By Daily Sports on September 26, 2016

Without much ado, if demography of players is used as a barometer in determining the level of football growth of a country, Nigeria would be among the front liners in the world of football, second only to Brazil.

For instance, undertake a fact-finding tour of this most populated black nation of the world and you will marvel at the abundance of talents.

God in His infinite grace added abundant mineral, human resources and in His wisdom too bestowed on this country young boys and girls with unmatchable talents.

In Lagos State alone, an estimated 30,000 youths dot various playground spaces in Ajegunle, Ikeja, Surulere, Agege, Alimosho, Ogba, Ojo, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun, etc, juggling the round leather.

The same holds out in notable other cities like Aba, Kano, Jos, Benin, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Enugu, Maiduguri, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Akure, Bauchi, Sokoto, Minna, etc. 

It is instructive to note that these abundant human resources – like the crude oil that has become a ‘curse’ – lie waste, waiting to be tapped. There is no palpable football vision for the country like the larger polity where trial and error method has been the order of the day since our political independence on October 1, 1960.

It saddens the hearts of true lovers and keen followers of the beautiful and multi-billion-dollar sport industry that a country that has ruled the world at both the under-17 and Olympics football event in 1996 at the Atlanta Games still struggles to catch a breath in the 21st century.

Also shameful is the fact that instead of the administrators to put their feet firmly on ground and harness these potentials from that level to the Super Eagles cadre, they resort to their usual lip service. As a result, the many opportunities have never been put to proper use.

It has been widely acclaimed and tagged as the shame of Nigeria football administrators. No one is exempted as nothing concrete has ever been on ground; instead we have witnessed looting of huge football funds from FIFA and sponsors.

There is no functional developmental and youth department in the NFF. If any, it is on paper. Without any prejudice to my friend and disarmingly unassuming chairman of the Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green, there is no doubt that the technical directorate of the apex football body, past and present, has failed woefully to give Nigeria football a much-needed direction and footing.

This, of course, stems from the fact that professionalism and merit have been long sacrificed on the altar of nepotism and favouritism which is anchored on abysmal failures in their so called areas of specialisation who have found refuge in football, where they are compensated because of their criticism of the leaderships who themselves are afraid of even their shadows due to embezzlements of huge public funds meant for the development of the Nigeria children through football hanging on their necks.

It is not farfetched that as a result, youth grassroots and properly organised, well set-up football academies which elsewhere form the bedrock of football planning, development and sundry, have long been relegated to the background. This is because those in the saddle are more interested in using our football to enrich themselves, fan the embers of discord and intimidate their opponents and perceived ones. They also prefer to use it freely as a public relations tool for global recognition rather than to use same to impact positively on the lives and wellbeing of millions of naturally talented youngsters who have been ‘demonised’ by the awesome spirit inside the round leather.

The Football House in Abuja has become an emblem of fluctuating fortunes without discernible focus. The functionality of the House independent of the Sports Ministry has since become a tall dream, much as financial autonomy is elusive and elusive – a sort of tale always told by an idiot.

This writer has said it severally that our football very much reflects the larger Nigeria: a country without a defined system, can never stand, be disciplined and move forward, rather it would continue to be in the vicious circle as presently, from recession to who knows depression all in the name of nonsense change, clueless and unnecessary heady bulk passing leadership that has plugged the nation into this unavoidable economic crisis. I digress.

The obvious fact is that we are a country without a football culture but which celebrates the managerial ineptitude and gross inefficiency of her technocrats. There is no sustainable action or master plan whereby players gradually move from the junior cadre to the senior category of our football. This leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Please join me again next week for the concluding part of this piece, God’s willing.

Enjoy your week.     

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 26, 2016

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