FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL FOUNDATION. Motto; sustaining friendship through growth. Is a non profit, non governmental, non partisan organization with core interests in infra structural development, capacity building and advocacy? Though muted for several months before its formation on August 12th, 2014, friends of football is a child of necessity born to help strengthen the chord of friendship and improve the sustained growth of the beautiful game of football in particular and sports in general. We will be very active from the grass roots to the top, covering every nook and cranny of our great country through a very elaborate network of partnerships and comprehensive programs with a clear short and long term visions aimed at the growth and development of the sport in particular and the country at Large. After this press conference, friends of football will be on a nationwide tour of data collation, consultations with stake holders and courtesy calls. We would like to seize this opportunity therefore to appeal to public and private individuals corporate and civil organizations for strategic partnerships in order to achieve this lofty ideas. The official launch of the organization during which the entire composition of the foundation will be made public will then be next, on a date to be communicated. It is important to note that this is not an ex players foundation or union. NIGERIAN FOOTBALL, STATE AFFAIRS, WAY FORWARD We just returned from a world cup where our darling super eagles had an average outing and that is putting it mildly, some of us actually believe they were woeful. The natural thing to be expected on return will be stock taking, technical report on the super eagles outing, financial report on the world cup and even possibly a disciplinary report on some events during the mundial. Instead what greeted us was impeachments, re-instatements, counter impeachments, fiasco elections, arrests, fire outbreak, court injunctions and counter injunctions, the Nigeria football house has become a mockery and our country a laughing stock before the world. To this day, the giant of Africa and pride of a continent is still unable to hold an election to usher in the next football federation president. We are all very aware of the debacle that has become the NFF presidential elections and the appalling and shameful acts that has characterized the exercise. Everyday Nigerians wake up in anticipation of the next drama unfolding, our news stands and social media is awash with these shame that is fast becoming our norm, unless of course something is done urgently. As an organization whose only interest is the growth and development of our football and country, it is disheartening to see that the beautiful game which is meant to promote peace and friendship is now turning the opposite in our country. No one should be in doubt that the events of the past months has set us back the equivalent of a year. Today the super eagles are struggling to qualify for the nations cup, uncertainty rules the day in our domestic leagues as the future of our youths hang in the balance. The NFF secretariat is today a shadow of its former self, all these begs one to ask the question where thus lie our future. A number of organizations and spirited individuals have made efforts to calm the ugly storm but have come short mainly on the simple fact that they have failed to look beyond the surface. The storm you see now is a culmination of the small waves and tidal currents building overtime. The rot that is our football house today is a culmination of the decays of so many years past. It is easy to point fingers and talk about the NFF because it is the epi centre of our football but let us not forget that there are several components that make up Nigeria’s football. Do you want to talk about the state football associations where certain individuals have been chairmen for well over 15 years? Or the club owners association where perhaps only 2 or 3 people own clubs? Is it our leagues that are run by individuals who run clubs that participate, talk about conflict of interests. Should we talk about the conflict between APFON and NANF that is tearing players apart rather thou bringing them together or the ex players and internationals who has made be grudging each other their stock in trade Perhaps we should talk about the fact that football in most countries contribute significantly to that country’s G.D.P while the reverse is the case in Nigeria. The list of decays are exhaustive and revolving and these are responsible for the vicious cycle engulfing our football. The founding fathers of the beautiful game meant it to be a uniting force that breaks barriers and building bridges, promoting peace and creating friendship on its way. These, the game has perfectly achieved in Nigeria. Football is the most if not only uniting factor in Nigeria today, a rallying point for all gender irrespective of religion, ethnicity or background. In a civilized world these factor would make the sport sacrosanct, devoid of politricks and corruption. In all these gloom and doom lies the possibility of a FIFA ban, should we be worried? yes we should. The effects will be catastrophic and astronomical in nature. Consider no international matches, no participation in FIFA organized competitions, no international transfer of players, even our referees cannot officiate internationally neither can our coaches be recruited outside our shores. Every well meaning Nigeria should be wary of these, especially the men and women who train youngsters in football academies all over the country. It will be wise to spare our selves the possible scenerios. As a