Former Nigeria coach Chief Adegboye Onigbinde
has called for knowledgeable people to run for
office as the Nigeria Football Federation elections
coming up later this month.
Citing the dearth of technocrats in the football
industry as the bane for the country’s lack of
progress in the sport, Onigbinde said that it is
high time Nigeria got the best hands to run her
football.
Chief Onigbinde (r) with former Super Eagles
coach, Samson Siasia.
“A lot of so-called football administrators are into
football because of what they can get from it, not
for what they can put into it. Actually they have
nothing to put into it,” Onigbinde said.
“If you then come out to say you want to do the
right thing you may also risk persecution and
molestation which is another problem facing the
administration of football in the country.”
The 72-year-old former Fifa adviser said that
much of the success that the country has
recorded in the game has been due to sheer talent
despite the poor administrative standards.
“Nigeria is greatly blessed with talents in football
and the country could have ranked at least
among the best five in the world if not for lack of
good football administration.
“It is only in Nigeria that a carpenter is allowed
to run sports and most especially football. What
does a carpenter know about footballing
business?
“The alarming thing and disgraceful thing is that
we keep on repeating the same thing, we keep on
making the same blunder and still expect our
football to grow.
“The little success we have had in football was
due to exceptional talents and skills of our
players that have always put in their all to make
Nigeria proud,” Onigbinde said.
Among those that have signified interest in
contesting for office in the August 26 elections
are Taiwo Ogunjobi, Kalu Uzor Orji, among many
others. Nawao....these names self...
