Paul Hamilton: Where is NFF? Where are sports-loving patriots? News

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Paul Hamilton: Where is NFF? Where are sports-loving patriots?

By Daily Sports on February 27, 2017

As you read this, my heart is heavy and also bleeding. It takes courage for me to put down what you are reading now. Permit me to describe the situation at hand as not a normal time in the already crisis ridden Nigerian football.

We have severally discussed the worrisome administrative emptiness that is the lot of most of the executive committee members that make up the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) today.
Now, ex-international and ex-Super Eagles and Super Falcons coach, Paul Hamilton a.k.a Wonder Boy, a nick name that came about due largely to his sterling performances in the field, is lying in an undisclosed Lagos Hospital with one of his legs amputated.

As at the time of putting this write up together, the leadership of the NFF was yet to establish contact with him. He served the country in different capacities to the top, and to the best of his ability. He is an all-rounder. His patriotic zeal knows no bounds.

I’m saddened by how the country rewards our heroes. Paul Hamilton is the wrong person to be treated with such reckless abandon. I won’t go on with this pathetic story because it will continue to beat me hallow and make my anger to rise to high heavens. It is one sour story better imagined than told. A former member of the NFF, Prince Isidore Oduah first told me about the plight of Paul Hamilton and wondered how the ex-international would be supported to come out of this without further damage to him, physically or health-wise. “That is my fears and worry,” Oduah told this reporter penultimate week.

Then, came a face book post by Saturday Vanguard Assistant Sports Editor and former Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Patrick Omorodion, where he lamented the shocking condition of Hamilton.

To be honest with you, it attracted and continues to gathered comments. My immediate reaction could safely be described as suicidal. I expressed my deep grieve, surprise and ended up thus: Where is NFF? All men, women and corporate bodies of goodwill should come to his aid and rally round Citizen Paul Hamilton to stabilise him. He needs all of us in an hour like this.
He served this country via football he played to the highest level and coached also. In short, he has paid his dues. We have to show our deep, heartfelt appreciation to this man now that he is alive.
It is well deserved. It’s urgent, as it is worth doing too. He is a retiree of NFF. We know how financially incapacitated the NFF could claim to be when it concerns ex- internationals, their present and meritorious former staff.

This reporter is one man that hates the platitudes that pours when we lose heroes. We have to honour him now by coming out fully to give him our full and unflinching support. He merits such gesture to the fullest. This is a clarion call. It is one daring human interest story that should not beg for our action. This is when he needs us to feel a sense of belonging. Anything that would make him remembers with sadness and then regret that he wholeheartedly served the nation should not be allowed to happen at all.

Again, I read veteran coach Teteh Okonkwo on Paul Hamilton. Pronto, my heart bleeds. He needs help. Let me confess that this article is not solicited for; it is the policy of Daily Sports to vividly set agenda or join with positive forces that crusade for social justice and human interest stories, hence the one under discourse. That is our editorial policy, which has endeared us to our readers widely.

It has made us more popular among the elite authoritative newspapers in the new media space.
My passionate plea to the leadership of the Federation is that the case of Coach Paul Hamilton, aka Wonder Boy should be taken up decisively and the needful done. What happened to him remains one of the most unfortunate. He is a jovial and brilliant fellow that knows his job inside-out. He was never found wanting in any national assignment. Ask people that were around when he was playing actively as national team player or when he handled the two top national teams.
He merits all that should be given to him in this trying time. That is how it should be and nothing would gladden the fans’ hearts better.

Let us keep our fingers crossed. Trust, we will keep you, dears readers posted. We are on top of this story and in our usual characteristic, we will remain so. It is a promise!

CAF elections!

Daily Sports ran the Confederation of Africa Football election raging intrigues last week with a screaming headline, ‘CAF Elections: COSAFA Endorses Ahmad as Presidential Candidate’, and it read thus: “The Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) unanimously endorsed Ahmad Ahmad as a presidential candidate in the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) elections.

“Ahmad, currently the head of Madagascar’s FA, had already outlined his intention to challenge long-standing CAF ruler Issa Hayatou in March’s elections in Ethiopia. COSAFA announced their backing for Ahmad following a meeting of FA Presidents in Johannesburg on Saturday.

“In a statement, COSAFA also announced they would only support sitting FA presidents vying for CAF or FIFA elections. ‘This was our first meeting since the new executive was voted into office and we are happy with the resolutions taken by the Council which I think will change the face of the region,’ said COSAFA President, Dr. Phillip Chiyangwa.

“Issa Hayatou, who has presided over African football since 1988, is seeking an eighth term. The Cameroonian was re-elected unopposed during the last CAF presidential elections in 2013.
He had previously stated this term would be his last until a change of regulations altered his stance. In 2015, CAF voted to change the statutes which previously stopped officials serving past the age of 70.”

You already know my stand on the above. My grouse is why FIFA leadership is engrossed in changing the leadership of CAF with executive fiat. FIFA president has not hidden his mission. He has been touring African countries for the change. His last visit was Zimbabwe. He already has Nigeria in his pocket.

I’m not against change but not the kind Nigerians have been experiencing since May 29, 2015. It was an unnecessary change. To say, the very least, wicked government that chained Nigerians instead. Those that insisted on Buhari the leader of this inept APC regime did largely out of greed. It was not hidden that Buhari has no charisma, foresight, acumen and even elementary knowledge of economics. It is the root-cause of these all motion, no movement stance today.

Sadly, no lesson has been learnt from the grievous mistake Nigeria made. Most pundits and commentators are calling for the defeat of Issa Hayatou for staying so long on the throne erroneously without proffering or asking who he has groomed as a successor. The Nigerian mistake is already on the way.

An Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar has been floated by Southern African block without asking what his pedigree is. What is the level of his country’s football even within its region, in Africa Madagascar football is nowhere, so one Ahmad Ahmad is not qualified, the imposition by FIFA on the continent is not only extreme madness, power drunkenness, meddlesome, mischievous but also provocative in all ramifications. Who is this obscure man to rule over African football that has already come of age?

Nigeria has already been bought over, and except government steps in since South Africa Zuma, Zimbabwe and other governments have endorsed Hayatou. I’m not saying the Cameroonian is the best for African football, no. The way and manner FIFA is openly driving this, smacks of blackmail and calling Africa stupid.

FIFA President came like Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari because of overwhelming corruption that characterised FIFA. Like Nigeria, corruption has now tripled than it was. FIFA is single handedly sponsoring most African federation Presidents to flush out Hayatou and his executive committee members. A lot of money is involved. NFF got its fair deal like most of its counterparts.

Hayatou must not be disgraced out because he did not support the current leadership in Zurich. African football will not only drastically nose dive but also the worst for it under this little known, unprepared, empty looking like Nigeria’s leadership that plugged the citizenry into the present penury. March 16, is the D-day. The campaign, lobbying and horse trading are intensifying in all fronts. Hayatou is meeting nations Presidents he knew would swell votes in his favour. Discussion continues. Keep shooting hard. Till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 20, 2017