ubamobile

03
Tue, Nov

Stephen Keshi, coach of the Nigerian national soccer team, Monday, released the list of the 23 players to represent the country at Brazil 2014 World Cup.

The list includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and ten strikers.

Full List:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

Strikers: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor.

The Federal Government's delegation to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is expected to arrive at Sao-Paulo, Brazil for the opening ceremony of the tournament billed for 12th June.

Headed by Senate President David Mark, the Delegation is expected to arrive at the Guarulhos International Airport, Sao Paulo, Brazil, at about 5pm local time on Wednesday.

Other members of the delegation are Sen. Liyel Imoke, governor of Cross River State; Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, governor of Katsina State; Sen. Adamu Ibrahim Gumba, Chairman Senate committee on Sports; Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya, Chairman House Committee on Sports; Alhaji Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT); Chief Nyesome Wike, minister of state education; Mr. Edem Duke, minister of culture and tourism and Mrs. Viola Nnwuleri, minister of state 1 foreign affairs.

The delegation is expected to visit the team in Campinas, on Thursday morning before Nigeria's first group match against Iran, on 12th June in Curitiba.

The minister of sports Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, the Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil H. E. Vincent A. Okoedion, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials and other embassy officials will be on ground to receive the delegation.

 

The Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo has waded into the brewing crisis between the Super Eagles and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the world football governing body's $8 million allocation to the federation.

The players had protested to the NFF Chairman Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in the United States (US) demanding their own share of the money and threatened that should the federation refuse to pay them the money they were not going to play in the opening match of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But it was gathered that the NFF claimed that they have only received $1 million from FIFA out of the $8 million with which they have been organising friendly matches and pre-world cup preparations. It was also gathered that in addition to the FIFA $1 million, the Federal Government gave the NFF N850 million out of the N1.4 billion total budget for the tournament.

In a meeting held between Danagogo and Maigari, at the Maksoud Plaza Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Monday evening, the minister charged the NNF boss to negotiate with the team to be able to reach an agreement so that the players' morale would be boosted during the tournament.

The minister was of the view that the welfare of the team should be paramount during the tournament adding that if they are not treated well and made happy, they may just go into the tournament and perform badly.

“They are the reasons why Nigeria is participating in the tournament and we should do everything within our powers to ensure that we do our best for the team," Maigari said.

He pledged to also personally appeal to the players to put the interests of the nation first during the tournament.

Meanwhile, Dr. Danagogo and Alhaji Maigari would be on ground to receive the Super Eagles team on arrival from Miami, United States (US), in Sao Paulo, on Tuesday by 8.30pm local time.

The team is expected to fly aboard an American Airline flight from the Miami International Airport and land at the Guarulhos International Airport, Sao Paulo.

On arrival, the team is expected to drive by road to their training ground in Campinas, about an hour from Sao Paulo.

The Super Eagles will play Iran in its World Cup opening match on June 16 before playing Bosnia-Herzegovina, June 21 and Argentina June 26.

A word is good for the wise, a touch is good for an antelope and a repeated shouting coupled with a big stick appears not enough for self imposed ‘sports administrators’ in Nigeria. Readers should note that those so-called administrators are really clueless about sports or management because they were appointed to such roles based on their political affiliation and ‘money’. Its’ with great sadness to confirm the failed mark this writer gave the former sports dictator also known as the NSC Chairman. This is because in less than a year that he returned the same incompetent people to develop sports in Nigeria, the country’s team in various sports will find difficulty qualifying for any international competition from this year forward.

High Performance Ineptitude (Athletics)

Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Chairman of NSC claimed he was using the President of Nigeria transformation agenda for sports in bringing two illegal aliens to Nigeria named Eric Campbell and Angela Taylor without complying with the Federal Procurement rules for aliens or contracts. He established a Centre for those individuals to work (if you called it that) by converting the country’s only doping centre for such use without the legislature’s approval. This author and others disagreed with Mr. Abdullahi based on his motives, the background of such people and the cost issues. Fortunately, President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed Mr. Abdullahi but leaves those unlawful acts intact, including the High Performance Centre and those illegal aliens to continue.

Looking at the performance of those two illegal aliens, so far, some potential members of this year’s team were sent to the USA to train and compete. Unfortunately a former 10.1second runner is at present struggling to run 10.5seconds and the others exhibited the same declining performances. Few other athletes that were warehoused in mosquito-infested NSDC slave camp in Abuja did not do well either while the two illegal aliens enjoy robust salaries and five-star accommodation.

Illegal Aliens Galore

As if these shenanigans were not enough, the AFN Dictator Solomon Ogba, now imported more illegal aliens like Mark Jelks, Dominique Duncan, Nicole Denby, Mozavous Edwards, Tyron Akins, and others to rubbish the country’s sovereignty in sports with formerly banned athletes for using illegal drugs. Mr. Danagogo are you aware of these illegal aliens, some of whom are druggist gutting our athletics and if so, are you aware of diplomatic row that may ensue? And the last question is whether you are cognizant that some of the country’s selected males 100metres team members will struggle to beat Jamaican female stars even at the Commonwealth Games later next month?

Now, this author asks this question again, did Eric Campbell and Angie Taylor (illegal aliens) deliver any benefit to Nigeria? Is Nigeria sovereignty at the discretion of Solomon Ogba? If not, Mr. Danagogo you must act or you must go! The Presidency will receive a copy of this article.

Status on Commonwealth Games

As to Boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and few other sports that Nigeria will likely send a team, there is no doubt that the country will likely return with few medals but in athletics except for the importation of illegal aliens (mercenaries), the country is simply wasting funds. The sad story to this is the fact that Solomon Ogba at no time ever considers the impact of his action on development of local youth in sports. This is an exemplary incompetence and enough understanding to move sports development back to NSC as an autonomous entity while disengaging any further involvement with AFN or the two illegal aliens.

 Once again, it is a defeatist attitude of former Dictator Abdullahi to import illegal aliens to destroy sports development that is being implemented and of course it hasn’t worked and the dictator was sacked, so why does Nigeria continue this sorry episode in the nation’s goal to recover lost glory. Mr. Danagogo take note, take action or you must go.

