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Dethroned Nigeria champions Bayelsa United relegated

Dethroned Nigeria champions relegated

Posted: 2010-07-08 08:26

Bayelsa United were on Wednesday relegated from the Nigeria Premier League, just one season after winning the title and competing in the CAF Champions League.

A 2-0 loss at Kaduna United condemned the 2009 champions to life in the lower reaches of Nigerian football, along with Gateway, Ranchers Bees and Wikki Tourists.

Bayelsa, flush with cash at the time, claimed the Nigerian title in 2009 with a string of stirring performances especially at their formidable home fortress.

But this season, the club have struggled with financial trouble, with players claiming they are owed wages, bonuses and sign-on fees from last the last campaign.

The State government was forced to order an audit of the club's finances after numerous complaints, but the players remained unpaid, leading to drastic drop in motivation and performances.

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edocana: 2010-07-08 08:49

hi , can someone tell me where Bendel insurance is ? since they had been relegated nobody gree hear from dem again o

BOMAT: 2010-07-08 09:14

We all can see what financial recklessness can cause. I hope the current NFF is reading this story. In addition, the Bayelsa United Club is a reflection of Bayelsa State.

rambukar: 2010-07-08 09:55

This is a clear case of over dependance on government funding of Football clubs in Nigeria. No private organisation would mismanage funds unhindered. The cheapest way to make money in Naija is to embezzle public funds. The Government of Balyesa state lacked the moral impetus to question mismanagement and this is why the audit did not produce any result. Time to restructure our Football. Must all clubs in Nigeria be owned by state goverments? "Footaball Clubs" another means to embezzle state money.

Kolawole1: 2010-07-08 10:53

That's the main problem with Nigeria local league. This scenario is virtually impossible in Europe. State Government ownership of clubsides leaves them to the whim and caprices of the state chief executive, and lord help the club if the state governor is not a soccer fan or if he wants to hoard money to rig the next election, like we saw in 3SC.

Te good news for me is that my darling 3SC escaped the drop. Now is the time for Coach Fatai Amao and the Oyo state Government to do something to reposition the club for next season.

Austin: 2010-07-08 11:14

Viola! Back to my theory that Nigerian teams should be privately owned for us to make any headway. @Billion, I agree with you that many people, including your truly, will be hesitant to buy shares of the clubs as it is, but if the shares are reasonably pirced, like at 5 Naira per share, then you wil have hundreds of thousand buying. If you have, say 100 million shares (it's possible) then what you have is 500 million naira. And that is not govt money. If quite a number of people invest that amount of money into a club, believe me, nobody will want to monkey with their money.
Then if only 10 teams can meet the criterion of privatization then let us have only 10 well run clubs in the premier league, not this bunch of amateurs parading as pros. It's sickening!
If the NFF and NFL need more insights let them come and pay for consultations.

ken gadaffi: 2010-07-08 12:26

This is rather unfortunate that Nigerian CLubs can hardly manage their successes. Well, I hope they can bounce back soon but surely experience has shown that its much harder to get promoted to the Premier league. Ask 3sc, ranchers bees and co who have tasted it before.


@austin, do you really think most of our football adminstrators dont know what to do? I just feel that wetin dem go chop no dey let them know how to invest in the game. Most of them are comfortable with what they can get from govt rather than tapping the business potential of football and thats the big difference between our football and that which obtains in europe.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Fine: 2010-07-08 13:23

mmmhhhhhhh can you see that Enyimba is not just a club, it is an institution. Go Enyimba. Anynsi Agwu should be sent to NFF. Enyimba consistent winning has shown how football should be run with good results. Bayelsa work hard and keep your house in order, sure you'll bounce back.

SANCHEZ: 2010-07-08 13:31

Bayelsa United officials have 'used' up funds meant for the 'sorting' of referees hence the relegation.

Imaf : 2010-07-08 14:13

Wht abt those that are promoted, who are they?

Austin: 2010-07-08 17:28

@Ken, I agree that the officials may have an inkling about what to do, but they need toe reminded. Since we are hopefully on the verge of a "revolution" (I pray) in our football, we need to keep some very fundamental issues in the front burner. Selfishness must be banished in our collective interest. These officials should be made to understand that their interest are best served if we have the kind of change that we are advocating.

Austin: 2010-07-08 17:46

A quote from Amanze Uchegbulam in The Vanguard newspaper: "All I got were my due allowances or estacodes. They should look elsewhere if it’s on money matters. The President, Secretary General and Chairman of Finance Committee in the person of Aminu Maigari who is now the President dealt with financial matters, not me."

