Since Samuel Eto’O emerged as FECAFOOT President, tongues have been wagging even among stakeholders of Nigerian football.
Divergent views have equally emerged leading to a sort of debate. The argument is supposing the ex-internationals get the opportunity to present a candidate or the Congress decides to come with a law favouring ex-internationals, who should he be? We all know that given our peculiar nature it is almost impossible for such a scenario to emerge.
It is the debate of IGBO PRESIDENCY in the Nigerian political discourse. That should be the right way to go. It is the needful and it should be the true and fair consideration but it seems a near impossibility. That is the mirror with which we view the emergence of an ex- international as NFF President.
Mischief makers who are footsoldiers of the cabal running and ruining sports especially football will come up with shocking argument and frivolous reasons why it will be an idea dad on arrival or a failed venture or exercise. Ironically, many of them are within the media which should be championing such course like we saw in Cameroun.
Segun Odegbami (MON) on several.occasions attempted to be then NFA President but the system turned him down. He was almost frustrated out of the football environment.
John Fashanu had a similar dream, ambition and agenda but he was frozen out. They said he cannot come “from nowhere” to lead Nigerian Football where he contributed nothing.
Genuine stakeholders had at some point boldly come up with a campaign for an atmosphere that will land the likes of Adokiye Amiesimaka as NFA President.
Those troubling our football came up with the wicked and destructive North-South discussion.
They argued that if the Sports Minister is from the South why should the NFA President come from the South? The same way they concocted the argument, Why should a club from the South win the FA Cup when another had already won the league? So both trophies (League and FA Cup must be shared or divided between both regions.
Permit me to say the above are part of the major problems bedevilling our football and sports today.
I must state unequivocally and without fear that IT WASN’T CREATED BY AMAJU PINNICK ADMINISTRATION NOR SUNDAY DARE’S LEADERSHIP OF THE SPORTS MINISTRY. In fact, they inherited it. It has been there for ages.
This is sadly part of the rots we have come to attach and identify our football and sports with. Change advocates however wonder why we cannot change the narrative.
They wonder why the status quo must remain…even as we know that those benefitting from the rots are successive administrators and administrations.
Back to the issue of this piece. Assuming all these incumbrances are cleared out of the way….and the ex-internationals are given a healthy atmosphere to produce NFF President, who in your opinion among them has the capacity to lead and turnaround things for better?