I rest

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

Having been found guilty of biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in Tuesday's World Cup clash in Natal Uruguay's striker Luis Suarez has on Thursday been banned from all soccer-related activity for four months.

He was also been banned from nine international matches and he is required to pay a fine of 82,000 euros.

The ban was proclaimed in a FIFA statement released on Thursday.

The statement read:

The player Luis Suarez is to be suspended for nine official matches. The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on 28th June 2014. The remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay's next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team (remains in the competition), and/or in the representative team's subsequent official matches.

The player Luis Suarez is banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) for a period of four months. A stadium ban is pronounced against the player Luis Suarez in accordance with article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code as follows:

The player Luis Suarez is prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium during the period of the ban.

The player Luis Suarez is prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium in which the representative team of Uruguay is playing while he has to serve the nine-match suspension. The player Luis Suarez is ordered to pay a fine in the amount of 100,000 Swiss Francs.

Claudio Sulser, the chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said the panel had taken into account all the factors in the case. It means Suarez will miss the rest of the World Cup and the start of the new Premier League season with Liverpool.

 

When the country’s senior national team the Super Eagles take on the Les Bleu of France as the French side are nicknamed on Monday in Brasilia in one of the Round of 16 games at the on-going World Cup, any likely loss to the French side should have the blames pinned on the shoulders of the bunch of racketeers we have in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Aminu Maigari as well as some of their lackeys in the Nigerian sports media circle.

This is not providing a ready made excuse for the Super Eagles and their technical crew led by Stephen Keshi not to get their plans right and assume they wouldn’t be criticised were they to lose to France (whom I consider every inch beatable), but surely the NFF, Sports Ministry and by extension the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration would take a lot of bashing. You may wonder what has Jonathan got to do with the Super Eagles, well his government oversees every aspect of our nation and the Eagles are not left out. Thus for the Super Eagles to be trending all over the internet about their boycott of training last Thursday ahead of their game on Monday due to non-payment of their World Cup appearance fees is totally unacceptable and a big dent to our country’s image with all the blame lying on the NFF and indeed the Nigerian government’s shoulders.

Paying the Super Eagles bonuses or match fees for their games against Iran, Bosnia, and Argentina is totally different from paying them appearance fees. The NFF claim they paid the Eagles $5,000 each for their draw, as well as loss against Iran and Argentina respectively, while paying them $10,000 for their win against Bosnia. In essence, each player of the team has received $20,000 each for their group stage matches as match fees or bonus. This however, is totally different from appearance fees at the world cup. Every ardent sport follower know that players participating in major competitions e.g say tennis players at the Wimbledon Grand Slam are entitled to a standard appearance fee which is different from their prize money should they advance past each round.

What the Super Eagles players are asking for is that they be paid 30% of what the NFF gets from FIFA as prize money for each stage of the competition. That to me is even a bit on the low side as I would recommend each player gets at least $100,000 as appearance fee for representing Nigeria in the group stages alone. As it stands Nigeria through the NFF are to get $8 million for participating in the group stages of the World cup just like the other 31 participating teams. This is aside from the $1.5 million already given to the NFF by FIFA to prepare the team. For getting to the Round of 16 the NFF gets another $9 million whether the Eagles lose to France or not (see FIFA prize money breakdown for each teams : http://www.tsmplug.com/football/prize-money-fifa-world-cup-2014/ ) , so why would there be any argument or hanky-panky in paying these players their entitled rights? Are these NFF racketeers mad or something?

That we have to hold countless meetings with the players while the competition had already started is a big shame on the country. In 2012 before the European Nations cup, the English national team knew they were going to earn £100,000 if they won the Euros months before the tourney and it was incentivised for each stage they got too. The French team were expecting £290,000 for a trophy win, while the Germans were promised £250,000. These figures were different from the match bonus, in fact the Germans waived their group stage match bonuses for Euro 2012 due to the hefty appearance fees they were promised. For the World Cup in 2014, the terms for the appearance fees of the Three Lions of England were settled in January, a clear six months before the competition. Its easy to say that is England, but they also have an uneasy relationship with their players over appearance fees and thus they started negotiations many months before the competition between the FA and the players’ representatives. It resolved that each England player would get £350,000 each for winning the tournament and it was heavily incentivised for progressing through the group stage and this is different from what they get as match bonus for each games they play which the players usually give to charity as the appearance fee is way bigger than their match bonuses.

For the racketeers at the NFF this is too much for them to comprehend and they would do anything to sully the image of the players so as to escape with the money when FIFA pays them. Their allies in the sport media in Nigeria are even worse, as its a shame reading or listening to a sports journalist in the country who should know better defending the NFF. I listened to one the other day who has spent years as a football writer in a well known football magazine in the country and he was defending the indefensible. He practically argued that the Eagles were only entitled to match bonuses and not an appearance fee. I would like to ask such a person, what are the NFF going to do with over $17 million prize money($8 million for group stage and $9million for Round of 16) the Eagles players have helped them earn at the World Cup so far? Is it justifiable for the NFF racketeers to keep all of that money and not pay an appearance fee for the main protagonists (the players and technical crew)? The story is that in the past when the players weren’t aware of their rights, the NFF used to collect such monies from FIFA after the World Cup and deny receipt of it, sharing some of the bounty with sports editors so as to hush up the story.

Well not any more, times have changed and everyone is more enlightened including FIFA who know how corrupt some of these FA’s are. Its sad for anyone to blame Ghanaian or Cameroonian players for fighting for their rights. These agreements should be in place well before the World Cup, and not during. Ghanaian player John Boye was seen kissing his $100,000 appearance fee and I don’t blame him one bit as its his right. He’s a professional sports person and deserves to be paid his appearance fee for appearing for Ghana at the World Cup, that has nothing to do with patriotism or lack of it. So for the Eagles to boycott training has nothing to do with lack of patriotism, they just don’t trust these NFF racketeers and their spin doctors in the Nigerian sports media.

