Posted by Akingbala Akinola on
It is unfortunate, the rather unpalatable situation our national team, the Super Eagles, are in. But the big question we all keep deferring is, how did we get here?
It is unfortunate, the rather unpalatable situation our national team, the Super Eagles, are in. But the big question we all keep deferring is, how did we get here?
The answers to this nauseating question is simply the poor and unprofessional administration of sports in Nigeria. The genesis is in our policy formation and implementation. The recent pronouncement by the new Sports Minister, Mr. Samaila Sambawa, on the suspension of the hiring of a foreigh coach was a clear continuation of government intervention in sports. The decision to appoint or not should be the prerogative of the Nigeria Football Association, in consonance with its sponsors.
The minister's fiat is a slap in the face of Globacom, the telecommunication giant, which is currently the official sponsor of football in Nigeria.
The London trip undertaken by Segun Odegbami and others was condemned by some sections in the media, but most critics of the trip were simply blunt in begging the truth. We must all reckon that this was the first time in the history of our football that a private company was willing to be wholly responsible for the cost of a coach for the national team, and the need to be transparent and accountable is paramount.
The deeds of these people wrong or right will be influential to the future of football in Nigeria and corporate sponsorship. The trip was an act in the right direction, but its over bloated report was an abnormality. The NFA must learn that not all its activities must be conducted or communicated on the pages of newpapers. The media must stop the witch-hunt and character assassination of the respected Nigerians that went to London to get coach for the Eagles.
I know we are all uncomfortable with the precarious situation of the Super Eagles, regarding our qualification for the World Cup in Germany next year. The blame lies with us all: the sports ministry, the NFA the coaching crew,the players, The fans and, most especially, the sporting press. We must learn to accept our fate, although I pray the Eagles go to the mundial in Germany for the fourth consecutive time. But the Angolans won't lie low. They want to make their berth at the World Cup in Germany.
Decree101 is still very much in existence in spite of countless efforts to abrogate it. We need to act fast as the world is watching us make a mess of a small issue.
The World Cup will not lose its glamour if Eagles fail to qualify but the game will be boosted if Eagles qualify for the competition in 2010. Let's discard all forms of abnormality in our sports management, If Nigeria can produce the El-Rufais Akunnyilis,Ezekwesilis,Okwonjo- Iwealas,Nuru Ribadus in other spheres of our life in spite of the numerous deficiencies of our environment, sports needs a messiah for these abnormalities to end.
Akingbala Akinola
aaliyahakins@yahoo.com
SUNDAY PUNCH, August 07, 2005