Over to you Maigari, interim chairman of NFF.

ken gadaffi: 2010-07-08 19:03

@austin I did ask why Aminu Maigari being the Finance director under Lulu is now made the NFF chairman, I am really not comfortable with the present arrangement and all these attempt to reform the NFF will not be a farce at the end of the day.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

ken gadaffi: 2010-07-08 19:38

@austin I did ask why Aminu Maigari being the Finance director under Lulu is now made the NFF chairman, I am really not comfortable with the present arrangement and all these attempt to reform the NFF will not be a farce at the end of the day.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Billion: 2010-07-08 22:13

Can we ever get it right? How come we tend to be moving round a circle of same people? Maigari being part and collaborator of the impeached NFF looters could continue where Lulu stopped. He will definitely agree to cover up tracks and destroy evidences. This present arrangement is not convenient.

Olatunbosun: 2010-07-08 22:48

@Kolawole, I joined in your celebration for our darling 3sc, It would have been painful if they fail to stay back in the elite league.

@Austin, I think a price of N5 could be too much for most club side if not all in this present system. The league needs good organisation, credibility and transparency to attract investors. As long as we have administrators that have little or nothing to offer, individual investors will continue to run away. Gone are the days of Leventis United, Abiola babes, Iwuanyawu Nationale, BCC Lions, IBL of Ilesha, Femo Scopion of Eruwa but to mention a few. Hope we will get there some day!

Bona: 2010-07-08 23:47

Probe of NFF:Blatter backs probe of Lulu, Ogunjobi, Uchegbulam
By Our reporter, South Africa
Friday, July 09, 2010

Sun News Publishing


The Executive Committee of the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, says it has nothing against the trials of the sacked president of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Sani Lulu, his deputy, Amanze Uchegbulam and chairman, Technical Committee, Taiwo Ogunjobi.
The Executive Committee after itsr meeting yesterday said it was normal everywhere in the world for public office holders to give account of their stewardship.

The committee also acknowledged that it had received Nigeria’s letter sent by President Goodluck Jonathan, announcing his decision to reverse the self imposed ban on Nigeria from international competitions for two years.
The committee headed by Sepp Blatter noted that FIFA is aware of the new executive of the NFF, an indication that football is growing in Nigeria.

The body says it would not interfere in the probe, while the new administration in the NFF is in line with the statutes governing the game. Jerome Valcke, General Secretary of FIFA, after yesterday’s meeting said: “FIFA does not give room and will not condone any corrupt official in its fold because FIFA spends millions of dollars on affiliated associations all over the world. It is very important for these officials to give account on how the funds made available to them are spent.” He said there was nothing unusal about the ongoing probe of Lulu and others, saying there is need for accountability. The accused officials were expected yesterday at the EFCC office for interrogation and the outcome was not known as at the time of filing this report.

On the future of football in Nigeria, Valcke said FIFA was delighted that Nigeria’s Under-20 female team, the Falconets, was already in Germany to participate in the Under-20 World Cup, which kicks off Tuesday.
FIFA’s President, Sepp Blatter, said it was not their intention to expel Nigeria at any point in time because Nigeria is one of the superpowers of football in Africa.

He disclosed that FIFA was glad that Nigeria met with the deadline given to the government to rescind its earlier decision to ban the country from FIFA’s programmes for the next two years. He advised football administrators in Nigeria to run the game properly. In another development, he praised South African President, Jacob Zuma, the World Cup Local Organising Committee, LOC, headed by Danny Jordaan and the citizens for giving the world a befitting tournament.

According to him, “for South Africa, I’m happy. I want to thank the government because we’ve seen a successful hosting of the Mundial, and we have seen the best World Cup ever organised and we are proud of them.”

victor: 2010-07-09 00:08

MY PEOPLE WE STILL HAVE LONG WAY IF PEOPLE THIS MALAM MAIGRAI LIFT TO MANAGE THE NFF WE ARE GOING NO WHERE HE IS PRAT OF THE SYSTEM, OJO OBA IS STILL THERE WHO WAS INDICTED ON THAT MISSING $236,000

victor: 2010-07-09 00:13

MY PEOPLE WE STILL HAVE LONG WAY TO GO PEOPLE LIKE MALAM MAIGRAI STILL LIFT TO MANAGE NFF WE ARE GOING NO WHERE HE HIS BEEN PRAT OF THE SYSTEM, OJO OBA IS STILL THERE HE WAS INDICTED IN THAT MISSING $236,000 AT THE NFF HOUSE NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT HIM; MY PEOPLE I FEEL SO SORRY FOR OUR FOOTBALL

ken gadaffi: 2010-07-09 08:54

The truth they say is always bitter but we have to say it, Our leaders are wicked. Not only are they wicked, they are evil and until we Nigerians take the bull by the horn to start dealing with them, we will continue to gnash our teeth in agony.

