Ultimatum For NFF Board Resignation Uncalled For – CENYLON

By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON

A statement signed by its President, Eric Oluwole said that while it is painfully true that Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup scheduled to hold later this year in Qatar, calling for the outright resignation of the NFF leadership who simply  plays more of administrative role is rather uncalled for.
“It is imperative at this point to state for the consumption of the general public that administratively, there is a hierarchy, in that hierarchy, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria comes first, the  Hon Minister of sports and youth development and at the bottom of the chain, you have the NFF president.
“The NFF have their designated roles, thus; promoting football sport in Nigeria, regulating as well as controlling the game of football within the shores of Nigerian nation, and by so doing promoting the values and culture of the game of football. Producing conducive environment for players to play and thrive, if there is shortage of funds they source, to provide for technical crew and  others, but they certainly not the ones playing the game.
“NFF under the able leadership of Amaju Pinnick as president who are also pained with Nigeria’s ouster from the world cup also took a painful decision of relieving the entire technical crew of their appointment.
“Our findings revealed that the technical crew  were given free hand to operate and deliver results big ensuring that Nigeria makes it to the world cup, before the rather disappointing outing.
“In any case and at the risk of speaking for the board, the sack of the technical crew was largely applauded by Nigerians and particularly Football fans and a right step in an effort to reposition the super Eagles for effective performance and delivery going forward.
“We therefore urge the project 2022 task force to rescind their call for the NFF board resignation and in its place profer a lasting solution that will help to reposition our football sector in the country.
“Also, they should disregard the fact starved petition written by Harrison Jalal, he is one individual who has always been against football administration and their Progress in Nigeria, he is a Nigerian anti- foot ball and his petition lacks reputation and credibility. 
“This is not the first time he is misleading Nigerians with false report, a clear example was when he gave a false and baseless report for diversion of funds to special presidential investigation panel during the time of Okoi obon-obla that Amaju Pinnick diverted money from the world governing body of foot ball (FIFA) that amounted to $8.4 Million among others.
“While we commend the leadership of NFF for the bold step of sacking the technical crew, we also call on them to going forward ensure that only technical crew with requisite knowledge and capacity to deliver are engaged to manage our football teams in Nigeria. 
“Going down memory lane, Amaju Pinnick-led NFF since coming into office 90 months ago, with Dr Mohammed Sanusi as General Secretary, has won the following laurels with the various National Teams:
* FIFA U17 World Cup (Chile 2015)* Olympics Football Bronze * Women Africa Cup of Nations 2014* Women Africa Cup of Nations 2016* Women Africa Cup of Nations 2018* Africa U23 Cup of Nations* Africa U20 Cup of Nations* Africa Cup of Nations Bronze Meal* Africa Games Women’s Gold Medal* Africa Games Men’s Bronze Medal* All-Africa Games Men’s Bronze Medal
“It is also on record that after teaming up with a number of like minds to effect a change of guards at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Amaju Pinnick was elected Member of the CAF Executive Committee. A little over 17 months after, he became the 1st Vice President of CAF, following the forced exit of Ghanaian Kwesi Nyantakyi.
“His clout and mastery of the political terrain has facilitated a warm relationship with the FIFA hierarchy, where he was Member of the influential Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, before winning election as Member of the FIFA Council in March 2021. His influence and impact in the FIFA hierarchy has seen several other Nigerians appointed into key positions in FIFA and CAF such as;
* Justice Ayotunde Philips (a former Chief Judge of Lagos State) is Member of the FIFA Ethics Committee * Mallam Shehu Dikko (NFF 2nd Vice President) is Member of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee* A. U. Mustapha (SAN) is President of the CAF Appeal Board; while* Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (NFF 1st Vice President)* Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Member, NFF Exco)* Alh. Yusuf Ahmed Fresh (Member, NFF Exco)* Dr. Peter Singabele* Chief Obinna Ogba* Mrs Chisom Ezeoke, are all Members of CAF Committees.
“In the area of Youth Development, the administration took office with a vision of ‘Building a Sustainable Football Culture for Nigeria’. To realize this, a relationship was forged with Zenith International Bank for an annual football championship that would eventually turn out to serve as the lead production line for the various National Teams.The NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship, for U13 and U15 players, ran a course of four years, and produced a number of promising talents, including seven of the players in the Golden Eaglets’ squad to the FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil in 2019.
“About six of the players also featured in the Golden Eaglets’ squad to the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania in April 2019. The U15 squad is also regularly afforded international exposure to prepare them for the big challenges ahead. “On taking office, the vision of the Amaju Pinnick-led board, as espoused, was to ensure 100 per cent self-funding for the Federation, through private sector partnerships. Today, the NFF is 70% self-funding, from available and verifiable data, based on income and expenditure, and what came into the coffers from Government, and from sponsorship fees and grants from FIFA and CAF.
