Governing Bodies
GUSAU, KALLI, UCHEGBULAM, AZEEZ STILL SHOCKED AT OKENWA’S DEATH
Three days after he passed on after a battle with leukemia, members of the board of Nigeria Football Federation and other prominent figures in the Nigeria football firmament are yet to come to terms with the demise of Member of NFF Board and Chairman of the Nigeria National League, Hon. Chidi Ofo Okenwa.
Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria football and Member, NFF Executive Committee, Ibrahim Musa Gusau said on Friday that he was still lost for words:
“I am still to recover from the shock. That Chidi Okenwa is dead? I knew he was sick and at the last board meeting we held via video conferencing.
“I noticed it and I told him after the meeting that he should return to hospital. We are all shocked that the meeting turned out to be his last with the board. Very sad.”
Another member of the NFF Executive, Babagana Kalli said: “It is very, very sad. Chidi was a very honest and energetic person. He was a good friend and committed soldier of Nigeria football. He was friendly to everyone. We can only pray to God to grant his soul eternal rest.”
Emmanuel Ibah, another member of the NFF Executive, said: “I am still devastated. We were very close and it is still difficult for me to come to terms with his death. I am grieving intensely.”
Further to his earlier comments on Wednesday, former NFF 1st Vice President and Chairman of Imo State Football Association, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, added:
“I am yet to recover from the news of his death. Chidi Okenwa was so well grounded in association football rules.
“Since 2005, he hooked with me and no week passed without Chidi engaging me with association football rules for clarification and understanding. He was most enthusiastic.
“It was the same way I also hooked up to the late Pa John Ojidoh in 1994 to know about our Statutes. Chidi learnt very fast and I have always been proud of him. ”
President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez, said: “It is not easily believable that Chidi is dead. We will surely miss him. He was never afraid of standing up to challenges. He had that rare gusto to confront challenges and deal with them.”
Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company, Salihu Abubakar, said: “I am still in mourning. Chidi was a reservoir of knowledge and could reel out the Statutes, rules and other football conventions with ease. His death is a great loss to Nigeria football.”
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.
Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.
The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.
It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.
The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.
In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.
This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.
They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open.
Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports
Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.
The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the “failure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sport’s sector.”
He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.
According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.
“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.
“By declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.
“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”
Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.
The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.
“The FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.”
RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
The Confédération African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederation’s official match balls produced by Puma which has also unveiled a special edition for the Super Cup duel holding on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
According to CAF, OLA, symbolizing the dynamic and energetic nature of African football, means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba and “rise” and “success” in Arabic.
The OLA ball stands out with its vibrant design and cultural significance. “OLA”
The ball is a mix of black and gold, representing power and sophistication. The ball will be the centrepiece of the eagerly-awaited match between the two giants of African football.
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