Nigeria Content Online

We
cannot assume that we live in a sane world just because those around us
are wearing suits and Nigerian attires. What is lurking underneath give
credence to many opinions and claims that those who are supposed to be
administrators are actually abattoir managers – out to slaughter
football. That they are more intent of maintaining the status quo – and
that is lining their pockets.

The Nigeria
football scene, since the disgraceful showing at the 2010 World Cup,
has not ceased to puzzle watchers of the game. It has been one problem
after another and the greatest fear amongst fans is that the so-called
administrators do not seem to have a clue about how to get the Nigerian
football back on track.

Or what will be the
result of awarding a contract and then rescinding it on a technicality
as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) did recently using the Nigeria
Premier League board? The NFF’s motive cannot be said to be in any way
altruistic.

What really takes
the cake is reports that the NFF deceived Nigerians by saying the
national team was billed to take on the Guatemalan national team in the
USA on February 9. The NFF made the announcement with so much
confidence such that the only question being asked by fans was, “Why
Guatemala?”

But recent
revelations have shown that we should be asking – why these people?
These people being the men and women on the NFF board, who seem intent
on ruining the last bastion of goodwill that Nigeria possesses,
football!

Embarrassing the nation

Guatemala is a
country of 13 million people and ranked 126 in the world, according to
the latest ranking by FIFA. They should be happy playing Nigeria which
is ranked 86 places above her but our officials do not see things like
that – it is too simple. Does a proposal mean a contract to the
egg-heads in the NFF?

This is the reply
of the Secretary of the Guatemalan FA, Renato Durán on the supposed
friendly: “I just want to confirm that the Guatemala Football Team
don’t have any agreement for a friendly match against Nigeria on
February 9, we only received a proposal but never arrived to an
agreement. That’s all that we can say about it.”

This was the reply to an enquiry. It was sent on January 28, 2011.

And that is all
that should have been said about that matter, but our football
administrators are bent on continually deceiving us to cover up gross
ineptitude on their part. The NFF came out on February 1 with a cock
and bull story.

Christopher Green,
Chairman of the NFF’s technical department, had said, “Obviously, we
are not happy that the Guatemala game has been called off. We did all
from our own end, unfortunately this is the reality but the positive
thing is that our boys will still be busy on that date which is a FIFA
free day.”

Why was it called
off? In an association where there are checks and balances, the person
responsible will have been queried or sacked for bringing Nigeria’s
name into disrepute, but that will only happen in a sane country.

The sponsorship palaver

No one seems to
understand where it will stop now that the league is mired in a myriad
of court cases with others looming in the horizon.

The NFF had shown
early signs that they were not happy with the award of title
sponsorship rights to MTN since December when the body through its
Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, on December 20, 2010, said the
federation had not been carried along in the award of the N2.6 billion,
sponsorship deal to MTN.

They hinged their
disappointment on the lingering leadership tussle in the Premier
League. “Owing to the unresolved leadership issues at the Nigeria
Premier League, on which the Federation is expected to make a
pronouncement soon.”

The new sports
minister, Taoheed Adedoja, then threw his hat in the ring when he
advised (read, that as instructed) the Premier League to take a second
look at the award of the sponsorship title. So when the congress of the
Premier League rescinded the decision, we understood the dynamics and
the politics that was being played. The excuse was that MTN had won the
bid through a third-party.

The bid process was to be started all over again – the league started in November – in a country that does not work with time.

The third party,
Total Promotions Limited, has now gone to court to stop the new bid
process which leaves the local league in limbo and could even derail or
stop the proceedings. In the past two weeks, emoluments for match
officials – referees and match commissioners, have not been paid. So,
it will not be a surprise if matches are cancelled in the coming days –
and that is where we are.

When President
Goodluck Jonathan banned Nigeria from all international football
competitions for two years, on June 30, 2010, many – including FIFA –
cried foul. The president eventually rescinded that decision, which the
presidency had said “became necessary following Nigeria’s poor
performance” at FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

But looking at all
the challenges that reorganising football is facing in the country and
with the benefit of hind sight, it would have made more sense if the
presidential ban on all football activities had stayed in place. Maybe,
those that are basically ‘footballicians’ would have been forced to
move on to more lucrative businesses.

They have turned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the Nigeria Football Farce!