₦airaland Forum

Edopesin:
Napoli are heading for a third straight defeat in a row!

I think they are really missing the presence of Victor. He makes their attack more dynamic

but no herr rohr will pack defensive midfielders alongside Ndidi.

i don't think rohr has ever played a game without a double pivot

Subzero047:
The more attacking players in a team the more Ndidi flourishes

hmmm pretty long read but the person that will clean Nigerian football has serious work on his hands

INSIDERS who are privy to the workings of the League Management Committee, LMC, claim that there is little transparency in the management of the NPFL and that clubs are habitually shortchanged “while the leadership keep lining their pockets and smiling to the bank”.

In a bid to unravel the actual state of things at the LMC and NPFL, KOLAPO OLAPOJU undertook this investgaton and these are his findings.

Dikko’s dealing

Shehu Dikko, chairman of the LMC, was among the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, leadership investigated in 2019 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the dissolved Special Presidential Investigation Panel, SPIP, over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds.

Mediterrenean Sports Ltd, a company which Dikko once served as director, plays the role of marketing agent for the NFF. The company receives 20% commission on sponsorship contracts with the NFF. As the second vice president of NFF and chairman of marketing, sponsorship and broadcast and TV rights sub-committee, Dikko finds himself in a convenient position of influence. His prior relationship with Mediterrenean also constitutes a conflict of interest with duty, and a violation of the section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991.



This conflict of interest was one of the impetus for the setting up of a committee by the ministry of youth and sports to look into the activities of the NFF. Around the time the committee was mandated to carry out its investigation in 2018, documents obtained show that the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, verified and approved the resolution for removal of Dikko as a director at Mediterrenean Sports.

But curiously, the date for the resolution of removal was dated March 13, 2014, which means the CAC did not approve until four years later.



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Although Mediterrenean Sports acts as a marketing agent to the NFF, there is no record of the company being appointed to undertake the task. There is also no evidence that the executive committee of the NFF ratified the appointment of Mediterranean Sports as NFF marketing agent.

Several documents obtained show that Pinnick authorized Financial Derivatives to make multiple payments to Mediterrenean Sports. But in April 2018, Pinnick wrote a letter of appreciation to Isima Ekere, former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, over the promise to release funds to support the Super Eagles World Cup campaign. Deviating from the usual norm of presenting the account number of Financial Derivatives for payment, Pinnick instead provided the Ecobank details of Mediterranean Sports.

All efforts to contact representatives or officials of Mediterrenean Sports Ltd proved abortive. During a visit to the registered address of the company, it was discovered that there is no ‘Plot 1467’, rather a ‘No 42’ Hon. Justice Mamman Nasir Crescent Asokoro Abuja. Also, the building houses Mediterrenean Hotel and the workers said they have never heard of a Mediterrenean Sports Ltd.



In a petition addressed to FIFA, Harrison Jalla also alleged that Dikko failed to honour the contract between NFF and LMC, which states that the latter must remit 5% of its net earnings to the former. Rather than make the payment, he was said to have presented an account of expenditure on how the money was spent.







Dikko was also alleged to have failed to give accounts of sales of tickets, advertisements, broadcast and television rights for friendly matches played by the Super Eagles.

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Supersport-LMC contract

In 2013, the league signed a five-year deal with Supersport to show two NPFL matches every weekend. The five year deal, which was to kickstart at the commencement of the 2015 season, amounted to a reported $8.5 million annually.

That deal was supposed to be the start of the new dawn of the league, with the television package expected to increase visibility and attractiveness. According to an insider, “the deal was more like a corporate social responsibility on the part of Supersport”, owing to the fact that it was not favourable to them financially.

“The only way Supersport could have made money was through advertisement placement and sponsorship, but since that is not prevalent in the Nigerian league, Supersport could not recoup its television rights investment in the league,” the source said.

