Nigerian Football
Ministry’s Perm Sec hails NFF on World Cup Plans
The organisers of the March 23 friendly match between Poland and Nigeria have changed the match venue from the capital city of Warsaw to Wroclaw, thenff.com has informed.
This is coming as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Olusade Adesola has poured encomiums on the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for its well –tailored, comprehensive and articulate 2018 FIFA World Cup plan for the Super Eagles.
Adesola, who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, at the unveiling of the plan at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, noted: “The present administration preaches transparency, and this is exactly what the NFF has done here. They have brought everyone on board and laid out their plan in good time, even asking people to contribute.
“This is commendable. I see a lot of excitement among the leaders of the football community here and I am equally enamoured by the clear –cut nature of the World Cup plan,” he said while also assuring that the Federal Government is working to ensure that the pitch of National Stadium, Abuja is revamped in good time for the Eagles’ pre-World Cup friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, 28th May.
Leading members of the Nigerian Football family as well as stakeholders also hailed the NFF’s well –articulated World Cup program, which included venues and dates for six pre-World Cup friendly matches, kit launch, camping programmes and venues, the team base camp, sponsors’ event and how the team will travel during the World Cup finals proper.
On the five –year partnership agreement between the NFF and Coca-Cola, which conferred on the beverage giant the title of ‘Official Soft Drink and Co-Sponsor of the Nigeria National Teams,’ Adesola said the Federal Government’s unwavering support and the NFF’s diligence, which ensured 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, has enabled the environment for corporate organizations to journey back to sports sponsorship in droves.
“Indeed, the journey to this epoch making event was made possible by the qualification of the Nigeria Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals holding in Russia.
“The event of today would not have been possible but for the dogged support and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari, to the success of the Super Eagles.
“Like no other times, the NFF prosecuted the qualifying matches without having to go with cap in hand. The entire sports community express sincere gratitude for the support by the Federal Government.
“In spite of government’s commitment to the development of sports and its sponsorship, the scarcity of resources as well as competing demands by other sectors such as education, health, internal and external security, agriculture, road infrastructure, energy and the like have greatly constrained Government’s desire to adequately finance sports.
“As a result, and in tandem with global best practices, this administration is championing greater private sector participation in all sectors of the economy including sports.”
A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.
Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,
NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.
“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.
“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”
The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12th – 20th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23rd August – 4th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9th – 19th September.
Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.
Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.
“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.
“I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.
He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.
“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.
Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.
His reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.
“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.
“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.
He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.
The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.
“Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.
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