Governing Bodies
Flamingos’ feat is not an end, but means to an end, says Uchegbulam
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
‘Enough of the celebration, let’s get into the real business’ is what seems to be the underlining statement by former NFF Vice President and now Imo State FA chairman, Amanze Uchegbulam.
He has cautioned that over celebrating the modest achievement of Nigeria’s Flamingos at the just concluded FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup could be counter productive.
He acknowleged the brilliant achievement of the girls and the attendant praises that the current NFF eexcutive and the task force set up are recieving.
But he cautioned that Nigeria should look beyond the current celebration and think of how to use the success as a launch pad for greater perfomences.
Uchegbulam was the chairman of a panel of enquiry into Nigeria’s poor perfomance on home soil at the then World Youth Championship that is now called the U20 World Cup.
The report of that panel, issued on 1 June 1999, like most others before and after it, is gathering dust somewhere unimplemented.
The Amanze Uchegbulam Panel, not minding the military background of the officer and gentleman, of Col. Abdulmumini Aminu, subjected the then NFA chairman, to a two-hour grilling during one of its seatings.
The conclusion of the panel: “The ages declared by Nigerian players were questionable, if not downright false”.
The report concludes that the cheats were already having a negative impact on the national team, as players expected to graduate from youth sides burn out by the time they reach the senior national team.
In a recent exchange with the Sports Village Square, Uchegbulam remarked: “I think as administrators, we should think beyond just celebrating.
“Our worry should be where these ladies would be in 10 years. Would they have graduated to U20/ U23 and eventually Super Falcons?
“That should be our main task and worry. Please pencil down the names of the Germans and you will see those ladies in Germany national team in 10 years.
“Would that be same for us? Time shall tell.”
He illustrated his point with the fallout of the 2007 U17 World Cup in South Korea.
“De Gea was in goal for Spain while Ajiboye was our super keeper christened Ajiboy.
“Today, De Gea is still Spain/Manchester United keeper and last time I heard about Ajiboye, he was Plateau United keeper.
“I don’t know whether he is still there. That is the development we as grassroots administrators should be concerned about and not ephemeral achievement.
He recalled the path that Kelechi Iheanacho passed through on his way to stardom.
“Remember in 2007/08, we had U13 competition courtesy of Sani Lulu’s pet project. Kelechi Ihenacho was MVP and by 2012, Barrister Chris Green had drafted him into U17 team.
“He became an international name 10 years later and still is. That is development which should be our job. Please let’s be focused for once and do our job.
“In summary, Task Force, your job is not done yet. Monitor those ladies for growth into the Super Falcons.
“That’s where we need them and not age group achievement.
“That’s my humble submission.”
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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