NFF elections to hold Thursday
NFF elections to hold Thursday
Posted: 22 August 2010
Time: 11:05 am
Elections into the executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation will now hold on Thursday, following a resolution of the General Assembly.
The elections were initially scheduled to be held on Saturday, but were postponed following complaints from certain candidates was put off till next week.
Segun Odegbami, who led the complaints, wrote two petitions to FIFA President Sepp Blatter asking that the elections be put on on hold until State elections were conducted.
But the General Assembly rejected the petitions, and instead moved the elections by just four days.
The Assembly also warned of sanctions for any member who challenges the electoral process in a court of law.
Article by: Colin Udoh
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The Hammers have been tracking the African ace for much of the summer, having decided that their strike force is in need of strengthening.
As Yakubu is a proven Premier League goal-getter, the Upton Park outfit felt he was an ideal candidate to bolster their ranks.
They have, however, been frustrated in their efforts to take him to the capital, with Everton reluctant to do business.
The Toffees feel the terms on the table are unacceptable and have informed the Hammers that they will need to up their offer if they are to land Yakubu.
West Ham are reluctant to increase their bid, though, and could now turn their attention elsewhere.
Co-owner David Sullivan believes the club would be better advised to bring in a potential star of the future, rather than a 27-year-old striker who has struggled with injuries in recent times.
"We have cooled on Yakubu," he said.
"When you have a good, hard look at him, we want younger and quicker and better."
Reports suggest Everton are holding out for somewhere close to £8million for their player.
Published: August 21, 2010
* Speaking to Radio Blu, Christian Recalcati who is an expert in the transfer market in Italy talked about the future of the Nigeria striker, Victor Obinna.
''I think he(Obinna) will go to Liverpool as part of the Kuyt deal.I understand he's also being followed by Fiorentina, but i see difficulty as it would infringe on loan while the whole point is at least co-ownership(agreement),'' Recalcati said.
Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that the Liverpool striker, Dirk Kuyt is on the brink of joining Inter Milan in a cash plus player deal.
The Nerazzurri are hoping to reduce the €15m price-tag for Kuyt, which it's reported Liverpool are already willing to bring down to €13m.Inter are pushing for Dirk Kuyt, offering €8m plus Victor Obinna.
A new round of talks is expected to take place tomorrow or on Monday.
Let's do the two years stuff and clear these present bunch of blackmailers and also deal with FIFA that now seems to be the real problem of Nigerian football.
Laws are meant for people not people for law.
it has been revealed FIFA is the real problem of Nigerian football, by shielding corruption in Nigerian football they are the real problem.
This gang up and the so called congress would never allow anyone with a differing opinion to get near.
It is a case of rub my back i rub yours.The congress maintain the status quo by voting in the present board, the board will in return , get them back as state FA chairmen and congress members.
Why postpone
Congratulations on your triumph over Enyimba in the finals of the Federations Cup? How do you feel adding another medal to your illustrious career in the Nigerian league?
For the first time in Kaduna state, Kaduna United won something in football and I’m happy to have been the coach that led them to that success. I’m happy on the achievements we’ve made so far since I joined them. I’m proud of the players and for me it was a very good game against Enyimba and I’m very happy to have won the Federations Cup.
You guided Enyimba to the league title in 2008. Didn’t you feel anything for your former team as they went down on penalties, after they remarkably came back from a three goal deficit to send the game into shoot-out?
Yeah, I felt for them. If you would recall I was in Enyimba for two seasons and when we played them in the finals I felt for them that they lost, but I had to pull myself together and show truly where my loyalty lies. It was a tough game but I think we (Kaduna United) also played some fantastic football in the final irrespective of the fact that they levelled up to drag the game into penalty shoot-out which we eventually won.
Do you think you can build on this success with Kaduna United next season?
Yes we can, if the club management are prepared to sustain this level of progress with the team. We finished at the middle of the table last season, that was why we focused fully on the Federations Cup to revive our so called distrastrous season in the league. It was not easy though but my players made it easy for us all because they did the bigger part by playing to instructions and they had a big determination to write their names in the history books of Kaduna state football. I was very confident that I could win the final of the Federations Cup.
Could you tell us the difficulties you encountered enroute your triumph?
