality.”

Ige lamented the poor preparations Nigeria had for the Rio 2016 Olympics. He said: “It is impossible to imagine that Nigeria could have prepared for a major event like it did for the Rio 2016 Olympics. So we just leave everything to time to see what can happen. The Dream Team that would have inspired some hope of medals, some of the players are not released by their club sides, and they would not want to risk their places in the club, which is like a newfound job to them, to sacrifice for the Olympics. So we just hope for the best.”

•Photo shows Chairman/CEO of Hot Sports Media Group, Taye Ige.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 4, 2016

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