NFF’s Technical committee head Chris Green in the defence of the federation criticised the players for their request, saying it was an unreasonable request as they cannot be paid now and they have agreed with them that they would get it after FIFA must have paid the money. He also said the NFF is expecting FIFA to deduct our feeding, accommodation and transport expenses at the World Cup from the prize money. He further said: “In 2010, FIFA eventually gave us $6.4m out of the $8m grant. This time, we cannot get up to that because we are playing more games here in Brazil and the logistics of travelling here are so huge”. To understand how these NFF racketeers work, the question to ask them is what have you done with the N880 million released by the Federal Government out of the N1.4 billion the NFF budgeted for the World Cup? If accommodation, feeding and logistics are going to be checked out of our prize money (standing at the moment at a huge $17million) by FIFA, then why not pay the players their appearance fees from the monies released to them already by the FG? These NFF racketeers led by Aminu Maigari are plain looters and this racket has been going on for decades at the federation even before this present administration.

In any case FIFA’s secretary-general Jerome Valcke has waded into the appearance fee row threatening African teams including Nigeria describing it as sad, he said: "The players have the right to receive their money but it would be much easier to do this by bank transfer. The fact that the money (for Ghana) came in cash is also sad because I was ready to sign a letter, as long as I had a copy of the agreement between the national association and the players, that the money would be paid by Fifa by bank transfer into their personal accounts." Valcke further added that something needs to be done. "At future World Cups we will ask the national associations to provide us with their agreements with their players to make sure that this kind of episode does not happen again," he said (see full story on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28065553 ). So in essence, the Super Eagles players can take their agreements with the NFF to FIFA and ensure they are paid their rightful appearance fees. If the NFF racketeers try dodging payment, they should report them to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) through their representatives, as this stupid injustice and lack of common-sense must not be allowed to continue.

Come Monday though if issues are not sensibly resolved , when the Eagles file out they may just be playing against the NFF racketeers rather than France and we all know what the result may be. If you don’t know rewind to France 1998, when the Eagles were beating black and blue by Denmark in a Round of 16 tie, a match preceded by arguments between the players and NFA over bonuses and appearance fees.

Ola’ Idowu a Management Consultant and Researcher writes in from the UK.

 

Following Nigeria's second round exit from the ongoing Brazil 2014 World Cup after a 2-0 loss to France,  Super Eagles handler, Coach Stephen Keshi has resigned his appointment as the country's chief coach.

Keshi disclosed his intention to journalists after the Eagles match in Brasilia on Monday, stating that it was time to move on.

“I have to go back to my family and face fresh challenges,” said Keshi.

Super Eagles Captain, most capped Joseph Yobo also declared that he was stepping out of the national team after winning 100 caps.

“I think I should give the younger ones the opportunity to forge ahead. I have nothing new to offer,” the Norwich City defender said.

Nigeria was beaten 2 – 0 by France in their round of 16 match at the ongoing as the quarter final qualification continues to elude the African champions. Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana have all  made it to the quarter finals in 1990, 2002 and 2010 respectively.

It has been rumoured that South African Football Association (SAFA) was on Keshi's trail, but SAFA has denied wooing the Big Boss.

Keshi did not disclose his next move.

If Nigeria does not reinstate the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari before Tuesday,  the country may be risking being suspended, the apex football regulating body, FIFA has indicated.

Maigari and other NFF leaders were sacked from office as a result of a court ruling on Friday, while Maigari was also arrested on returning from the World Cup on the same day.

"FIFA has taken note of the detention of NFF President Aminu Maigari carried out by representatives of the Department of the State Security Service," a FIFA statement read.

An Abuja High Court had on Thursday served a restraining order on the NFF leaders. The court had ordered the sports ministry to appointed one of its own officials to run the federation.

The face-off between NFF and the government followed Nigeria's exit from the ongoing Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Nigeria had played a goalless draw with Iran in their first game, they had gone on to win their second group game with a lone goal over World Cup debutant, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the country had lost its final group game 3-2 to Argentina, qualifying for the next round with 4points. However, Nigeria's world cup campaign was cut short with a 2-0 loss to France in the round of 16.

The country's coach Stephen Keshi had resigned after the game citing unfair working condition occasioned by the NFF as one of the reasons for his resignation.

FIFA had written to NFF "expressing great concern over different actions taken by Nigerian public authorities," over the removal of the federation's leaders.

FIFA had also stated that it would not recognise an NFF election meeting reportedly billed for Abuja on Saturday.

The football governing body had said an official football congress scheduled for 26th August and "only decisions and persons elected then will be considered legitimate."

In 2010, Nigeria's government had reacted aggressively after the country's national team, Super Eagles did not progress beyond the group stage in South Africa.  The nation's president, Goodluck Jonathan had threatened to shut down the national team for two years before FIFA intervened.

FIFA rules protect its 209 member federations from government interference, and a suspension bars teams and officials from taking part in international matches and meetings.

The national team's next competitive matches are 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.

 

The Samba Boys of Brazil were completely humbled by a fantastic German side at the Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday with a historic 7 – 1 demolition.

No one would have predicted that the game, which started out as a pulsating affair would end up terribly lopsided. Just 11 minutes after Mexican referee Marco Rodríguez blew the opening whistle the Germans started a feast of goals with Thomas Müller, Miroslav Klose, Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira finding the back of the net five times before half time.

 A second half brace from Andre Schürrle sealed the deal, humbling the five-time champions in a most remarkable semi final game.  A 90th minute strike by Oscar gave Brazil their only consolation, marking the first time since 1975 that Brazil would lose a match in Estadio Mineirão.

Neymar injured and Thiago Silva suspended, Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had to make some tweaks to his 4-2-3-1 and opted to have Dante fill in for Silva and Bernard for Neymar. Júlio César took his normal place in goal and was shielded by a back line of Marcelo, Dante, David Luiz and Maicon. Fernandinho and Luis Gustavo slotted in as holding midfielders while Hulk, Oscar and Bernard lined up as attacking midfielders in support of lone striker Fred.

Germany head coach Joachim Löw's 4-3-3 saw Manuel Neuer start in goal and Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Benedikt Höwedes and Philipp Lahm in defense. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Khedira and Kroos composed the three-man midfield while up front it was Mesut Özil, Müller and Klose.