Well I must tell you my friend, all the games we played right from the group stage were all tough and I must reveal they brought out the best in my boys. We began our road to glory against Niger Tornadoes, the second against Kwara United and the third was against a team from the second division. The group stage matches were very tough because that group had three premier league teams. We managed to qualify and we defeated Ocean Boys on penalties in Ibadan in the quarter-finals, after we had played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time. We then won our semi final game against Rangers on penalties and also won the final too on penalties.
Coach your team won all their knock-out ties via-penalty kicks. Could you tell us what your game plan was throughout the knock out stages?
Well, (Laughs). We were very tactical and we played according to the strengths of my players. I have a well disciplined side that have listening ears and that is why we eventually won the Federations Cup. When it was time for us to take our kicks, we did what was necessary by telling our boys to stay calm and pick their spots and thank God, it worked out fine.
You have had spells with about 7 clubs in the Nigerian Premier League. Are you not baffled that the NFF have continually ignored you for the job of the Super Eagles?
Well I won’t lose my sleep on that. I have spent 11 years in the Nigerian league and I have managed seven teams in the league. My footprints are on all or part of their success stories in those teams I’ve managed. Go to Gabros, NPA, I won the league with Ocean Boys and Enyimba and now I have won the Federations Cup with Kaduna United.
These clubs know what I can do and I have given them what they really want. But for the NFF I don’t know why they have ignored me for the job of the Super Eagles. That’s the problem for the NFF people not my problem.
Have you ever applied for the job?
Yes, I have, but I have never been considered for an interview let alone the job. But I don’t want to dwell on that anymore, if they need my services they know how to reach me. Nigeria’s national team needs a coach that truly understands their psyche, their strengths and weaknesses. We don’t need a coach or just any coach in white or black skins that will do more harm than good to the team that was once ranked fifth in the world.
What other problem(s) do you think the Eagles currently encounter?
Judging from what I saw at the African Cup of Nations in Angola and at the World Cup in South Africa, one is that the players that come from Europe don’t play with a 100% commitment for the Super Eagles, that’s the first thing that would change if I get the job someday and the second problem is that the best players in the local league are not often invited to the national team.
You could ask all the players, Chairmen of the teams I’ve worked with in the past. I changed a lot of things in their perceptions towards the game and gave them the necessary belief that they can be better players than they were. That is why most spectators were stunned to see how Kaduna United played Enyimba in the final of the Federations Cup, with good football.
But now that the NFF are trying to tie up the loose ends of a deal with Samson Siasia. Do you think Siasia has all it takes to lead the Super Eagles?
I have said this before that Siasia is not ready to be Eagles coach. He was the coach of the Flying Eagles when they lost 2-1 to Argentina and also at the Olympics in 2008, he did not win the ultimate prize. Now he is with Heartland FC, he has one point from nine, has he proved to the NFF that he has the prerequisite to lead the Super Eagles? He was sacked in Juth FC and in Ocean Boys and now at Heartland he has not improved the club’s form. So has he proved to the NFF that he is a good coach? But that’s not my worry at all.
What should we expect from Kaduna United next season?
Well on that, I can’t really say much as I have to know what the management would be offering me for next season if it’s worth it then I would stay, but if not I would move on. But expect the team to build on this success in the league and in the CAF Confederations Cup next season.
There’s this report making the rounds that you are yet to be paid your outstanding salaries. How true is this?
Well I’m the coach of the team and I would not want to talk about that but you know if you’re paid you’d be happy to want to continue but if not, you will be thinking of the next option available to you.
So in essence, are there options for you sir?
Well, I will love to keep that to myself for now and see what Kaduna United will offer me for the next season.
On a final note if the NFF elections eventually hold on Saturday, who do you think should be saddled with the responsibility of leading our football?
We have lots of contestants for the post of the Presidency of the NFF, I think the best man for the job should be an ex-international in the person of Jay Jay Okocha, he knows what he can do to rebuild our football. He has played the game at the highest level and he should be given the chance to help restructure our football. We should not allow our football to be hijacked again like it was in 2006 when the congress was held.
Thanks for your time.
