A Peep into Today’s NFF and Its Activities News

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A Peep into Today’s NFF and Its Activities

By Daily Sports on February 26, 2018

I am a realist to the core and I am so sorry if this harmless revelation is shocking to our dear readers. Fact is I don’t pretend about issues or where my sympathy lies. To further buttress it, I don’t give a dam about whose ox is gored while taking critical look at topical national issues although this has created enemies for me. I have no regrets about this anyway. My consolation has been that no matter how long it may take, truth would definitely triumph over injustice, maladministration and such vices. Justice would always triumph over falsehood.

Simply put, I call a spade by its name. Let me reveal to you that in this clime-Nigeria, if you objectively do your work by saying or sticking to the truth and nothing but the truth, you are automatically schemed out by those controlling power in that particular period because truth is bitter. It is our dilemma in Nigeria in general and not just in NFF.

Dear readers, let me confess that my major sadness as you read on is that my good friend and in-law, Amaju Pinnick, the supremo of NFF, is averse to criticism of football administration in the country. But we in Daily Sports can beat our chest and say unambiguously that we have kept faith in the traditional canon of journalism which bedrock is accuracy and balancing of reports. We have also done objective analysis on Amaju and NFF without any prejudice. However, it is on record that he has less media opposition ever than his predecessors in office.

It was last week Monday that former captain of Enyimba International FC and Kano Pillars utility player, Chinedu Udoji, died via auto crash. The whole football family in the country and those that knew him and his exploits in the field of play were thrown into mourning. Nice, cool headed and calculated intelligent central defender that Salisu Yusuf left out of his CHAN team. Udoji was player’s player; great stabiliser of all times, Nigerians will miss him forever. Adieu, Nedu!!

Last week Monday also, February 19, NFF showcased its activities which took place in Lagos State. It would be recalled that the Nigeria Football Federation mounted a showpiece of award in collaboration with her sponsors, Aiteo. To be honest with you, it was an exercise worthy commendation despite its obvious shortcomings in its very first edition.

The federation also held its executive committee meeting at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, where it took far reaching decisions on our football and mandated its various committees to step up action. The following were resolved at the meeting:

1. Executive Committee observed a one-minute silence in honour of Kano Pillars FC player, Chinedu Udoji, who died in an automobile accident in Kano on the night of Sunday, 18th February 2018, and prayed that the Almighty God will grant him rest and also grant his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

2. Board expressed deep appreciation to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports for the extensive support and encouragement that saw the Super Eagles B accomplish its best-ever performance at the Morocco 2018, 5th African Nations Championship,.

3. Committee praised the Players and Officials of the Super Eagles B for approaching the 5th African Nations Championship with patriotic fervour and uncommon yearning for laurels, and contended that the team’s runner-up place in Morocco was well-deserved. It also hailed the passion and commitment of Members of the Executive Committee who were with the team in Morocco and travelled long hours by road from one city to another to support and encourage the team.

4. The Committee mandated the Technical and Development and Strategic Studies Committees to meet with the President and General Secretary to assure continuous monitoring and diligent implementation of the Federation’s publicised Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Plan.

5. The Board noted the enthusiasm and good spirit of new Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Mr. Thomas Dennerby, by way of his program so far and resolved that the Board and the Secretariat must give him full support and encouragement to succeed in building the Falcons into a formidable squad capable of contending for laurels not only at continental level, but also at global championships.

6. Committee praised the concept and implementation of the inaugural edition of the Aiteo-NFF Football Awards, declaring that the Organizing Committee did a marvelous job considering it was a first attempt and could only get better. It heaped encomiums on the excellent roles played by Aiteo as Sponsor and Lagos as Host City of the Awards.

7. The Executive Committee expressed delight with Lagos, Nigeria being one of the host cities of the 12 FIFA Executive Football Summits of November 2017 and March 2018. It commended, strongly, the work of the NFF President and Vice Presidents in projecting and promoting Nigerian Football both on and off the field, and commended the continued appointments of Nigerians into prominent positions in CAF and FIFA, the latest being the appointments of A. U. Mustapha (SAN) as President of the CAF Appeal Board and Samson Adamu as CAF Director of Competitions.

8. Board approved the re-calibration of the Nigeria National League (NNL) to a 20-teams format in the Northern and Southern Conferences respectively, as presented by the Independent Vice Chairman of the NNL, Alhaji Mohammed Nasir Saidu.

9. The Executive Committee mandated its Committees on Finance, Strategic Studies and Marketing, Sponsorship and TV rights to develop and agree on the level of regular financial support to be given to the Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nigeria Nationwide League One until such a time that the three Leagues would achieve some form of financial well-being.

In attendance were: Amaju Melvin Pinnick (President); Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President); Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President); Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Member); Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande (Member); Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ (Member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Musa Duhu (Member); Aisha Falode (Member); Mohammed Alkali (Member); Chidi Ofo Okenwa (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary). Note that Barr. Chris Green, Felix Anyansi Agwu, etc, were absent.

Then enters the NFF legends Awards 2018: Trust the Sporting media was awash with comments, some for it and some protesting the choices made. I look at the positives of an innovative creation and a great idea which must be complimented, nurtured and supported to grow in strength, merit and perspectives.
That said, I want to indulge myself a little with this list of legends of Academicals/School boy Football. And my parameters for selection are:
1. The player must have been an Academicals/School boy footballer.
2. The player must have won a trophy/title with his school or State team.
3. The player must have progressed to the National Team, Green Eagles or Super Eagles in his time.
The formation is 4-2-4 (!): Keeper: Inua Rigogo (North State Academicals), Right Back: Patrick Ekeji (East Central State Academicals) Centre Backs: Christian Chukwu & Dominic Ezeani (East Central State Academicals) Left Back: Morton Owolo (Midwest Academicals) Midfield: (No 4) Sam Garba (Northern State Academicals), (No 9) Haruna Ilerika (Lagos State Academicals, Right wing: Muyiwa Oshode (Lagos State Academicals) Inside right (No 8) Thompson Usiyen (Bendel State Academicals. Inside left, Peter Anieke (No 10) Northern State Academicals)and left wing Tunde Disu (Lagos Academicals) Substitutes: Keeper: Ahamefula Umelo ( East Central State Academicals) Defenders: Tony Igwe (Northern Academicals) Stephen Keshi and Franklin Howard (Lagos State Academicals), Midfielders: Okey Isima (East Central State Academicals), Paul Okoku (Lagos State Academicals), Salihu Tijani (Northern Academicals, and Godwin Ogbueze (East Central State Academicals).

Let me also add that Henry Nwosu MON, Fatai Amoo, late Stephen Keshi were all products of the Academicals and they were missing.
Thanks for your time while awaiting your reactions, dear readers. There are many more names that were missing, but heads or tails it was a laudable initiative by NFF or whoever. I would candidly suggest that a committee intellectually rich in history of our sons, dead or alive that ever came from the academicals to the national team at any point in time past be set up for the next edition so that we can arrive at very deep and considerable ends when the chips are down.

The good thing is that it is a continuous exercise. Let me add again without any equivocation that it is a right step in the right direction and we should join hands to make it greatest and reference point just in the near future. NFF should be flexible and openly invite and accommodate those that know their onions in Nigerian football history to work towards the second edition. Also there are some legends that were missed out. This initiative ought to be properly harmonised to make the next edition a bumper.

Daily Sports online family thumbs up the initiators of this novel idea whose time has come and which no mountain in the world can stop.

Our discussion would as usual continue on Twitter, WhatsAPP, Linkedin and Face book. I must commend the upsurge in the windows. Keep shooting hard, till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 26, 2018