Former President of the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has known as for a renewed spirit of unity and accountability inside Nigerian soccer, warning that fixed misinformation and negativity are damaging the nation’s picture on the worldwide stage.
Pinnick, who served two phrases as NFF boss and stays a member of FIFA’s influential committees, stated that many Nigerians don’t perceive the construction of soccer administration, noting that a number of key NFF officers are paid instantly by FIFA reasonably than the Nigerian authorities.
He revealed that positions such because the Normal Secretary, Deputy Normal Secretary, and Director of Technical — together with as much as twenty assist workers — fall beneath FIFA’s payroll and supervision.
He additionally highlighted the governing physique’s separate monetary assist for girls’s soccer, stressing that world soccer growth funds are tightly monitored and audited. “It’s necessary that Nigerians perceive how these programs work earlier than speeding to conclusions,” Pinnick stated.
In keeping with him, the rising development of attacking nationwide establishments on social media and within the press has already harm Nigeria’s credibility overseas. He cited the nation’s current failure to safe internet hosting rights for the Commonwealth Video games as one of many penalties of its fractured sporting picture.
Pinnick urged stakeholders, followers, and the media to concentrate on constructive engagement reasonably than fueling divisions.
“Once we discredit our establishments, we make it tougher for the world to take us critically,” he stated. “FIFA and CAF worth transparency, however in addition they worth stability. It’s time all of us work collectively to rebuild belief in Nigerian soccer.”
He concluded by interesting to Nigerians to assist the federal government’s ongoing efforts in sports activities growth, saying that unity — not public battle — stays essentially the most highly effective device to raise the nation’s standing in world soccer.
