By Eddie Akalonu
Ex-football players in the country have been told they cannot succeed with any attempt to take over total control of the administration of football in the country until they first build their house on a solid foundation by coming under a very strong platform with which to achieve such an objective.

Former technical committee chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Brigadier-General Gregory Adebiyi in reaction to the intrigues and events of the last congress of the NFA in Abuja said they over-rated their importance in the scheme of things, hence events have left them behind.

“I met some of them and made the point clear that football election is serious business which must not be turned into a comedy. It’s for people who are not just ready but are seen to have done their home work. Ex- footballers must have over rated themselves because you do not come with an association no one recognises to say I want to take over.

And I ask them, on behalf of whom? I got no answer because there is no where in the world, not one country in which you point at and say, footballers constitute the FA all alone and run football affairs there.

But for the court that has declared the said congress null and void, Segun Odegbami withdrew last minute from contesting for president, Christian Chukwu failed in his attempt to get on board with eyes, as he said, on the technical committee, while Austin Okocha also failed,” he said.

Brigadier-General Adebiyi, who was also former Director of Nigeria Army Physical and Health Education noted that while other persons seeking the same places on the board followed duly acclaimed bodies and platforms, it was only ex- footballers that did not.

“Many of them still regard themselves as the stars this country worshiped while what we have is football politics on our hands. First, many of the ex-footballers have not done something to prepare them for life after active football and they have come out to challenge football politicians.

“The other issue is that you may not be able to pinpoint what work those that want to take over the running of football do since after retiring. Many of them failed to realise that when you attain 28 or 29 years in your playing career, you are old and so should have thought about what to do after retiring because it is difficult to go on at 33 or 35 years. So,

I”m saying that footballers must be organised under a relevant union with properly stated objectives that Nigerians can see. And such body must work to make itself very formidable in the scheme of things. It is when they achieve relevance and earn the respect of stake-holders that any thought of taking control can be meaningful,” the retired army officer advised.