The match started both teams pushing forward but soon enough Germany would strike first with a Müller goal in the 11th minute. A corner kick was looped in and somehow, the Brazilian defense failed to account for Müller who was all alone at the back post and the Bayern man had all the time in the world to club in a shot past Júlio César.

Klose became the all-time World Cup leading scorer in history just 12 minutes into the game, when he netted his 16th World Cup goal. Müller laid off a perfect ball for Klose whose initial shot was blocked by Júlio César but the Lazio man would not be denied on the follow-up and it was 2-0 to Germany.

The die Mannschaft struck three more times in speedy succession. Lahm crossed from the right for Kroos who hammered in a shot to make it 3-0 in the 24th minute. The home fans, already feeling dumbfounded by what they were witnessing, may have well packed up their things and left in the 26th minute as Kroos tallied again after a horrendous giveaway from Fernandinho who was stripped by Khedira who then set up Kroos for the fourth.

The whole scene devolved into an outright humiliation in the 29th minute when a Hummels challenge on Luiz gave Khedira the ball and after a smart touch from Özil, the Real Madrid man fired in to make the score5-0. The first half only lasted 45 minutes but it must have felt like an eternity for the Seleção who were confused from top to bottom and left the pitch with their heads hung to an avalanche of jeers and whistles from their home fans.

Desperate to save face, Brazil attacked to start the second half and had a good chance through Oscar in the 52nd minute only to see Neuer make the requisite save. A minute later Neuer stood tall again when he denied Paulinho twice form point-blank range, further evidence that it was simply not to be Brazil's night at any point during the 90 minutes.

After that initial push from Brazil, Germany regained control and Müller nearly completed the set in the 61st minute only to see Júlio César barely tip away the shot over the crossbar. Brazil's abysmal defending continued and the lack of any type of marking resulted in Germany's sixth in the 69th minute when Lahm easily crossed for substitute Andre Schürrle who had acres of time and space to sweep in his shot to make it 6-0. The Chelsea man then scored his second in the 79th to complete the dismantling when he hit a shot from the left that ricocheted off the crossbar into the net.

Tuesday night's dismantling of the Samba Boys is the most dominating performance in any World Cup semi-final history.

 

The Federal Government has been challenged to probe the multi-billion naira finances allocated to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in the last 24 months.

It has also been asked to look into the alleged fraudulent deal signed with the League Management Company (LMC) with an advertising agency.

In the petition signed by a former Group Sports Editor of Thisday Newspaper and current publisher of Gongnews.com, Mr. Olajide Fashikun and addressed to the minister of sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the petitioner said he decided to call for the probe of the NFF leadership "as part of the desired changes which Nigeria's sports deserves following the years of maladministration and loss of focus by those saddled with the responsibility of developing sports".

Fashikun called on the government to investigate the $2 million paid by the Federal Government and $8 million paid by FIFA for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, observing that some players are still claiming that they have not received their share for participation having played in the qualifiers without playing in the finals. He also wants a probe into the movement of the $1 million reserved by the Sani Abdullahi led board for the furnishing of the Sunday Dankaro House and secretariat of the NFF in Package B at the National Stadium, Abuja; the N790 million for the 2013 African Cup of Nations; the N170 million received for the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil and the money paid by FIFA for same.

The petitioner further urged the government to probe the $1.5 million grant given by FIFA to prepare the Super Eagles for the 2014 World Cup; proceeds from the sponsorship deals with Globacom, Guiness, TomTom, Peak Milk and Adidas; N1.288 billion being the sum of the monthly subvention received from government from January 2013 to June 2014; N850 million received from government for the preparation and participation of the Super Eagles in the first round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the $8 million and $6 million expected revenue from FIFA for playing in the first round and qualifying for the round of 16 respectively.

"Nigeria football must be saved and helped to progress without committing the same error in the future, and as a measure to prevent this from repeating itself, given as deterrence, you must act in good faith," Fashikun said.

In the petition dated 4th July 2014, Fashikun said since football, is one of the 26 sectors under the purview of the minister and the fact that Nigerians are very emotional and passionate about football, it is urgent that a probe be initiated to address the anomalies in the system.

“It is sad and unjustifiable that monies taken from the public is being frittered away for unnecessary and under developmental purposes. That is why I am demanding from the minister of sports: an independent committee to probe the allegations or an investigation by a competent statutory institution," Fashikun said.

He stated that had the NFF board used the funds available to them judiciously, the eventual protest of the players that embarrassed the nation would have been avoided.

“The cost of that embarrassment cannot be quantified in money matters," Fashikun concluded.

The world football governing body, FIFA has lifted the ban placed on Nigeria for government interference in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The ban was imposed on the country  on 9th July.

According to a FIFA press release obtained by Huhuonline.com on Friday, the ban was lifted because statutory order has been reinstated at the NFF and the legitimate bodies reinstalled to run its affairs.

"FIFA noted that the court proceedings and order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football that prompted the suspension have been withdrawn," the statement read.

"FIFA has decided to lift the suspension as of today, Friday 18th July 2014. The lifting of the suspension means that all rights of the NFF as a FIFA member as defined in article 12 of the FIFA Statutes are reinstated.”

As a result of the reinstatement NFF has said it will immediately  commence “arrangements for the under 20 Women National Team, Falconets to travel to Moncton, Canada, next week for a final training camp ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup taking place in the same country.

NFF also assured that preparation for the under 17 boys to fly to Democratic Republic of Congo for a 2015 African U-17 Championship qualifier on Sunday, 27th July would commence immediately. 

Only a few days after world football governing body, FIFA Lifted the suspension it placed on Nigeria due to government interference in the country’s football association’s affairs, the Executive Committee of the board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sacked its president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

The committee met at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja early Thursday to go over the crisis that lead to a court injunction ordering the federation’s executives to be dissolved, an action that in turn led to the FIFA ban.

The committee also reviewed issues surrounding the lack of transparency marring all financial dealings of the federation and failure of Maigari to convene a meeting of the committee in the last eight months.

They noted that for the period of time the committee went without meeting, many weighty decisions about Nigeria football had been taken by a small cabal within the board, thus the executives passed a vote of no confidence on Maigari.