“Despite the political machinations of some disgruntled elements who lost out politically, and the manipulations and orchestration of a hostile former Sports Minister, the NFF leadership continued to pushed for more private sector partners and sponsors to take it to the bridgehead to accomplish its mission and vision.
“As at today, the NFF has relationship with AITEO (Official Optimum Partner, that also sponsors the AITEO Cup and the AITEO/NFF Awards), Coca Cola, MTN, Stanbic IBTC, Nigeria Breweries PLC, NIKE, Premier Lotto (Baba Ijebu), Air Peace, Peak Milk, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dettol, Revolution Plus, TVS and Sports Radio Brila.  
*Commitment to Building Bigger Super Eagles and Super Falcons Brands
Super Eagles: The farsightedness of the Amaju Pinnick administration in building bigger brands of the Senior National Teams – Super Eagles and Super Falcons – has never been in doubt. In 2016, the regime signed on a Franco-German, Gernot Rohr, who had extensive experience in coaching on the African continent, as Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles. The NFF gave him all the support to succeed, including arranging top-of-the-range friendly matches for the team over the past four years. 
“From a low of having missed two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations finals, Rohr took the Eagles to qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup from a pool including Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia, and also steered them to bronze medal-finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
“An inspired resolution to sign an agreement with the Super Eagles’ team on financial benefits at the World Cup ensured a rancour-free Nigeria camp at the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever.
“Stability in the technical department has produced results, with a number of youngsters having come through and a number of new discoveries taking the fight to the ‘Big Boys’ on the terrain. Results have also shown, with the Eagles also qualifying easily for the 2021 AFCON, and topping their group in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying race to reach the Playoff Round. 
“However, the team began to lose steam and Mr Rohr was shoved after a series of breaches of his contract including disrespect to the NFF leadership and insulting of the Nigeria nation.
“A technical crew made up of indigenous coaches led by Augustine Eguavoen prosecuted the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and the World Cup Playoff against Ghana. The crew has been shoved after failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. 
“Super Falcons: In the first quarter of 2018, the Pinnick administration appointed a renowned Swede, Thomas Dennerby, as head coach of the Super Falcons. He led the team to win the 2018 AFCON title in Ghana, which gave the team the ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2019 in France. For the first time in 20 years, the Falcons scraped past the group stages at the World Cup. 
“Dennerby left after the World Cup, and the NFF promptly recruited American Randy Waldrum to take charge of the team. The Falcons have now qualified for the 2022 Women AFCON in Morocco (which also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup) and look rejuvenated with the injection of a number of new players. Waldrum has asserted that his mission is to accomplish even greater things with the team, as long as he enjoys the full support of the Federation, including numerous friendly matches with top women football-playing nations of the world.  
FIFA Goal Projects
“Thanks to the Pinnick administration, Nigeria can now look forward to more FIFA Goal Projects, with the recent approval for Goal Projects in Kebbi and Delta States. The project in Kebbi State is in Birnin Kebbi while that of Delta State is in Ugborodo.
“Construction is at advanced stage on the sites, which have been sighted and approved by FIFA, and with all the specifications pertaining to the project already dealt with.
“In addition, the FIFA Technical Centre in Bauchi, which had been abandoned since launched during the era of the previous regime, has been given a fillip, with extensive renovation. A decision has been taken to add a playing turf to the project.
Probity And Accountability
“Due to its determination to foist a culture of transparency, accountability and probity in the Federation, the Pinnick team on taking office appointed world –renowned company PricewaterhouseCoopers as external auditors and Financial Derivatives Company as Financial Consultants.
“Book-keeping and governance and financial controls have improved remarkably year after year and the external auditors themselves have continued to laud the co-operation of the NFF leadership in supporting its work and treating its observations with high regard.
Taking National Teams Round The Country
“Never before in the history of Nigerian Football has so many cities and States of the Federation have opportunities to see and feel players and officials of the National Teams, and cheer them against foreign opposition at close quarters.
“The Super Eagles have played matches in Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano, Asaba, Benin City, Lagos and the Federal Capital, Abuja over the course of the past seven-and-half years.
“The Super Falcons have played in Kaduna, Benin City, Lagos and Abuja, while the junior National Teams have tested the turfs in Lagos, Calabar, Asaba, Abeokuta, Kaduna, Benin City and Abuja.
“It is therefore a misplacement for a man who has achieved all this to be asked to resign rather than being encouraged to do more. Such call is rather mischievous and uncalled for, besides NFF is an administrative football body and it’s roles and responsibilities should not be misunderstood. Calling for the sack of the NFF is equally calling for the sack of the entire chain of hierarchy including the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We say No, No and No to the enemies of football in Nigeria, we resist their plot against the total crash of football and we say to them, this again shall also pass away real soon.”