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After a deplorable
World Cup campaign; bad preparation leading to an early exit; our
football can’t seem to stay out of the news. And we’ve gone
international. President Goodluck Jonathan’s ban on Nigerian football
teams’ participation in international tournaments for two years, and
his shake-up of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, divided
Nigerians. Some praised the bold move by the president, but others
believe that it was high-handedness that would only serve to ostracize
the nation in international circles. It made me think of penning a
letter that might go somewhat like this:

Dear Mr. President,

It is with the
greatest humility that I write to you regarding the recent to-do
surrounding the dissolution of the Nigerian Football Federation, and
the banning of our football teams from international competitions for
two years. I must confess, I was a little surprised by this act. Who
would have thought it? You give new meaning to the saying ‘still waters
run deep!’ I understand exactly how you feel and the fury that led you
to making that decision. The Super Eagles make you feel like throttling
each and every one of them, and I am far from being a violent person.
It’s not just the team that stoke the fires of our indignation; it’s
also the NFF and their machinations. Football development is
nonexistent and any funding to the sector seems to have gone down the
proverbial drain.

Rule of law

While we agree that
only a major change in mind set can move our football forward, I must
refer to your predecessor of blessed memory when we ask that this must
be done by adhering to the ‘rule of law.’ It therefore gladdens my
heart that you have rescinded the ban on our football teams. This
problem has to be solved from home, without alienating FIFA. In any
case, as a member of the body, we agreed to be bound by their rules or
face sanctions. Your astuteness in ensuring that the face-off did not
degenerate further is to be admired. What is of utmost importance is
how to make certain that we can harness the talent in the country to
build formidable football teams at all levels and to lay down the
blueprint for a sustainable development programme. The poor showing in
South Africa is but a symptom of a greater disease. Unfortunately the
malady extends to other sports and it is hoped that this will also be
looked into.

A competent supervisor

As we reflect on
these problems, one must also seek to proffer solutions. Sir, I cannot
presume to be as wise as you. However, I offer a couple of suggestions:
Firstly, however exasperating it may be to watch the NFF thrust
football on a downward spiral, you must resist the urge to directly
intervene. You would have appointed a trusted minister of sports with
the required pedigree, who has oversight functions for sports as a
whole and under whose jurisdiction this comes. He or she must hold all
elected officials under the ministry to account. The onus of accounting
and disclosure obligations rests on them. They would have drawn up a
workable plan on how they intend to achieve tangible results. Progress
reports must be submitted periodically to show what is being achieved
(or not as the case may be.) Grass roots development must be the
mainstay of any move forward. This is my humble opinion and is not an
end in itself but might be a start. Again, permit my boldness Sir, as I
wish you a successful stay in office.