The much anticipated elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation has finally come and gone on Tuesday, September 30, in Warri, Delta State, which produced Amaju Pinnick as the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation. The new NFF president will manage the affairs of the football house over the next four years.
The seven candidates who battled for the NFF elections were Amanze Uchegbulam, Mike Umeh, Amaju Pinnick, Abba Yola, Dominic Iorfa, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Shehu Dikko.
Delta State FA Chairman, Amaju Pinnick emerged as the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Pinnick polled 32 votes in the second round of voting to replace the former Board of Alhaji Aminu Maigari.
“I am so excited winning the election and I will make sure I lift Nigerian football high when I assume office,” Pinnick said at the venue of the congress in Warri.
Pinnick should be prepared to erase wrinkles that have eroded the growth of football and develop the game especially in the grass root.
The NFF boss should also ensure that football is seen as independent, voluntary and recreation activities, just like Nollywood and the entire entertainment/music industry that have seen growth over the years without government intervention. Also, football should be part of school curriculum as a compulsory subject as a way of driving the development of the sport from the grassroots.
The government should hands off the business of soccer in Nigeria. Government should only provide an enabling environment and should rather play an advisory role that would ensure the growth of the game at all levels.
The total independence of the NFF as a body in all areas including sourcing for funds must become a reality this time while the government provides support to help facilitate it. But the government should not give money to the NFF; instead, the NFF should source for its own money as an independent entity.
There should also be a legal policy to back the effective running of Nigerian football.
As a matter of urgent prerogative, there is need for proper and total cleansing of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), the National League and the female football league.
He should also sort out the contract issues of the technical crew of the national team by either extending Stephen Keshi’s contract with the Super Eagles or by getting a credible hand on time as time is running out.
@AnthonyNlebem
ANTHONY NLEBEM
