Senate charges NFF To Re-strategize

The Sports and Social Development Committee of the Senate on Wednesday charged the Nigeria Football Federation to re-strategize and focus more on home-based players, while also re-orientating players who represent Nigeria on the need for patriotic fervour and total commitment.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of NFF at the National Assembly, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adamu Gumba and his members largely absolved the NFF of blame over recent set-backs by the National Teams, saying coaches who lack fresh ideas and players who lack patriotism have failed the nation.

Gumba said: “We are aware that the NFF did its very best to provide support and other things for the U-23 Team that campaigned for Olympic Games ticket in Morocco, as well as the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons that also faltered.

“The blame should go to the players and the coaches for not measuring up”.

Senator Alkali Jajere, a member of the Committee, lamented the over-reliance on foreign-based footballers, saying the NFF must now focus on the home-based players and work hard on grassroots development programmes.

“We are down now, but there is no need apportioning blame. The NFF has seen its own shortcomings and must be ready to put its house in order, because football is the principal thing that binds us together as Nigerians. Our people cannot continue to suffer heartaches now and again.

“The foreign-based players show disdain to representing the nation. They are more concerned with keeping away from injuries to keep their places in their European clubs than work hard for Nigeria on the field”.

Another member, Senator Abdul Ningi, expressed disgust at the lackadaisical attitude of players who represent Nigeria in Morocco. “They did not play like Nigerians; they lacked the Nigerian fighting spirit that we all know about”.

Other members urged the NFF to go back to the grassroots.

Gumba added: “We have a pool of talented players; it is just to discover them and harness their potentials for the interest of the nation. Now, it is important to agree on a ratio for home-based players that should be in any of the National Teams going for an important match or competition. The NFF must come up quickly with solutions to the crisis that we have at hand. The body must come up with a roadmap that will work and take Nigerian football back to the top.

“Perhaps, a Stakeholders’ Forum would be imperative. A lot of ideas will come up from such a forum”, stated Gumba.

Senator Ayo Adeseun lambasted Europe-based professionals who always refuse to give hundred per cent whenever representing the country. He also charged the NFF to re-jig and do it well in order that the nation would return to the top-drawer of the international game in a matter of years.

NFF President,Aminu Maigari lamented the recent reverses, but promised the Senate Committee that the Federation is working on a number of internal reforms and new strategies that would change things for good.