Governing Bodies
DECISION DAY FOR AMAJU PINNICK
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
To be or not to be? That is the poser before the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick as the 43rd General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gets under way in Rabat, Morocco.
At about noon today, he ceases to be a member of the Executive Committee of CAF, having dropped a reelection for a more elevating position of FIFA Council.
He will hope to be among the top two in a field of six contestants in the English-speaking bloc of African football jostling to belong to the 37-member ruling class of global football.
Among his fellow contestants is an incumbent, Malawi’s Walter Nyamilandu.
Considering the incumbency factor in Africa’s political set up, be it in core politics, business or sports, it may be safe to assume that Pinnick will only be hoping to join the Malawi FA boss in the recently expanded FIFA Council.
In other word, there is strong indication that Nyamilandu could pick one of the two tickets, leaving Pinnick and the four others struggling for one.
Like Sports Village Square recalled earlier in the week, the other contestants on the field include Gambia’s Lamin Kaba Bajo, Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga, Kenya’s Nicholas Mwendwa and Tanzania’s Wallace Karia.
As could be seen, the crowded pool is spread across geographical divide –West Africa, East and Central Africa and Southern Africa making it a bit challenging for any of the six contestants to lay claim to any ‘home’.
Everywhere looks a battleground. But for two candidates from Southern Africa, Pinnick would have relied heavily on his now well known alliance with South Africa where he is the frontline supporter of the CAF President-Elect, Patrice Motsepe.
In fact, Pinnick did not only drop his presidential aspiration for Motsepe, he was on ground and took to the podium when Motsepe unveiled his 10-point agenda in Johannesburg.
Pinnick could have relied on his home region of West Africa, but there is another candidate from Gambia which could also lead to split vote, especially since two previous presidential candidates – Augustin Senghor of Senegal and Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire did not find favour in the Nigerian FA chieftain.
He could however rely on votes from the Ghana FA and Isha Johansen of Sierra Leone. It is expected that personal friendship with Morocco’s FA boss, Fouzi Lekjaa can help in garnering the votes from the Arab/Portuguese and Spanish bloc.
Similarly, Lekjaa who is also eyeing a position in the FIFA Council from the Arab/Portuguese/Spanish bloc will be expecting a reciprocal support from Pinnick.
It all now boils down to alliances and counter-alliances as Pinnick is hoping to become the third Nigerian ever in the FIFA ruling body. Before him were Oyo Orok Oyo from 1980 to 1988; Amos Adamu from 2006 to 2010.
Oyo lost his FIFA seat to Gambia’s Omar Sey in 1988 at the General Assembly held in Morocco, the same country hosting the 2021 elections. Like Oyo and Adamu who started their FIFA journey by winning executive committee seats in CAF in 1972 and 2002 respectively, Pinnick is following the same path having won a CAF seat four years ago.
But unlike the duo, Pinnick will not hold the two positions simultaneously as he is not listed to contest for CAF seat today. His position is therefore vacant and candidates will contest the WAFU zone B slots.
If Pinnick wins, it is another feather on his cap and Nigeria gaining another position in the committee of Nations. But if he fails, the only executive position he will be holding will be that of NFF of which he is half-way done in his second term.
It is however expected that he may gain standing committee positions in both CAF and FIFA having been an arrowhead supporter of the chieftains of both bodies.
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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