Sports
Nigerians United Against NFF, Divided On Govt’s Action
Reactions has started to trail the decision taken by the Federal government, that the Nigeria nation would not participate in international football competitions for at least two years.
According to the Federal government, the decision was sequel to the unimpressive performance of the national team at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa and the need to reform the football system to enable the country have a formidable football structure.
In his reactions, the Chief Coach of Sharks FC, Imama Amapakabo condemned the decision, saying that the consequences of the action would be enormous if the decision is implemented.
According to Amapakabo, the best way to improve Nigeria football is to restructure the administration of the football house.
“Personally, I do not support the idea of the two years suspension, because it will hinder our progress in the game”.
He suggested that the government should use the anti-graft agencies sanitized the system.
He also said that government should initiate a long term grassroots football programme, by going to schools to discover and mean real youth players.
“My brother, I’ll want the government to use any other means to reform the system, the decision cannot solve the problem”, Amapakabo said.
Simeon Ojoko, the team manager of Gateway Church Football academy, on his part described the decision as a good one.
According to him, Nigerian’s Football is in a real mess, besides members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have reached their peak and as a result lack good ideas to move game forward.
Ojoko, however expressed sadness, saying even though the decision would create room for reforming Nigeria football it will also affect un-coming young talents and one or more generation could lose the opportunity to explore their potentials.
“I like the government decision. But my fears is that it will affect the progressive system of our football and that is not too good for us” he said.
James Onoja, a sports analyst, in his reaction disagree with the decision, he made it clear that the action is a wrong one.
According to Onoja, the best approach to reform football is to dissolve NFF and the team, because both arms have failed in various aspects, not to suspend international football activities.
In his reactions, the technical adviser Dolphins FC, Stanley Eguma said the decision is a welcomed development that will actually sanitized football administration, but is also a harsh one.
According to Eguma, if the decision would not be contrary to FIFA rules and regulations, it is the best action.
“It is a good decision, and appreciate, but it should be inline with the runs of FIFA”.
Tonye Orabere
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.