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Nigerian Football

NIGERIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON FOOTBALL GOVERNING BODY

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

 

The public hearing on the bill formally establishing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) comes up on Wednesday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. The NFF, previously known as the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), was founded on August 21, 1933 in Lagos. It lost its autonomy on May 10, 1962 when a hitherto privately run body was dissolved by Chief Joseph Modupe Johnson, the Minister of Labour and Welfare who was also in charge of sports.

He then announced the constitution of an eight-man board led by Louis Edet, the acting Deputy Inspector General of Police.

From that moment, membership of the football body was by government appointment until August 1993 when electoral process was reintroduced. Even then, the process has often hit turbulent weather.

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In 1993, the pseudo election was guided by the NFA Decree 101 of 1992.

At the annual general meeting of the NFA in Markudi in 2008, the congress effected a change of name from NFA to NFF leading to frosty relationship with the then National Sports Commission. The name NFF was never recognised in governmental circle and the body had to draw money from government under its previous name of NFA.

But the logjam seemed broken when three years ago the Senate of Nigeria passed the Nigerian Football Association Act 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2014.

The Nigerian House of Representatives (Committee on Sports) on Tuesday in a public advertisement, called on the general public for the hearing that will come up on Wednesday at the Conference room 028, New building of the Assembly complex in Abuja from 10 am.

In the paid advertisement signed by Rt. Hon Goni Bukar Lawan, the House Committee on Sports invited the general public and stakeholders for the bill for an act to repeal the Nigeria Football Association Act, CAP. N110, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Nigeria Football Federation Act to provide for the administration of the game of football in the country and other related matters.

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Other bills for discussion includes an Act to establish the Nigeria Sports Anti-dropping Agency responsible for carrying out all functions of the Nigerian anti-doping organisation as enshrined in the various international standards and for other related matters.

The committee will also discuss the bill for an Act to provide for the administration and management of sports in the country, establishment of sports institutions and facilities, harness sports development and to encourage and promote drug-free sports and recreation in Nigeria and other related matters.

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Nigerian Football

Nigerian women coaches conclude first module of CAF C-License course

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NFF President Gusau and GS Sanusi with NFF Management and the coach educators and participants at the commencement of the course on Monday last week.

A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.

Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,

NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.

“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.

“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”

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The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12th – 20th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23rd August – 4th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9th – 19th September.

Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.

Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.   

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Osimhen’s outburst was a moment of madness, says Amaju

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Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a  FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.

“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.

  “I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.

He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.

“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.

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I prefer a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, says Amaju

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Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese. 

His reason for being averse to indigenous  coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.

“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.

“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.

 He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.

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 The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.

 “Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.

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