According to the Communique signed by Alhaji Muazu Sulyeman, the drafting committee chairman of NFF, the immediate dismissal of Maigari from the NFF executive committee has been approved on grounds of alleged “financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration”.

The Committee mandated Chief Mike Okeke Umeh, NFF’s first vice president, to take on the role of   Acting President, presiding over the affairs of the federation until a new NFF Executive Committee is elected and inaugurated by 26th August.

The committee applauded FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their sincere interest in the development of Nigeria football, pledging that the nation will continue to abide by the rules prescribed by the governing bodies.

They thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and all Nigerians for their patience and understanding during the crisis period, reiterating that the NFF is constantly working toward the development of football in Nigeria.

Members of the committee in attendance were:  Vice President Chief Mike Umeh, Chief Emeka Inyama, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Alhaji Ahmad Muazu Kawu, Chief Effiong Johnson, Barr. Christopher Green, Shehu Adamu, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman, Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed a.k.a ‘Fresh’,  Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande,  Musa Amadu and the sacked president Maigari.

 

 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged handsome financial rewards for any athlete who wins any medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Under the arrangement, any athlete who wins a Gold medal will go home with $7,000, Silver medalists will get $4,000 each, while any athlete who wins a Bronze will go home with $3,000.

Announcing the financial package, during an interactive session with the Nigerian athletes and officials, at the Games Village's Chef-de- Mission conference room, Glasgow‎, on Friday night, Minister of Sports, Dr. Tanmmy  Danagogo, said the financial gesture was designed to motivate the athletes to victory.

"This financial reward is designed to motivate all of you to win more medal for Nigeria. We are proud of the medal we have won at the weight lifting category and we are expecting more from all of you. Let me assure you that the government is ready to do more for all of you if you win more medals for the country," Danagogo said.

In addition to the $7,000 for Miss Chika  Ahamala, the first Gold medalist for Nigeria, in the women's weight lifting category, Danagogo announced anadditional $1,000 for her breaking  the Commonwealth record in the weight lifting category. 

While reassuring the athletes of the Federal Government's commitment towards their welfare and successes at the event, the minister said the over 170 million Nigerians were looking up to the athletes to win medals for the country.

"I can tell you that President Goodluck Jonathan has done everything possible for all of you to succeed in this tournament. The expectations of Mr. President and the rest of Nigerians is that you all win medals for us. We are proud of you and will give you all the necessary supports that you need to succeed," he said.

Those present at the meeting were the Director General (DG), National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Director of Sports Medicine, Dr. Adukadri Mohammed, Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Ministry of Sports and President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, (NOC), Alhaji Mohammed Ndanusa, among others. 

...As FG Introduces Use Of MRI Scanners for Athletes

 Minister of Sport Dr. Tanmmy Danagogo has vowed to deal decisively with any coach or official who takes encourages athletes to use banned performance enhancing substances in Nigeria.

Danagogo issued the warning on Thursday in his first official reaction to the doping  allegation on teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha, in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He also said the country would introduce the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as condition for double checking the status of athletes before any major competition.

"I will ensure the use of MRI scanning devices amongst other measures, as routine on our age-grade players, and pre-competition drug-test regime on athletes generally," Danagogo said.

He warned of severe consequences for any officials and coaches  who are found guilty of encouraging or condoning cheating of any kind.

"The reported first sample drug-test failure of our female weightlifter is very embarrassing and I feel so sad, although I am still convinced that 16-year-old Amalaha is innocent," he added.

"I hope she doesn't fail the confirmation test." 

Danagogo promised to use his office as sports minister to enshrine tenets of integrity and fair competition in the nation's sports,especially focusing on the youths.

The world football governing body, FIFA has sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirming that it will be suspended with immediate effect if there are still persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on 26th August 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, 8th September 2014.

The letter, received by NFF on Wednesday refers to some of the events that took place at NFF general assembly held on 26th August 2014.

The general assembly had been duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee to adopt a new framework for the NFF elections. But some members carved out a faction and conducted elections in the absence of the NFF President, Aminu Maigari who was, at the time being held by security forces for interrogation.

Earlier, in a letter sent on 29th August, FIFA had confirmed that it would not recognise the results of the 26th August elections. The football governing body had also said it would table the matter before the appropriate FIFA bodies, should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on 1st September 2014.

But when the deadline expired on Monday, some people were still claiming to have been elected and were occupying the NFF premises.

In a bid to prevent any rash decision, FIFA Emergency Committee decided to set a new deadline of 8th September 2014 at 08.00 CET.

“Should the new deadline not be respected, NFF will be automatically suspended until the board claiming to be elected vacates the premises of the NFF and the NFF General Secretary is able to perform his work without interference,” the letter from FIFA read.

FIFA directed that NFF Executive Committee as composed on 25th August 2014, under the presidency of Aminu Maigari, should convene as soon as possible to hold a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF office-bearers.

Former executives of the Nigerian Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christoher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko have threatened a court action against the State Security Service (SSS) and the Police over what they described as “incessant invitations and unlawful detention” if they do not desist from the act.

In a letter sent to the concerned parties, the former executives, represented by Festus Keyamo chambers urged the authorities to desist from harassing his client’s in order not to undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter.

The letter read: “We are counsel to Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christopher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’) and on whose instructions we write to you.

“Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.

“Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. Find attached the court processes.

“We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit.

“We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard.

“We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.

“We look forward to your co-operation in the circumstance.

Friday, September 26, 2014

1. The Director-General,

State Security Service,

Aso Drive,

Abuja.

2.The Inspector-General of Police,

        Force Headquarters,

        Louis Edet House,

        Central Area,

        Abuja.

Dear Sir,

INCESSANT INVITATIONS AND UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF ALHAJI AMINU MAIGARI, BARRISTER CHRISTOHER GREEN, BARRISTER MUSA AMADU AND ALHAJI SHEHU DIKKO

We are counsel to Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christopher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’) and on whose instructions we write to you.

Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.

Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. Find attached the court processes.

We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit.

We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard.

We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.

We look forward to your co-operation in the circumstance.

Thank you.

Yours most trusted,

FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.

