By Ikeddy Isiguzo
PEOPLE may not fully realize the importance of what the Falconets, our U-20 female football team did in Germany . The loss to the Germans in Sunday’s final does not in any way diminish the achievement of the team that has made the point that Africa has a future in female football  one area Nigeria has dominated in the continent without making much impact on the global stage.

Were the Falconets to be any of the male teams, the country would have been reverberating over noise about our arrival on the world front. The expectations that the future of the country’s football laid with the commitment of billions of Naira to the men’s game have been dashed because of the falsity on which the hopes were built.

Like all stories of success it is time to make claims of contributions to it. I was not surprised about the story  on the instructions acting Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association Mallam Aminu Maigari passed to the team, on phone at half time, accounted for the victory over Columbia in the semi-final.

It was from this account that I knew that NFA Chairmen speak to coaches at the interval, when coaches are supposed to be correcting faults they noticed in their team.

Where was Maigari during the final? He had nothing to tell the team? Or was it his instructions that caused the loss?
The less said about this, the better. The struggle to be identified with success would know no end. Everybody now talks about female football. It would have been good if the attention would last longer than a few days.

Female football league died years ago, after sponsors withdrew. There are still no sponsors in sight. The way things work out here, the successes in Germany are strong evidences that we do not need a female football league, that is how we reason.

An observation of the quality of play of our team does not bear out such positions. With the skills and determination of the players, it was evident that they have not played enough games coming into the competition. There is no substitute for a good number of matches concentrated within a period.

Only a viable and competitive league would have provided the test of endurance that the Falconets required. The Falconets did well and I hope we would be hearing about this team at a higher level.

The greatest reward that all the noise can produce for this team is a return to a female league and other programmes that can help the players achieve their dreams and leave enough marks to inspire younger players.

Our best memorial to this team would be to start building the future again from it. Bravo girls, you did the continent proud. Enjoy the attention while it lasts, but remember that your game never got this far because the authorities cared.

Election Makes Them Deaf
DESPERATION to get into office is driving some people to ignore the NFA Statutes which they preach as sacrosanct. I have reproduced parts of Article 21 of the Statutes. If it is the same Statutes that would be used in organising the elections, there can be no elections into the NFA on August 21, or any date for that matter with State Football Associations that do not meet the requirements of Article 21.

Article 21 states, 1. A State Football Association shall consist of the local government
Football Councils within the State. 2. Each State Association shall establish, run and maintain a permanent headquarters at the State Capital.
m) Each state Football Association shall have its elective congress in November/December succeeding the elective Congress of the Federation within the senior FIFA World Cup year.

4. Annual General Assembly: a) Each State Football Association shall host its Annual General Assembly before the NFF General Assembly, except the elective congress. 5. State Executive Committee: a) Each State Football Association shall be composed of twelve (12) persons, four (4) elected from each senatorial district made up as follows: – Chairman, 2 Vice Chairmen, 9 Ordinary Members b) All the above officers shall be elected at the Annual General Assembly of the State Football Association: c) The positions of the State Secretary and the Assistant shall be by appointment by the Association.

Not a single State FA, of the 37 in Nigeria , meets these criteria. If we follow the provisions of the Statutes, there are no State FAs. Which State FA is its secretary and assistant secretary not staff the State Sports Council posted to the FA?

Those hiding behind their fingers to avoid election of State FAs are aware of the provisions of the Statutes. They have learnt that if you invoke FIFA’s name enough, you can establish regulations that would kill the game and run to FIFA for protection.

We cannot keep quiet while some people are bent on creating the next round of illegality under the guise of elections.

Congrats Athletics, But
RESULTS from the African Athletics Championships in Nairobi have been praised because Nigeria placed second. The results are great, if we forget we are two months away from the Commonwealth Games, the toughest multi-games competition after the Olympic Games.

None of the marks made in Nairobi would stand against opposition from Jamaica , Australia , England , Bahamas , Barbados , and Cyprus , who would be in India for October’s Commonwealth Games. Even South Africa which did not do well in Nairobi has a way of lifting its performance on bigger platforms.

Please you can also email comments, condemnations, or commendations to [email protected]