Ex-internationals want Odegbami, Chukwu, Okocha, Mutiu to take over NFA

By John Egbokhan
Past and present Nigerian footballers have endorsed the aspirations of 1980 Nations Cup winner, Segun Odegbami, who is gunning for the topmost job of Nigerian football, when elections into the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), hold August 21 in Abuja.

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Rising from a one-day meeting held yesterday at the Media Centre of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, the majority of former players who distinguished themselves when they served the country at various times, also endorsed the political ambitions of former Green Eagles captains, Christian Chukwu and Austin Okocha, former midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju. The trio just want to be on the board of the FA.

Spearheading the move to see some of their own get onto the NFA, Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medal winner, Victor Ikpeba, said that Nigerian footballers have decided to take their destiny in their own hands because of the absence of sound leadership at the top level, which in turn, has affected the quality of performance churned out at various competitions by the different national teams.

“Real change comes when the proper leadership is provided by those running the NFA. As the main actors of the game, we are the ones affected if things go wrong and we can no longer sit back to allow our game suffer at the hands of politicians who do not understand the feelings and dynamics of the game.

“Nigerian players have become perpetual victims of poor administration and as ones who have paid our dues and sacrificed for the sake of the country, the time has come for change at the NFA.

We shall no longer fold our hands and allow the NFA to be taken over by politicians. Players have taken a decision to back Segun Odegbami for the presidential position, Christian Chukwu, Mutiu Adepoju and Austin Okocha as board members into the next board of the FA”, added the former Monaco of France winger.

Also speaking, USA 1994 World Cup goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, said that he foresees a transformation of Nigerian football in the future if former players succeed in getting elected into the next NFA board.

“We need people with insights, individuals who can brainstorm and come up with endless opportunities for our youths. We need persons who have the administrative and technical acumen to be on the board and if the likes of Odegbami scale the hurdle, then hope is on the way”, said Rufai.

The likes of Adepoju, Peter Fregene, Wasiu Ipaye, Tarila Okorowanta, Tajudeen Disu, Waidi Akanni also spoke on the need for delegates at the NFA elections to vote for former players.

On his part, the man who is eyeing the exalted NFA post, Segun Odegbami, said the idea to throw his hat into the race first came to him about eight months ago and promised that he would not be fazed out by political intrigues to give up his dream of rescuing football from the claws of political sharks.

“I am going to fight to the very end to ensure that we have a true and credible elections for the good and growth of our youths and the game”, said Odegbami.