Nigerian Football
NFF VICE PRESIDENT, DIKKO EXPLAINS IMPLICATIONS OF NFF BILL PASSAGE
The NFF 2nd Vice President, Shehu Dikko has outlined the NFF BILL 2019 passed on Wednesday by the National Assembly. In a message sent to www.sportsvillagesquare.com, Dikko explained that the 2019 bill repeals the NFA Act and Established the NFF.
He further pointed out that the 2019 bill “recognizes NFF as the sole body in charge of football administration, management and regulations in Nigeria in line with its Statutes as approved by FIFA.”
His other explainations run thus: “Recognizes Football as a National Asset and thus entitled to special privileges, concessions and from time to time to receive grants, subventions and or appropriation from Government in furtherance to its objectives and functions and to facilitate the overall development of football in Nigeria ensure its sustainable growth.
“Recognizes the NFF statutes as drafted and approved by the members as its congress and ratified by FIFA as the supreme law for the Governance of the functioning, organization, administration, and operations of the Federation.
“Recognises that’s the NFF statutes may be amended from time to time in accordance with the procedures and processes stipulated in the Statutes. The Federation shall deposit its statutes as may be amended from time too time with the National Assembly and the agency of the Federal Government in charge of sports for information and guidance.
“Recognises that, the subject of Audit for subsidies, grants and or appropriation received from Government by the Federation, control of legality, public order and safety shall be within the exclusive competence of the Government.
“Recognizes further that the Federation and its members shall be self-governed by the Federation and it’s bodies according to its statues and regulations as well as those that are determined by WAFU, CAF, and FIFA.
“NFF to be constituted, organized and operated as provided in its statutes – mainly as a private sector driven and a self-governing non-profit sports body.
“All disputes should be resolved as provided in the alternative disputes resolution mechanisms enshrined in the NFF statutes and other football governing bodies FIFA and CAS whose decision is final.
“Participation in activities of NFF being voluntary, its members and all participants shall be deemed to have undertaken to waive their rights to take internal disputes of the NFF and football matters to ordinary courts of law and resolve all disputes through the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms provided in the Statutes.
“NFF Congress, Executive Committee and other bodies shall be established, composed and operated in line with the NFF statutes as approved FIFA.
“In addition to criteria stipulated in NFF statutes, for a person to be member of NFF Executive Committee, and to guarantee diligent performance in office, he/she must pledge a bank guarantee as an indemnity (to guarantee diligent performance) to cover the period of the mandate in a manner and form as determined by the Congress.
“Clear-cut and transparent financial management structure, including requirements for NFF to publish its annual audited account in a minimum of two national dailies and obligation to keep its accurate Audited accounts for inspection by members, upon approval.
“Clear-cut process and conditions on how Government will support the NFF financially, if needed, through Grants, subvention and or appropriations to only cover shortfall between the NFF budgets, based on its activities for the year, and its sponsorship revenues. Thus, the benchmark/target is for NFF to quickly work to ensure it reaches self-funding.
“Clear-cut process and how FGN may support Football by giving the National broadcaster funds to buy media and broadcast rights from NFF and the leagues at commercially viable terms and broadcast the football events through the networks. (Similar to Morrocco model)
“Clear-cut process for FGN to confer benefits, concessions, tax rebates to companies sponsoring football.
“Confers powers on FGN, subject to approval of National Assembly to issue special regulations, tariffs, and concessions to specific companies, industries, business sectors etc with the objective of raising funds and or provide the enabling environment for football development (including infrastructure provision and development) as a national asset.
“The NFF to organize and operate its general secretariat as provided under its statutes and employ the personal and staff under its standard employments contact as done in the private sector.
“Appointment of independent auditors for the NFF as provided in the statutes with the exclusive rights/powers to audit funds or grant given to NFF by Government reserved for Government.
“Strengthening domestic football with professional leagues as the driver etc and requirement for full compliance to the club licensing regulations of the federation as a condition to participate in the competitions organised and managed by the league.
“ Streamlining and enhancement of transparency in the transfer of Players from Nigeria.
“Requirements, subject to the provisions of the act and the statutes of the federation, for the federation to faithfully and diligently collaborate and work in partnership with the agency of the FGN in charge of sports and other relevant government agencies in the pursuance of its objectives and discharge of it functions; provided that no action of such collaboration will be inconsistent or in conflict with the rules and regulations of any international federation to which the federation may be affiliated to from time to time .
“Generally, the NFF BILL passed provided the framework for the domestication of the NFF and FIFA statutes; provide the enabling environment to ensure good governance, management and operations of the NFF and sustainable development of Football in Nigeria in line to the best international standards.”
Nigerian Football
Season’s first win for Akwa United and Ikorodu City
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
Nigerian Football
Behold! Nigeria Football’s October 8 Magic
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Nigerian Football
Rivers flow to the top!
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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