BY JOE APU
The current move by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung to broker peace in the football house has been described as uncalled for and an invitation for a FIFA ban.
President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo while speaking to Daily SunSport in Lagos stated that the minister was ill advised on the Giwa protest stressing that the meeting was not necessary in the first place.
He said he is shocked at the minister’s action because there was no point calling the Giwa faction to a meeting when there was no issue to discuss in the first place.
“I sympathise with the minister because there was no need for such a meeting that has already discussed and thrashed at FIFA, CAS, CAF and all levels before now. That matter had been dealt with and thrashed out. There is absolutely nothing to discuss and if we are serious about being a member of FIFA, then we should learn to abide by the rules.”
Meanwhile, The Nigerian Sports Editors Guild, the umbrella body of the managers of sports of the country’s media outfits, has urged all stakeholders to steer clear of any ‘action or inaction’ that could bring fresh crisis in the country’s football.
Rising from a meeting at the weekend in Lagos, the sports editors condemned the recent meeting reportedly convened by Sports and Youth Development Minister, Solomon Dalung, where he tried ‘to resolve the purported leadership crisis in Nigerian f ootball.’
In a communiqué signed by the Guild’s President, Tony Ubani, the editors said it was “unfortunate that those saddled with the responsibility of running Nigerian sports are the same people trying to drag the sector back to the dark days by seeking solution to a non-existent crisis.”
“We want to believe that the minister was ill-advised and so does not know that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership issue was decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) sitting in Lausanne, Switzerland on May 18, 2015.”
The Guild advised any qualified Nigerian desirous of becoming the president of the NFF to wait until the end of the current tenure to actualize his dream.
“We call on all the stakeholders, NSC and ministry officials, and indeed Mr. Chris Giwa, who, as a club owner, is an important part of the Nigerian football family, to join hands with the NFF leadership to develop our football to such a level that generations yet unborn would be proud of,” the Guild said.