To produce one match at the time, it cost Supersport a conservative N5 million per match day to cater to logistics and crew finances. This continued for years until 2017 when the naira’s fortunes took a downturn. Consequently, Supersport resolved to renegotiate the terms of the contract, so as to pay in naira. Failing to reach a compromise, the deal suffered a premature death.

To legally pull out of the deal, Supersport cited breach of contract on the part of LMC “because there were actually several breaches”. Supersports was said to have pulled out of the deal following allegations of funds mismanagement, embezzlement and lack of accountability. That was how Supersport stopped showing the league.

Despite receiving millions of dollars annually from Supersports between 2015 and 2017, the LMC was unable to adequately develop and standardize the NPFL so as to make it attractive to fans and brands.

Why NPFL is unattractive

When compared to the South African league, the NPFL is perceived as below-par in many aspects. Issues such as player remuneration challenges, fan attitude, playing environment, organization, poor coaching and refereeing contribute to the failure of the league to live up to its potential. “All these things make it hard for fans to forge a connection with the local teams and get sponsorship,” according to the chairman of a north-west top tier club.

Poor remuneration

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Although some football players are paid monthly allowances as much as N800,000, the payment does not come as promptly as expected. Most clubs tend to owe players for long periods of time. In 2011, Kaduna United players were not paid for 9 months despite having a record-breaking goalscorer like Jude Aneke in their team at the time.

Delayed remuneration is not the only problem, allegations of referees getting bribed to fix matches are also rampant. Some referees are even believed to collect money from both sides.

Although referees are paid per game by the NFF, an insider at the LMC alleged that there are situations whereby home teams pay referees and offer them other forms of gifts – which will undoubtedly influence officiating.

In the NPFL, there is a popular notion that it would take a miracle for a home team to lose a game, as a result of the aforementioned inducement.

Bayelsa United Football Club Head Coach Tiebowei Diprieye believes that the “home team must win” syndrome is crippling the league.

He said: “We would like a situation where teams can go away with the mindset that they can win games. We should be able to get rid of this notion that to win an away match in Nigeria is difficult.”

In the last full season of the NPFL (2018/19) which had 264 games, there were only 28 away victories – which represents a 10.6% away victory ratio. The away win ratio of the English Premier League last season was 31%. Since the EPL was founded in the 1992/1993 season, the lowest away win ratio has been 24% which was obtainable in two back to back seasons; 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.

NPFL 2018/2019 away win ratio



Administrative problems

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The administration of the league by the LMC leaves a lot to be desired as it seems to take its cue from the NFF. Whenever there is a crisis at the NFF, the LMC would by effect become unstable, case in point is the leadership tussle between Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick in 2018 which led to the suspension of the NPFL after 24 games.

During that season, there was no champion and no relegation. A player who chose to remain anonymous described it as a “wasted season”.

A recent addition at Akwa United, Harrison Ibukun believes that the stakeholders at the LMC know what to do to improve the league yet there is no significant improvement.

Kano Pillars forward player, Nyima Nwagua, highlighted key areas where improvement would be welcome. “The areas I think we should look into is the calendar and sponsorship side,” he said. Nwagua’s concern regarding the League calendar is not unfounded. Rescheduling of NPFL games is a norm. The reasons for these vary, and they all have one thing in common – poor planning. An example of poor planning was when continental engagements of Lobi stars and Rangers international led to the rescheduling of several games during the 2018/19 season.

“A situation where the league is stable, and nothing interrupts the season when it is on would go a long way to improve the league,” Nwagua added.

Flying Eagles striker, Jesse Akila believes that improving the welfare of the players would improve the league. He noted that “players should travel to match venues with proper means. For instance, a flight for any trip that is longer than a six-hour drive”.

Poor facilities & insecurity

Several stadiums across the country are in terrible condition and as a result, it scares fans away. In March 2020, Chineme Martins, a 22-year-old Nasarawa United defender, slumped and died in a football match against FC Abuja. He could have been saved but the ambulance at the stadium was non-functional and there was no working defibrillator.