Head of Chambers

The battle between the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles head coach got to a head Thursday morning as NFF sent him packing from his job and appointed Coach Amodu Shuaibu to take over the team for a while before an expatriate would be appointed as head coach.

Also affected by the sack are Keshi's assistants, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorounmu.

A statement by signed, Sulaiman Yahaya-Kwande, an Executive Committee member of the federation stated that the committee, "unanimously, praised the excellent contributions of the technical crew of the senior national team, Super Eagles, led by Mr. Stephen Keshi, to the glorious accomplishments of the team in the past three years, and hailed Keshi, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorounmu as true national heroes.

"However, in the interest of Nigeria football and the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the committee decided to relieve them of their duties with immediate effect.

"The committee also, unanimously, approved the appointment of a consortium of coaches to lead the Super Eagles for only the two concluding matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series (against Congo in Brazzaville and against South Africa in Uyo), after which an expatriate Coach will be appointed.

"The consortium, led by Amodu Shaibu, also has Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu. The team also has a new Coordinator in former international, Garba Lawal, while Toyin Ibitoye is the new Media Officer and Godfirst Chike is the new equipment manager. Team Secretary, Enebi Achor, is retained."

Shuaibu Amodu, who was recently brought in by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take over the coaching job of the Super Eagles, has asked NFF to allow Stephen Keshi to continue with his job.

Amodu made the position known in a letter dated 27th October. He entreated the NFF president Amaju Pinnik to allow Keshi to handle the team’s remaining matches in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, against Congo on 15th November and South Africa on 19th November.

Amodu said one of the reasons for making the call for Keshi’s reinstatement is that the time-frame given to him is too short to tinker with the fabric of the squad or start to build a new one altogether.

Amadu who was named Keshi’s interim successor two weeks ago, said his decision was after wide consultations, carefully made since the appointment was announced.

“I want to specially appeal to you to reconsider the matter and allow Keshi to finish the project that he has started — the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying race,” the letter read in part.

“My opinion also is that the time-frame is too short to start tinkering with the fabric of the team or attempt to build a new team altogether.”

Amodu expressed willingness to help build a better relationship between Keshi, the players and the NFF Technical Committee, saying he would achieve this without stress because he had enjoyed good working relationship with Keshi in the past and the relationship remains cordial.

 “I am assuring that I will offer whatever assistance is required by Keshi and his crew for the remaining two matches, and also be there to offer advice, suggestions and efforts towards building a stronger Super Eagles after the qualifying race,’’ the letter continued.

Nigeria will be at Pointe Noire, Congo Brazzaville on 15th November to play the Congolese, before taking on South Africa in Uyo, Akwaibom State four days after the Congo clash.

The Eagles Need a comprehensive win in both matches to guarantee them qualification into the 2015 AFCON championship.

 

Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi who was asked to step for aside Amodu Shuaibu has been re-appointed.

Keshi’s expired contract as coach of the African champions had not been renewed and any hope of renewing it had been dashed earlier this month, when new NFF President, Amaju Pinnik ordered that Shuaibu should take over for the next two AFCON qualifiers.

But on Friday, head of the federation’s technical committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, said his body had “decided to accept” a proposal re-instating Keshi as Super Eagles coach for Nigeria’s next Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa in November.

Though not indicated by Anyansi-Agwu, the reinstatement is most likely as a result of Shuaibu’s entreaty to the NFF in a letter dated 27th October. In the letter, he had told NFF that the time given him to take over the team was too short to assemble a new team or put the one on ground in a shape to his taste. He had thus entreated NFF to reinstate Keshi.  

On his return to as Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has called up 25 players for the crucial 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Red Devils of Congo and Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Obviously going with popular demand, Keshi included in the list of invited players, Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche for the first time in about two years, and there is also a first senior team opportunity for Nasarawa United midfielder Tony Edjomari.

Home–based defender Solomon Kwambe was also recalled, and Aaron Samuel (who got one of the goals against Sudan), Hope Akpan, Sunday Emmanuel and Emem Eduok have further chances after being called for the matches against the Falcons of Sudan.

All the players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Wuse, Abuja on Sunday, 9th November.

The full list:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor FC, Turkey); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Tony Edjomari (Nasarawa United, Nigeria)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villareal FC, Spain); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China); Sunday Emmanuel (SV Scholz Grodig, Austria); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine): Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC, Nigeria)

 

 

 

 

 

Ikechukwu Uche and Aaron Samuel both scored to keep Nigeria's hopes of Africa Cup of Nations qualification alive in a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Congo on Saturday.

A tight first half yielded few clear-cut chances, but the visitors made the breakthrough just before the hour mark when Emmanuel Emenike was brought down inside the box and Uche kept his cool from the spot.

Thievy Bifouma missed a penalty for the hosts five minutes later and Samuel wrapped up the points with a tidy finish in the last minute, with angry home fans causing a slight delay when they threw missiles onto the pitch.

The result moves Nigeria into second place, with goal difference pushing them ahead of Congo heading into the final round of games in Group A.

Congo started brightly and saw Bifouma spurn two presentable chances inside the opening 10 minutes, while Fode Dore also skewed wide when well placed seven minutes before half-time.

The visitors suffered an early blow after the interval when Hope Akpan went off injured, but they broke the deadlock soon after.

Chancel Massa fouled Emenike in the box and Uche beat the goalkeeper with a low finish into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.

Congo were given a chance to level the scores with a penalty of their own after Godfrey Oboabona was adjudged to have handled a Prince Oniangue shot.

Bifouma stepped up to take the kick, but Vincent Enyeama guessed correctly and pushed the striker's effort away to ensure Nigeria's lead remained intact.

After Uche had wasted two chances to double Nigeria's lead, the hosts saw efforts from Francis N'Ganga and Delvin Ndinga go close, the latter denied by a great save from Enyeama

A swift counter-attack following that save saw Nigeria secure their victory, substitute Samuel curling a left-footed effort beyond Massa to give Keshi a winning return.

