By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Two aspirants to the post of the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the forthcoming Elective Congress slated for September 30 in Benin City, Edo state, have said they will embark on grassroots football development if they win the election.
Speaking on Channels Television lunch time programme Sunday Sports monitored in Abuja, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Mohammed Mouktar who have thrown their hats in the ring said that they are in the presidential race to change Nigeria football for the better.
Giving the reason he decided to put himself forward to be the next President of NFF,
Amadu who is the immediate past General Secretary of the Federation said he is aspiring to lead the NFF Executive Board in order to develop the game in Nigeria.
According to him there is great need to develop football in Nigeria from the grassroots, arguing that football development should start from bottom up; the grassroots and not from the nation level.
Said he: “We need to develop football at the grassroots level. Our state Football Associations (FAs) should develop football starting from the local government areas and up to the state levesl. This is the way to go”.
The astute football administrator also posited that grassroots football have been neglected for a long time, saying that he will ensure that state FAs take charge of grassroots football development if he win the election.
Asked if he is not disadvantaged going into the election in Benin City, knowing fully well that FA Chairmen hold 37 of the 44 votes to be cast on September 30, Amadu said he is not unaware of the scenario but he is working hard to convince the delegates that he is the right person to lead the NFF at this particular period of time.
He however, criticised the present composition of voting system in NFF election, arguing that the 37 votes allotted to FA Chairmen alone while other critical stakeholders in Nigeria football are shut-out is an abbreviation.
“Yes, the FA Chairmen still constitute the bulk of voters in NFF election. This is what we are talking about and I am glad the 10-year Football Development Master Plan recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari will address that issue. FA Chairmen should at best get six votes and not 37”.
Also speaking on the television programme, Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) FA, Mouktar aggreed with his co-contestant that there is need to develop grassroots football in Nigeria.
According to him, the Federation has to step back to allow the league bodies, state FAs, etc to take charge of the domestic football, saying this will make football grow in Nigeria.
Said he: Let NFF pull back a bit and allow the leagues, state FAs take charge and let NFF concentrate on managing international football while the state FAs are incharge of domestic football”.
The FCT football governing body’s boss however said he will do things differently if he becomes the next President of NFF, pointing out that he has alot to offer Nigeria football hence he is the race.
On his chances at the Poll, Mouktar said his optimistic of clinching the top position, adding that he has performed well as the Chairman of Abuja FA.
“I have discharged myself very very well on promises I made when I was running for FCT FA Chairman. All the promises I made I have delivered. We needed football facilities and I have provided. All the football arenas in FCT I have put in good use while I have built brand new statdium in one of the Area Councils in Abuja, Mouktar revealed.