Commenting on the sorry state of stadium infrastructure, Bayelsa United coach Diprieye noted that “If you do not have good infrastructure, good management, good welfare, It will be very difficult for us to move forward”.

Apart from the infrastructure challenge, no one is safe when watching a live match in the NPFL. In most games, there exists the threat of insecurity. Fans of home teams, more often than not, come to stadiums bearing arms – machetes, stones and sticks. When things don’t go their way, they storm the pitch, beat up referees, coaches and their opponents.

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While serving as coach of Enyimba several years ago, Kadiri Ikhana’s legs were severely damaged after he was beaten up by home fans during a game in Kaduna.

Situations such as this make it difficult for away teams to be at their best and for referees to be as fair as possible with their decisions.

According to an official of a south-west club who craved anonymity, home clubs sometimes instigate fan violence to scare referees and away teams. In the event of violence, they are fined between N500, 000 to N5 million and this is easily payable by most club owners – which are state governments.

To make matters worse, there is a lot of laxity regarding implementation of penalties on fan violence by the LMC and critics opine that they need to be stiffer.

“Presently, the penalties include fines, exile from your home stadium for an entire season, which is not an effective deterrent because most of the fans lack the necessary emotional connection to the clubs so as to discourage them from perpetrating violence when their clubs are no longer playing in town,” an LMC employee said.

awon "Ndidi has lost his position to Mendy" apologists how far?

andrewbaba44:
Ndidi back to midfield after Evans returns

While mendy is back to the bench

Please and please don't disrespect our special 30 yards presidential material

yarimo:
Mtceeew a whole governor celebrating the coming of OLD BUSES

was left out as a precaution due to concussion in the last match nothing serious

[author=Subzero047 post=97234548]Balogun injured [/quote]

sometimes our journalists need to learn how to empathize with victims of a crime. This poor boy has just endured a very traumatic few days but you're interrogating him.

susy6999:
Kankara school boy who spoke while in captivity on Boko Haram video yesterday, speaks exclusively to Arise TV, claiming his abductors were not Boko Haram.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaihe2gAc5E

hmmm i watched excepts of it on twitter. At the end of the day Africans just have to take responsibility for our countries development no matter how much the global economy is set up to sabotage us. India and China were once weeping boys but they got out of it. We just have to decide that no matter what system of government we intend to adopt be it democracy, monarchy, dictatorship, combination of everything etc we put our interests first in everything we do.

Samorobo2:
Did blacks do this on blacks. This is the full video. U white people are demonically wicked.


Obaaderemi,chrisooblog, saddamochieng00 , obakillah watch this and see we as Africans are only decieving ourselves and going in circles. This idiots already have our lives and future plotted out for their selfish gains. The entire global black family is indeed doomed.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7KEp9wuFSE

Tolulopefinest:
Taiwo Awoniyi just scored a picture perfect header. I screamed mehn.

good one

Subzero047:
Semi Ajayi scores

happy for Semi but na wa for KC o! at the rate he is going Ekong will get a goal in the epl before he does.

*ps* sorry Semi will have to wait longer to register his name on the score sheet own goal

CR7 vs Zaidu love to see it

Kingsley Ehizibue is already with us unless something drastic happens to make him change his mind plus he had(has?) passport issues

mkrest:
it was expected and I love it ,what about that koln defender ?

hmmm interesting article from own goal saying 4 new players to join the SE next year 2 defenders, a midfielder and a wing forward. if i'm to speculate Jordan Toruiagha, Tosin, Ejaria and Lookman?

https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2020/12/12/nff-rohr-has-found-four-new-players-to-make-super-eagles-better/

very spot on. my guy joe is of the football being played the right way (attack) school of thought. i'm more of a pragmatist especially regarding the players available to me. That's why coaches like Zidane and Ancelloti are more up my ally.