Alas Nigerians! The National Assembly passed NFF Act 2013 and no Act for other sports but unfortunately it is comically and clinically irrelevant and dead on arrival as others based on the antecedents of present administration where the country’s citizens continue to be muscled from relying on Nigeria’s Judicial independence from Executives for fear of some archaic “servitude phenomenon”. Nigerians are not second class citizens in their own country, but only in Nigeria can we expect this Master-Servant mentality where our laws are jettisoned for the sake of FIFA and there was no record of any real benefit coming out of FIFA to Nigeria ever. Yes, appearance fees at World Cup cannot be compared with a N450million monthly dash by the federal government to NFF. So what does the country gain from FIFA insults, absolutely nothing. This article is about all sports in Nigeria not just football for the benefit of all Nigerians.

When Nigeria talks about RIO Olympics Games that is due to commence in about 18months or so, the imposed people in charge of sports will ‘shout’ them down as a distant agenda that is less urgent. But it doesn't seem that the Minister for Sports, Mr. Danagogo aka Danaboy got a clue on how  to plan or prepare for an Olympics Games, on the other hand Nigeria has never appointed anyone who knows how, since the so-called democracy ‘pinched’ the brains of the country’s supposedly leaders. And of course Danaboy tenure is less than 90days away. This writing will attempt to provide guidance to the Sports Ministry as a civic duty. Some information is part of this writer published book.

Anticipatory (Long Range Plan) Program

This is developmental regime aimed at the 2020 Olympics Games. A Sports Development Authority (SDA) must be established.

Sports Development Authority (SDA) - Athletics

“NSC must establish a new corporate entity with the aim of developing athletes. In order to achieve this aim a new institutional structure must be established along with the determination on how such institution be governed.

Nigeria embraces American-styled democracy in her federal government structure and it will not be a difficult process to allow the governed, including the athletes in determining the leadership of the new SDA.

Stakeholders

It is fundamental in most democratic societies that the governed participates in the process of appointing or electing leaders and for the purposes of this writing, the governed are the stakeholders. Among them are all registered athletes, non-defaulting States Amateur Athletics Associations, non-defaulting parties such as club owners and other organizations or groups like uniformed services, etc.

NSC employees do not qualify as stakeholder. The non-defaulting party is defined as those individuals or clubs that are not in any arrears of debt to AFN or any athlete. A defaulting State Associations are those who failed to host or hosts less than mandatory minimum of three age-graded / inter-school competitions every year and those that failed to provide sporting facilities for that State.

The stakeholders’ choice of leaders begins with the election of the new members of the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

The Board of directors is routinely appointed at-large based on merit and qualification to supervise an organization’s decision making by voting for or against any measure. This method of appointment should be adopted and strictly followed unless the stakeholders determine that such rule should be amended. A Board of Directors Selection Committee (BDSC) should be organized by the stakeholders. BDSC will set the guidelines for the Board election, conduct the election and set the goals of the Board, including the requirements that elected board member will be limited to two terms of four years. Previous and that the outgoing AFN Board members are not eligible to contest any position in SDA.

After the election process, the list of top ten will be publicly announced for vetting including security clearance by the country’s security agencies and validation of work experiences, credentials or qualifications. However, the incumbents are expected to have a fund-raising background.

BDSC will determine nine among ten forwarded individuals based on the number of votes, security findings and other merit such as fundraising skills, experiences and qualifications. Once that decision is made BDSC function terminates. Any appeal of the process must be delivered to NSC for resolution.

The selected Board members determine, among themselves who will be the Chairperson, and other office holders. The Chairmanship should be rotated annually. However, no Board member can run SDA operations in any capacity.

In addition, the new Board monitors SDA’s affairs through Committee of experts in specific areas such as audits, athletes’ or coach selections.

All Board decisions must meet the quorum requirements, simple majority or unanimous decisions in certain areas depending on the SDA’s constitutional demands. Veto power may exist on certain issues (such as the dismissal of its President during his / her term).

Restructuring Transition Committee (RTC)

Restructuring Transition Committee (RTC) should be set-up by the new Board. RTC has two functions, which are technical (athletes' specific) or non-technical.

RTC-Non-technical should establish a search Committee for hiring a permanent head of marketing / promotions within 30 days.

The role of the President will be defined by the RTC with amendments by any succeeding Board.

The RTC (and later SDA President) is required to list out annual local, national and international program of events along with funding estimates. The suggested local competitions funded by each State should be at least three age-graded or inter-school state championships on each year. Four national competitions privately funded should be organized and at least two international outings should be encouraged. SDA may at any time fund its own weekly All Comers meets, etc.

RTC should train and engage former athletes to officiate any of its sanctioned events nationwide because this is a pool of experts currently ignored.

RTC should negotiate with international shoe companies directly to assist the nation's athletes in athletic wears and equipment. SDA will not supply athletes with running / spike shoes due to the Card System funding mechanism. Only in international engagement will athletic wear be supplied to selected athletes.

RTC should set its fundraising goal to at least $30Million annually and not operate a budget deficit through shrewd spending.

RTC should within two weeks begin the process of setting up a search Committee with instructions to forward names of potential (President) candidate for background checks (security, fraud, criminal, etc.).

Until SDA President is hired, the RTC-Technical can in the interim hire Technical Secretary, Coaches / Trainers. In addition, it can prepare contract documents for the Card System and determine eligibility of athletes and enroll them immediately. Catch Them Young (CTY) program preparatory phase begins immediately through research and liaison between RTC, Federal Ministry of Education, LGAs and State governments. The Minister for Sports must be available for meetings with State officials.

New President (SDA)

The President of an organization runs that organization. This is an answer to resolving several perennial concerns in a typical Nigerian organization and for the new SDA’s President, his or her authority in consultation with the management team cannot be challenged except perhaps actions contrary to SDA constitutional documents. The President should shun all outside interests or Board interference with operations.

Functions of SDA President

The primary role of the President is the overall management of operations or activities that SDA is mandated to carry out within its constitutional limit. Essentially, the key functions of management not just the classical view by Fayol47 but also Mitzberg48ten identified functions of management.

The President, upon assumption of duty is expected to develop a plan of activities and resources along with operational target.

Activities

SDA must develop strategic and tactical goals, in addition to pre-existing operational goals by NSC. Those operational goals should be modified to accommodate new interim managers of various categories of athletes. The interim managers as appointed by the Board will oversee the effectiveness of the new regime structure.”

