By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Apparently unhappy with the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian football in both local and national levels, an aspirant to the position of the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Christian Ifeanyichukwu Emeruwa, says he is coming to build a viable football economy that will benefit Nigerians as it obtains in some African countries if he is elected the next NFF President.
He also revealed that he is coming with a Four-Year Strategic Development Plan which will revolutionize football in Nigeria, adding that the game has remained stagnant in the country while other African nations have made it a multi-million dollar industry.
Emeruwa who is the current Head of Safety and Security of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt, spoke on Saturday on a cable television, News Central breakfast sports programme ‘In The Game’.
He disclosed that he could no longer standby to watch Nigeria football go down the drain.
Said he: “With my exposure in the management and administration of
world, continental and local football, it will be an anathema to seat back and see Nigeria football become a laughing stock amongst other African countries, no thanks to poor administration of the game”.
The former Head of Integrity Unit of NFF insists that he has the prerequisite and cognitive knowledge and ability to drive the Nigeria football in the 21st Century, pointing out that having worked his way up from local to international football, he is most qualified to succeed the outgoing President of NFF Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
According to him: “President Pinnick and his board have done their best in nearly eight years and it now requires someone who is well versed in the administration and management of football at the national and international levels to step in to take our football to a greater height”.
Emeruwa who holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Health Education / Human Kinetics and Sports Administration and Management from both Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and University of Ibadan (UI) respectively, stated that he will build a viable Football Economy that will benefit everyone in Nigeria.
He promised to pursue an all embracing programme that will see football development from bottom up instead of the current system where only the Super Eagles get all the attention.
Said he: “NFF ought to see to the proper development of football nationwide including supervising State Football Associations but that is not happening. None of those running State FAs at moment are trained or properly trained.
“Infact, our leagues at all levels are nothing to write home about. Our coaches have not been trained for many years just as the security and safety of players, officials and fans are not guaranteed in all match venues in Nigeria”.
“This is why I am offering Nigerians my expertise and if I am elected as the next NFF President, I will hit the ground running because I am already in the business of securing football stakeholders across Africa and the world”.
Asked what he will do differently if he gets elected, Emeruwa said: “We will embark on School Sports Development. Our Coaches will be been trained, security and safety of players, officials and fans will be top priority. I will be travelling around the country to supervise our FAs instead of travelling abroad for other businesses”.
On Women’s Football, Emeruwa promised a new lease of life, saying that women’s football in Nigeria needs to be fully supported technically, administratively and financially, adding that he will ensure that players welfare is a top priority.
He promised that people with cognitive ability and capacity will be put incharge of the technical and administrative positions to drive the new vision of the new regime.
Emeruwa is also a member of various professional Sport bodies in Nigeria and abroad, is a member of the pioneer class as well as the first African to be a Certified Sport Safety and Security Professional (C.S.S.S.P) from SRH Heidelberg University, Germany in a Course facilitated by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) Doha, Qatar.
The NFF Elective Congress is slated for September 30 in Benin City, capital of Edo state.