JayromWrites:
Joe na purist


E go just be another Daniel Farke


so true to his ideology, even if e dey collect goals anyhow like Kepa, e no go tweak nothing

obaaderemi:
They are saying he would lose against fury.

give it time when AJ does the needful you will start hearing stories about how he was born in Peckham London

saving this post for posterity

jln115:
Sorry but Joshua stands 0 chance against Fury........

our 3 railway lines more to come

Lagos-Ibadan Railway


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nw-X39f4nE

Itakpe-Warri Railway


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKJ5a6t1RSU

Abuja-Kaduna Railway


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqHzzCf5l0g

finishing touches being put to the new Lagos international airport terminal


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyBP7vMeYW4

waiting for the usual monikers to come crying under your post that AJ is not nigerian

obaaderemi:
Congratulations, Anthony Joshua.
Fury is next! Then retirement.

jln115:
probably the same reason other countries deport illegals

so you admit your ancestors were illegal immigrants?

jln115:
SWAPO and MPLA are wholly communist but they were elected democratically and they have majority capitalistic economies.......yeah your argument makes total sense, good job bru

yes bro the same way capitalist India allowed a Communist party control a state

ANC has factions from the communist party that joined them the MPLA and SWAPO are wholly communist. facts!

sources confirm this post is bs proof

jln115:
that's like saying the ANC is communist because they have a few socialist policies......sorry but bs opinions are not facts

really so why do you still deport Zims, Nigerians etc? after all we are citizens of the same continent

jln115:
and this is where I put it to you that all humans come from the same Continent factually speaking

dude for the last time bantus were born on the same freaking continent. whether africans killed each other or not doesn't change the fact that your ancestors hopped on a boat to another continent to kill and snatch land from the natives just like your cousins did in australia, america and new zealand

jln115:
but who is a local and who is not? Bantu are not local to South Africa, that's my point.

And we shouldn't be focusing on BLM since percentage wise just as many white people are killed by police in the US than black....not just that but a police officer in the US is 18 times more likely to be killed by a African American than the other way around...BLM is simply a political farce

go look up those parties constitutions. they are socialist/communist through and through. sorry bs opinions are not facts

jln115:
do you know what shifting tge goal post means??

You said the parties in Angola and Namibia are communist...i stated they are not communistic but that they are democratic .... That's me stating the facts not shifting the goal posts

now you've shifted goal post to literally dude!

jln115:
the parties are literally democratic..... And the SADF did indeed stop communism in Southern Africa

Japan was chased out of china use a better example next time.

jln115:
was SWA not considered a colony of SA? And yes Japan did colonise parts of China... And yes a country can colonise another country on the same Continent, its actually very common.

you are still trying to muddle up the issue. we are not discussing Africans killing themselves. we are talking about white invaders killing and taking locals land.

what you are trying to say for example is why should we focus on police brutality and black lives matter after all african americans are shooting and killing each other.

jln115:
and? Different tribes in Africa have been invading other tribes lands and killing them for centuries...... Is that justified simply because they couldnt take a boat and do it else where as well?

the same for every continent.

aztecs were killing themselves for centuries in central and south america but still doesn't change the fact that whitey invaded destroyed and took their lands. same with native american in north america, aborigines in australia, maoris in new zealand before we even get to Africa.

jln115:
but it literally isn't facts bru.....Africans have been killing and enslaving each other for centuries before the whiteys arrived... The Barbary slave trade, kongo slave trade, bobangi slave trade, Mfecane, countless wars ect ect ect are testament to that

how can you colonize a continent in which you were born? like saying the japanese colonized japan

speak for yourself dude don't drag me into your ancestors' mess

jln115:
Definition of a coloniser: "person who founds or establishes some institution"

That would mean by definition Bantu are colonisers in South Africa

And yes... We are all guilty by your own definition

are the parties communist? Yes so did the SADF end communism? no!

jln115:
Were they democratically elected? Yes! Are their economies more capitalist leaning? Yes!

Ok then EOD