As you talk about NUGA, Principal Cup, Academical, FA cup, and so on, I am close to tears. Those days when I started going to the stadium to watch matches as a young boy, the stadium was often filled to capacity. This trend remain so until the early 90s, I do not think it was the economy that drove people away from the stadium, rather the low standard of the game.

THE NFF have to resuscitate our football from the grassroots and make it attractive for people to go and watch, then the issue of buying shares @Austin was talking about can work. Even if 100million Nigerians buy share in a club and the stands are empty, i can not see how the game develop. The basic problem still remains that the so called sports administrators in Nigeria are all scrap and not ready to improve. Greed is their greatest undoing.

Football is good business and often attract corporate sponsors, Nigerian clubs should not complain of lack of funds but because they often depend on government, they do nothing about sourcing for funds elsewhere.
Most corporate organizations will not put their money in Government run football clubs because they know there is no accountability. How many teams in the Premier league, La Liga, Ligue one, bundesliga are government owned? in contrast how many teams in Nigerian League are privately owned?

Top clubs in Europe, South America and even recently in Asia generate a lot of revenue from Merchandising, gate takings and shirt sponsorship. I remember a few years back, Onigbinde came up with the idea of privatizing 3SC but because of the greed of some people who see the club as an avenue to siphon government funds, they never allowed that plan to materialize. Our leaders are just wicked, they go abroad and see how things are done, but rather than imitate them and do same here, their greed will not allow them.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Marvel: 2010-07-09 14:01

Mr Ken Gadafi, I agree with some of your points. Companies invest in clubs via sponsorship with the aim of making profits. The economic climate in the country is harsh. Think about the cost of energy. Hooliganism and win at all cost syndrome are the greatest enemies to match attendance in the country. I go to watch matches whenever I visit home and the sights at the stadium are horrible. Think about the Columbia sections of the stadium...potential hot-spots for violence. I prefer to watch beautiful football irrespective of who wins. Hooligans and Alayes have taken over our football, threatening players and coaches every now and then.

Jasper United, Udoji, Busdor are some private owned FCs. Where are they now? How much does it cost to sponsor a team for a premier league match in the country...from transportation to accomodation, etc. Think about the international matches also. Corruption is there, yes, but it is not the whole story. Our football followership is poor. Enyimba is the only team, IMO, that has a serious fan base (Aba Traders and workers). Without solid support (substantial fan base) privatizing the clubs will be a collosal failure.

Marvel: 2010-07-09 14:01

Mr Ken Gadafi, I agree with some of your points. Companies invest in clubs via sponsorship with the aim of making profits. The economic climate in the country is harsh. Think about the cost of energy. Hooliganism and win at all cost syndrome are the greatest enemies to match attendance in the country. I go to watch matches whenever I visit home and the sights at the stadium are horrible. Think about the Columbia sections of the stadium...potential hot-spots for violence. I prefer to watch beautiful football irrespective of who wins. Hooligans and Alayes have taken over our football, threatening players and coaches every now and then.

Jasper United, Udoji, Busdor are some private owned FCs. Where are they now? How much does it cost to sponsor a team for a premier league match in the country...from transportation to accomodation, etc. Think about the international matches also. Corruption is there, yes, but it is not the whole story. Our football followership is poor. Enyimba is the only team, IMO, that has a serious fan base (Aba Traders and workers). Without solid support (substantial fan base) privatizing the clubs will be a collosal failure.

ken gadaffi: 2010-07-09 15:08

@marvel, you have agreed with me no less that unless we increase our fan base, the league in Nigeria cannot improve.
During my days as a player, I was often spurred on when i step on to the pitch and see crowds of fans cheering. This is why many of our local players come short when they play for the national team as most are not often used to playing before massive crowds.

@marvel, I still dont think its the economy that has taken the fans away from the stadium nor because of hooliganism. The cost of watching football is high in other countries and Hooliganism in football is worse in Countries like England, Italy or Even in South America than in Nigeria.

The point is that Most Nigerians are passionate only about the National team, but fail to remain passionate about the club sides. While we are clamoring for the NFF to be up and doing to rebuild our football, I do think the fans really have a major role to bring back the glory days.

I remember as a secondary school boy in boarding house, we used to squeeze from our pocket money, and sneak to attend league matches at Liberty stadium. This is to tell you how passionate we were then. Today, i doubt if the school boys in nigeria even know where the stadiums are.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH