By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Notable football stakeholders including ex-super eagles players stormed Sandarila, Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday where the former NFF Secretary -General, Barrister Musa Ahmadu made his official intention known to run for The Presidency of The football house in next month’s elective congress bill for Benin-City , Edo State.
While declaring his intention in Abuja, the legal practitioner with years of experience in Sports administration and the first Nigerian to earn the FIFA master’s degree in law, humanities, and sports management Musa said his aim is to create opportunities that will empower every sector of Nigeria society and create gainful employment for people.
“I stand before you in humility and with all sense of responsibilities to declare my interest to contest for the Office of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation. This gathering tells the story. What it doesn’t say is why. What it also does not say is what I intend to bring that will be different from what has been.
“We want to build an image of Nigerian football that will make the Nigerian person walk tall in the street anywhere in the world and be referred to as ‘the guy or lady who comes from that football country where everything is well-run.
“We want to create opportunities for people who hitherto would not have had a chance to be anywhere near a football field – job opportunities that will take our youth off the streets, football opportunities that will empower every sector of our society and create gainful employment.
“We will also go to the grassroots, working closely with the State Football Associations, and unearth the best talent in the game and give them a future. We will work closely with the State FAs to enhance the principle of sport and fitness in our schools, finding.”
Speaking on the need to revive Nigeria football nationally, continental, and the world at large, Bar. Ahmadu said: “Why do we have almost 1,000 footballers playing in the top leagues in Europe all over and yet can only point to Three AFCON trophies?
” Our players are doing well in their various clubs, Osimhen is banging in goals, as is Dennis, whose transfer fee is a staggering £20 million. Ndidi is commanding the midfield, and Bassey is the young one we are all proud of. There are many more, yet we are not ranked at the top of the game in Africa.
“It is time to bring those glory days back, and I will not relent until we win trophies back in this country. No disrespect to other nations, but Nigeria has to take pride in place at an elite level, making podium appearances at most tournaments at all levels.
” I will set up a National Teams Management Board that will oversee all Team Nigeria matters beyond just the playing side of things, and bring back the glory days. Those days that we got used to while I was General Secretary, must come back.
“Our women, our girls, who have brought pride to our nation on and outside the pitch deserve better? We dominated women’s football in Africa for so long, so much so that we assumed it was our birthright. And now we have seen the reality, the reality is that the gap is closing on us. We need to step up our game and give women’s football what it is due.
“Not just for the Super Falcons, but the further development of women’s football in Nigeria. We have to give local women’s football the funding it deserves and drive sponsorship towards our products, league, and officials by engaging proven consultants with integrity.
“The global debate on gender pay disparity is gaining ground, and we will look at it actively with respect to our women teams.
“Our relationship with the government is also key. We always run to them when we need funding for our projects, but we cry foul when they show an interest in what we are doing and we call it interference. That is enough now. We are partners.
“Government cares for the people. NFF cares for the people through football. We will maintain a partnership and create an NFF/Government Liaison structure that is workable, as has been working in many countries I have had the opportunity to visit and understudy. It is not rocket science.”
He sought the support of all stakeholders in the areas of their wise counsel, their advice, and their experiences in dealing with matters of knotty consequence, which will be needed to shape the future
