Extremely revered enterprise promoter, writer and motivational speaker, Azeez Amida has come out with a daring declaration that the arrival of true professionalism into the sport of flag soccer in Nigeria got here by means of his firm.
Amida disclosed as a lot in an unique interview with Sports247, throughout which he pressured that his introduction of Showtime Flag Soccer marked a turning level for Nigeria’s impression within the sport nationally and internationally.
The president/founding father of Showtime, which he arrange in 2023, pushed apart all opposition to his claims and pressured that even high officers of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) know him because the pioneer promoter of flag soccer in Nigeria.
He expatiated, “The one cause why a participant in the present day is ready to have an actual contract and be really entitled to the pay acknowledged in flag soccer is as a result of Showtime exists.”
He additionally recalled how a contending physique referred to as Nigeria American Soccer Affiliation (NAFA), headed by Babajide Akeredolu, has tried to manage all points of the sport within the nation, however pressured that nothing labored earlier than Showtime got here on board.
Amida added, “When NAFA left the previous flag soccer league, Babajide himself had an purpose to play sort out soccer.
“That’s why final season or the one earlier than folks had been being advised that, in the event that they take part in Showtime’s league, they won’t play for the nationwide workforce.
“However I can clearly affirm that, for Nigeria having gone for the championship in Egypt, all of us needed to agree. We needed to say that we had been okay with all people.
“It was not a case of 1 particular person did it himself. If we had mentioned ‘No,’ there would by no means have been a Staff Nigeria in Egypt.”
He concluded by stressing that the time had come to talk out and put the data straight, so that every one sports activities lovers in Nigeria will get to know the place the precise authority regarding flag soccer lies within the nation.
Amida affirmed, “We stored quiet about these items for a really very long time, however they stored on complicated all people everywhere.
“That’s why I now inform anyone who has a beef about flag soccer to kindly stroll to the NSC and ask, ‘Is there a Federation for flag soccer in Nigeria?’”