Strategic plan

Funding

• SDA should phase-out reliance on federal government funding except for the All African and the Olympics Games.

• The CS should continue because it provides incentives and motivation for the athletes while

 The Catch Them Young (CTY) program discovers raw talent early. The CS costs can be as high as US$1million for about 100 athletes (some will get $1,500 per month others get $1,000 while the juniors get at least $300 plus free education).

• Ban on NSC direct funding (travel and accommodations) of Board members to international

   Championships or Olympics games. Cost savings can exceed US$100, 000.

• Financial independence of NSC except mandatory new pension scheme matching contribution.

• Athletes, clubs, organizations, States, and others that take part in AFN competitions will fund such competitions through entry fees, club annual fees and stakeholders charge. This funding mechanism can fetch as much as US$1million annually.

Development / Performance

• SDA must consider as low priority athletes who are over 30years old and not worldly ranked above top 15 in their respective events.

• Redeploy many sprinters running slower than 10.3secs in 100meters of other events they are better suited such as jumps, hurdles, and long sprints. Re-emphasize throws and distance events.

• Increase transparency in decision making and athletes / Coaches selections.

• Phased-in the Local Government Area (LGA) inter-school competitions as early as 2013. Funded by LGAs.

• Phased-in State age-graded schools competitions as early as 2013. Funded by the States.

• Restructure privately funded State and National Junior Championships as early as 2013.

• Restructure National Sports Festival with under-18 category.

Technical scheme

The new technical regime follows a two-pronged approach, the Card System (CS) and Catch Them Young (CTY). This new regime will be phased-in over a six month period, but initially headed by 5-man / woman team named Restructuring Transition Committee (RTC) – Technical; with verifiable pure technical skills in track and field (may not all be Nigerians).

The regime is modelled to cater for talented athletes’ year round. The starting point is Figure 2 below which categorizes new technical regime (for athletes).

(i) Developmental concerns Elementary and Junior Secondary Schools (Coaches are seconded from the Nigerian Institute of Sports (NIS) new internship programs).

(ii) Junior deals with High School students (Elite junior attends schools funded by the NSC or AFN)

(iii) Elite athletes deal with ‘A’ or ‘B’ standard under IAAF World Championship rating. Senior Elite ‘A’ must be world ranked and Elite ‘B’ must be less than 21 years old. Junior Elite must meet ‘B’ standard and less than 18 years old

(iv) Retired (athletes) is a new category that must be supported based on their contribution towards the new pension scheme. The athletes must have competed internationally in the country for 10 years

Elite Maintenance Program

This is a program that will provide all required assistance to athletes who have reached Olympics standards as of December 2014.

“Tactical plan

• To meet the demands of a team to international competitions within the next two years, SDA must aim to maintain and sustain current crops of athletes by enrolling them in a new Card System (CS) program for junior and senior elite athletes. Such program discussed below includes eligibility for retirement benefits for athletes that invested over ten years on the national team. CS program is estimated at about US$1million annually and paid directly into the enrolled athletes’ bank account from the finance Ministry on monthly basis.

• Presents a quality Olympics Game’s team within 16months by using the following approach:

Hire twenty coaches nationwide to prepare for the elite structure and youth emphasis.

Reformulate funding sources and bring all States and LGAs as well as Ministry of Education together under the new approach;

Discourage spending on foreign airline tickets for national trials because it shows a preferential treatment;

Discourage forced camping (local or international) and reemphasises local training facilities in all region of the country. Athletes invited to represent Nigeria can assemble and train at the local centre near them under the guidance of National Coach assigned to that region;

Redeploy of good athletes running slower than 10.3 seconds in 100 meters to other events should be encouraged.”

I rest for now.                                                                                      

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

 

The Green Eagles of Nigeria, also referred to as the Home based Super Eagles senior national will resume training camp in Abuja for their two international friendly matches against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan on Tuesday.

The friendly matches will be a sort of compensation for Nigerian football fans, since the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria will not be defending the title they won in the last edition of the championship after failing to win crucial qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

The Green Eagles will be led by assistant coach Daniel Amokachi to confront 1992 African champions Cote d’Ivoire on 11th January. They will take on Falcons of Sudan on 19th of the same month.

The players had an earlier planned resumption date for Sunday, 28the December but it was postponed till 30th December after Mali backed down from participating befor Sudan agreed to face the Super Eagles.

The players have been instructed to arrive at their usual abode at Bolton White Apartment, Zone 7, Abuja with their international passports and four passport photographs by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Following the call to camp, NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu warned the invited players against lateness to camp.

He explained that the friendly games billed to be played at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates were planned to start up the building of a new Super Eagles squad from the home front as well as to expose the Green Eagles.

“All the players are expected in camp latest by Tuesday. Lateness will not be condoned as any player who does will face the penalty. We accepted the friendly games in UAE to expose the home based players despite the country failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations,” Musa Amadu said on Radio Nigeria.

“We have no time to waste as we think we need to begin to build a national team from the domestic league. Same time, we are working round the clock to make sure that the Super Eagles will have opponents for all the FIFA windows available in year 2015 and we are happy that the two games with the Ivorians and the Malians .

“The two games against Ivory Coast and Sudan will be good for the home based Super Eagles. As you all know, Cote d’Ivoire are serious contenders and will be fielding their strongest team against Nigeria in the friendly, that will be a competitive test for the players.

 

The players invites are:

Invited players are:

Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United); Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves); Theophilus Afelokhai (Kano Pillars)

Defenders: Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Idris Aloma (El-Kanemi FC); Chimma Akas (Sharks FC); Nelson Ogbonna (Heartland FC); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Erhun Obanor (Bendel Insurance); Bright Esieme (Enyimba FC); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars)

Midfielders: Ammel Angel Wilfred (Kogi United); Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks FC); Charles Henlong (Giwa FC); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Chinedu Udeaga (Enugu Rangers); Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)

Forwards: Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Osaguona Christian (Enugu Rangers); Gambo Muhammad (Kano Pillars); Christian Obiozor (Enugu Rangers)

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