nation we must move forward and to do so we must proffer solutions to issues bedeviling us or at the least device creative measures aimed at stemming the effects of the problems created while lasting solutions are gradually implemented. One of such creative measures will be for all parties involved in the NFF imbroglio to allow for a peaceful and proper conduct of the NFF elections, let us start from there. Without pointing accusing fingers at any group, person or persons let us for once put the country first and make that sacrifice for the greater good of the entire nation. Posterity judges our every action and therefore our steps must be guided by principles of fair play and equity. Football is even more vulnerable as the actions of a few can directly affect the entire nation thus the need for all involved to imbibe the spirit of patriotism, discipline and self sacrifice. At these juncture we would like to appeal to the judiciary and our security operatives not to allow their good names to be dragged through mud. The judiciary they say is the last hope of the common man while football is the livelihood of the common man, how ironic then and discouraging when you hear that a segment of the judiciary is involved under questionable circumstances in the controversy that is the NFF today. When Nigeria joined FIFA, it accepted its statutes and was binded by it. Part of that statutes clearly states that all football maters should be taken to the court of arbitration for sports only. One would naturally expect that our learned ones should help us uphold this law by chasing away any football matters brought to the courts rather there entertain them to the detriment of the integrity of an entire nation. We are therefore using this medium to appeal to the Attorney General and minister for justice, the Hon.min. For sports and the chief justice of the federation to as a matter of urgency constitute a committee to facilitate the establishment of a court of arbitration for sports in Nigeria. We love our security agencies and salute their courage in protecting the lives of the citizens of our beloved country, especially in this trying moments, we also implore them to please and please be cautious when handling football related issues so as not to mistakenly allow themselves to be used as pawns by mischief makers. Security personels are agents of peace and must be seeing as such in the dispensation of their duties. For once Nigeria football, let us entrench democracy. In line with the transformation Agenda of our president and commander in chief let us embrace transparency, accountability and the rule of law. Let us imbibe the spirit of patriotism and service to father land, let us have a true and just election to usher in a new NFF leadership, let us start from there. After the elections we shall collectively beam our searchlight on the football house. The congress on their part must do their work. We hear that monies change hands during this period; hotels have even been booked by some aspirants to offer free accommodations to members of the congress and their allies in exchange for their votes. To this we say Nigerians are watching. We strongly advice that you vote according to the manifesto of the individual rather them mortgaging your conscience. The collective aspiration of Nigerians concerning our football should be your overriding and determining factor in making your choice. Friends of football on our part will send some of our members as independent observers. Friends of football foundation remains commited to the growth and development of the beautiful game and enjoins all, to jump in on board. After the NFF elections, friends of football foundation will be proposing a football confab where all issues relating to football and our nation will be discussed and findings with proffered solutions will be submitted for implementation. We must prove to the world that we are not just a country of potentials but a country of great men and women achievers. Nigeria should win the next world cup. Football should start contributing significantly to the G.D.P of our country. The NFF and the entire footballing community should be a vibrant business and result oriented family. These are not impossible but takes the collective and conscious efforts of all stake holders. The media has the biggest role to play. You must refuse to be pawns in the hands of some of this political jobbers in order to maintain a balanced reportage. You must be agents of transformation of our football and ambassadors of growth and development. At this juncture we will like to applaud the media for their role in highlighting the issues bedeviling our football and resolute in up holding justice, equity and fair play. We applaud the Nigeria referees association for their stand in ensuring that our football institution is not destroyed. We applaud our own football CJ, Adokiye Amasiemeka for his vibrant and honest contributions. We applaud all the ex internationals and football stake holders for their genuine concerns and honest contributions to the growth of the games especially the birth of friends of football foundation. We applaud MR. Bitrus Bewarang and the entire coaches association of Nigeria for their patriotism and stand throughout these trying periods. We like to say thank you to our friends of football partners, Hamza Al-mustapha, father francis Eworo, Hon. Kim Titus Danja, chairman Eagle Multi Biz Concept Int Mr Ini Akpabio and Nanet suites for their invaluable contributions in making this briefing a reality. Thank you and God Bless.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:18:05 +0000
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