Blasts Mancini Over Man City Exit
Nigerian born defender, Nedum Onuoha has not ruled out the possibility of representing the country of his birth, despite recently turning down the offer to play for the West Africans at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The versatile defender who recently linked up with Sunderland after spending seven years at the Eastlands with Manchester City, was wooed by former Nigeria manager, Lars Lagerback to be part of the Nigeria’s squad to the Mundial but turned down the offer.
He cited the need to fully establish himself at club level as the reason why he shunned the call at the time and even with many already him ruling out of featuring for the Super Eagles, the well built defender is not ruling himself out of featuring for the team in years to come.
“I never said to anyone that I will not play for Nigeria,” insists the 23-year old player who hails from Warri in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.
“What I said was that I want to concentrate on my club career for a while so that I can fully establish myself at the club level before venturing fully into international football.
“Nigeria is the country of my birth, so it will be a great honour for me to play for the Super Eagles.
“For now, my focus is to relaunch my career with Sunderland after then we can start talking about a new challenge,” he declared.
On why he left big spending Manchester City for the Black Cats the former England U-21 international blamed it on Manager, Roberto Mancini, who according to him is hell bent on flushing out all the old players he inherited from predecessor, Mark Hughes.
“Mancini wants to clear out all the old players from city and bring in his own players.
“That is why someone like Grag Bellamy who did excellently well for the club last season is now being forced out.
“Aside this, the new registration rules in the Premier League has also not helped either so I have to move on.”
Surinamese Born Dutch Tactician, Simon Kalika Reveals To Complete Sports Saturday What Makes Him Thick…
SAMSON SIASIA AND ME
It was just a coincidence. I had an invitation from the Dutch FA when the Nigerian team arrived in Holland in 2005 for the U-20 World Cup. I had to honour it and I went there with some people to attend the meeting. There I met Samson and we started discussing football. I mean other teams in the group and before we knew it, we became inseparable and he asked me to get him information on other teams in Nigeria’s group like Switzerland.
After the U-20 World Cup, Samson Siasia recommended me to Austin Eguavoen who was in charge of the Super Eagles in 2006 and I followed them to Egypt for CAN 2006.
Also, he contacted me when he (Siasia) took the Olympic games job. He came to Holland and asked me if I could assist him in Beijing. That’s how it all started and we’ve been together for quite a few years.
RELATIONSHIP
It has been wonderful working with Samson. We have a close relationship but football is the main thing that binds us together. Samson has big experience as a former player while I also possess a huge coaching experience. That’s why everytime he has a big assignment, he always comes for me because of my expertise.
Samson was a success as a football player. His knowledge of the game is awesome. You don’t need to wonder so much about that as his record as a professional player speaks volumes about how great a striker he was in his active days. That could be exemplified by his sublime finish against Argentina at USA ‘94 World Cup. That to me is one of the greatest goals in the history of the competition.
Both of us look at football from the same angle which is why we are quite compatible with each other.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I started coaching youth teams when I was 25 and by the age of 30, I was coaching senior teams. I can say I have been coaching for more than 20 years now.
I am very experienced in tactical aspect of the game, analysing other teams and preparating my team in right conditions.
All these I have been able to translate into success, working with Samson Siasia and Austin Eguavoen at different times. Working with Eguavoen, we won bronze at CAN 2006 in Egypt and with Siasia, two silvers at the U-20 World Cup and the Olympics.
As a coach, I take my job seriously and always want to learn more. The game itself is dynamic and it is important for coaches to keep themselves abreast with modern day techniques all the time. Before it used to be 4-4-2 system that is more popular but now you have different systems being adopted by different managers. Aside the tacticial aspect, it is also imperative to get the players ready for important games more than to give you the kind of result you crave for.
NIGERIAN – DUTCH RELATIONSHIP
You know sometimes you cannot pinpoint one major factor why that is happening between both countries. For instance, look at the style of play adopted by Barcelona. If you look at the players and the coaches over there, you will realise that the club had and still have a strong connection with Dutch players at different times and that also reflects in their style of football.
I think one of the reasons why we Dutch coaches choose Nigeria, is because Nigerians like to play attacking and possessive football, they like to dribble, they like to attack from the wings. Those are the key elements from Dutch football; keeping possession, trying to get a one against one on the wings, those are the key elements in Nigerian football too.
Both Nigeria and Holland like tactical football, they like beautiful football, maybe that is why both countries fit together in exchange of players and coaches.
