Sports

Lulu, Ogunjobi, 10 Others Seek NFF Re-Election

Published

15 years ago

June 24, 2010

Twelve members of the current Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are among 26 prospective candidates who have collected forms for the federation’s elections in August.

Already, all the 12 members, including NFF President Sani Lulu and first Vice-President Amanze Uchegbulam, have submitted their nomination forms alongside seven other prospective candidates.

The electoral body had on May 28 released guidelines for the polls while the collection of nomination forms began on June 7.

Between June 8 when the first form was purchased, and June 21, the deadline for the purchase, collection and return of forms, 26 prospective candidates picked the forms.

The other NFF Executive Committee members seeking re-election are Taiwo Ogunjobi, Abubakar Ladan, Obinna Ogba, Stephen Gyebgon, Patrick Ekong, Aminu Maigari, Dominic Iorfa, Shehu Adamu, Peter Singabelle and Taiwo Odebunmi.

Out of the 13 members elected into the 15-member committee of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in August 2006, only Princess Bola Jegede was yet to pick a form as at June 21.

The remaining member was Alili Galadima who died last February.

Shehu Adamu, a committee member who has picked a form, was elected onto the committee about a year later.

Also on the list of those who have collected nomination forms and returned them are Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of Enyimba International FC of Aba, and Chief Effiong Johnson, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Football Association.

Others are Suleyman Muazu, Chris Green and Babagana Kalli who were elected at the December 2005 elections of the then NFA in Kano but whose mandate was withdrawn by the congress in May 2006.

The rest are Sharif Inuwa and Al-Kassim Makoda, both from Kano State, while the likes of Aisha Falode and Ayo Omidiran, a former NFA board member, are among the seven yet to return their forms as at the initial deadline.

Meanwhile, the 2010 NFF Electoral Committee has decided to extend the return of forms by two weeks, ending by 6 p.m. on July 5, “in the spirit of fairness, equity and clear conscience’’.

Mr Abdulhakeem Mustapha, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, who disclosed this in Abuja while giving a mid-term update on the Aug. 21 polls, said the extension would give other Nigerians the chance to participate.

“We have done this in view of the fact that this is a World Cup year.

“It is in line with our vow to Nigerians that we will provide an equal playing ground for all interested candidates in this election.

“We are aware that some candidates complained that they were unable to get members of the NFF that would endorse their forms.

“Now, we believe that two weeks is a reasonable period for any serious person to get appropriate nomination and endorsement,’’ Mustapha said.

The Electoral Committee Chairman said his committee had critically examined the guidelines of the NFF Electoral Code to ensure there was no violation, before arriving at the decision.

He, however, said that those who collected their forms before June 21 remain eligible to still return their forms on or before 6 p.m. on July 5 to the committee’s secretariat.

The committee is expected to make public on July 12 the names of qualified candidates for the elections.

City Crime

‘NFF Conducted Federation Cup Draw Fairly’

Published

1 week ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.

Sports

Act Sports Signs New Teqball Specialist Contract In Nigeria

Published

1 week ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.

Sports

Nigeria Name Handball Squads For Zonal Champs

Published

1 week ago

April 21, 2025

The Tide

Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.