BY JOHN EGBOKHAN
A former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Taiwo Ogunjobi  has carpeted the NFF for meddling with the provisional 30-man list of Coach John Obuh for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which kicks off June 21 in Turkey.

Obuh we learnt, was understandably livid with the omission of five players,  Lukman Dimiyo, Moses Epele, Bobby Ikpeazu, Ezeugo Samson and Uzoma Maduako, who he had listed in the team but was shocked to discover that their names had been left out by the football ruling house.

We gathered that Obuh said that Nigerians should not hold him responsible if the desired results were not achieved by the team at the Turkey football

fiesta, a decision, which Ogunjobi feels is justified in the present circumstances.

Speaking to Sports Vanguard yesterday, Ogunjobi said that the NFF have no reason to meddle with the team list of a serving national team coach, adding that if they had any misgivings with some players, they should call Obuh to explain his reasons for such players inclusion.

“My own take is that if it is true that his list was tampered with, then  it is bad for football. It  is never done. The coach should get the free hand to choose his players. If the NFF have any misgivings, they need to call him to explain. Obuh must have done his home work properly and he should be given the benefit of the doubt”, said Ogunjobi.

Continuing, the former NFF scribe told Obuh to resign if he feels that the omission of the players was going to derail his plans for a successful outing at Turkey 2013.

“A good coach worth his onions will have to take a firm position. Obuh is in a good position to take the best decision on this matter.

He knows what he wants  and if he has absolute belief in these five players and so much believes that that he cannot make any headway at the tournament, without these players, then he should quit”, said Obunjobi.