WHAT MAKES ME SPECIAL
Like I said earlier, I am very good in the tactical aspect of the game as well as analysing other teams. And working with an intelligent chap like Samson also brings out the best in me. When you have someone who shares the same philosophy with you and sees the game from the same angle with you, then you enjoy doing your job.
INSPIRATION
My drive or decision to work with Samson you will not believe is not about money. Like players and those human beings that have dreams, they should endeavour to work towards their dreams and visions. That is what I stand for. The two of us are now getting popular by the day because of what we have achieved together in the past and I believe we will get to the zenith very soon.
SUPER EAGLES JOB
I am ready to work again with Samson like both of us have done in recent times. We have had different discussions and our aim is to take Nigerian football to the next level.
Nigerians want to see the team play attractive football. They want to see fine attacking play and a team that is ready to play with intent, that is what we are aiming at.
Having said this, I also believe a lot has to change about how the game is run in Nigeria. The right people must be allowed to manage the game. Administratively, everything must be done to ensure the progress of all the national teams.
I have never won a gold medal throughout my stint with any Nigerian side, which tells in what I am aiming for in future.
VIEWS ON THE SUPER EAGLES
There are quality players in the Super Eagles, of course you need to improve a lot of things, good administration and organization, good tactical discipline, pattern of play and so many other things for the players to actually fulfil their potentials.
If we can improve on all these things, then the sky will be the limit. Maybe that is what I call the hidden dream I have in my head about Nigeria. That has also kept me so close to the country all this while.
Maybe someday, it will come true that Nigeria will win the World Cup. At the Beijing Olympic games, we came very close to winning the gold medal.
Some of the players who did excellently well at that competition are already in the Super Eagles, which tells you about the awesome talents at our disposal. The most important thing is how to get the best out of them.
PLANS FOR NIGERIAN FOOTBALL
Change how players and coaches are educated. To develop the game, one must not only think about short term objectives but long term goals. For me, I am looking at a plan that can develop Nigerian football in its totality.
Thank you for talking to us.
My pleasure.
I cant imagine that, they where promised many things when they return but non has been done, i want to ask does a child forget his parents, i mean this are the generation that wrote our name in the map of football, that was first Nigerian and first Africa international trophy, even is there in the record book of fifa you can find it in the fifa website, also in Youtube you can as well watch their matches, then you will see what i mean by passion,pride, dignity and love for mother land, yet we are honoring this new generation who has done nothing to put us back in our old coat, which the whole Africa knows and the world.
Some has waited for the promise and die, anyway they have children, what have we done to them, i don't blame this our new SE, they learn from the past, let us do what CIV did and return totally to our position, we have had a lot of golden generation after 1994 but yet we could not even win afcon is almost 2 decades now the worst we came so close in our back yard but Cameroon took it.
let me tell you this story i have been in the french countries of Africa west and central for long time, CIV consulted a Marabut ie baba lawo, or dibia or juju man to make charm for them to win the AFCON final when they qualify to play final against Ghana in Senegal 1990, maybe the juju work or not, but CIV won the cup return home with jubilation, too much enjoyment and some of the players getting clubs in Europe that time, they forget the Agreement they have with the so called Marabut who told them that when they win they should give him the balance of the money.
They did not do that, the marabou man do not know who to go to, he has never being in the city, them he caused the National team, also so many other Marabou was complaining the same thing, because even the players themselves have their own personal Juju too, you know all this francophone like juju well well, so all this juju men was busy causing them, just in 1 year time the team that win Afcon could not make it to the National team the new team that came as defending champion went home at the first round.
From there CIV disappeared in the map of African football for 16 years or more than that it was just recently that one of the Marabou open up, after that some of them went and fulfill their promises and also ask for forgiveness, all of a sudden CIV appear again with this Generation of Drogba and Zokora,Eboue the 2 brothers Toure, i am not saying you should believe this but it happened in CIV life, but you can learn something from this.
if we have one way or the other do bad to our formal Heroes we should show them respect and ask them to forgive us, some of them who are dead has family NFF should try and visit them, because you cant promise a child and ask him not to demand for it, you cant beat a child and ask him not to cry, we can find this words in our national Anthem,( The labor of our heroes past Shall never be in vain ) i love Nigeria.