Sports
‘Only Former Players Can Revive Nigerian Football’
Ex-International, Henry Nwosu, has called on more former national team players to enter the race for Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) presidency.
His call comes as the NFF’s electoral committee commenced selling forms to individuals interested in contesting for the top position, which will become vacant when the incumbent, Amaju Pinnick’s tenure ends next month.
The form for presidency costs N500, 000.00, while candidates for the vice presidency will pay N400, 000.00. Already, the electoral committee has picked September 30, 2022 for the elections, which is slated for Benin City, Edo State.
Nwosu said that the country’s football would be better served by ex-players, who have experienced the game both on pitch as footballers and outside it as stakeholders.
“Nigeria’s ex footballers should be elected to take charge of the NFF. They are exposed and credible to revive the league and all the national teams. This is how it is done in other countries.
“Ex footballers should get forms and participate in the election. They should dominate the entire process,” he said.
According to reports, collection and submission of forms for the election will last until September 8, 2022. The screening of candidates holds September 9 and 10, while the names of eligible candidates will be released by the electoral committee on September 12.
The committee will release the final list of successful candidates for the elections on September 19, with campaigns billed to commence on September 20.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”