…calls for grassroots sports devt

By Abdul Momoh

The Head Coach of Kwara United FC, Abdullahi Biffo has said the hiatus of ongoing Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL as a result of the ravaging novel Coronavirus pandemic is indeed in order.

He stated this during a chat with our reporter, Abdul Momoh recently in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to him, ‘the pause in the continuation of NPFL owing to the global pandemic by the League Management Company, LMC is laudable and in order.’

“If you look at the global world, all sporting activities have been stopped abruptly, and I think Nigeria can’t afford to be exempted.

“This virus is novel to our society and if you look at it rates of transmission as said by medical experts, one of the surest means to curb it spread is to put an end to all gatherings like sporting activities.”

The tactician however appealed to all the stakeholders and his fans to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations puts in place by the government towards curtailing the scourge.

Reacting to the initiative behind his maiden Grassroots Football Development tagged, ‘Ilorin West Biffo 2019’, the former Giwa FC tactician describes it as an avenue to give back to the society.

“I looked it that, what can I use to contribute to my society because they have given me much. So in my own little way, I said where I should start is the grassroots.

“When we say grassroots, that is the primary school. The primary school is the basic. We need to encourage our youths at that stage and let them see the good in football.

“I took it upon myself to make it an annual event and am thinking on how to partner with well meaning Kwarans so as to make these youths realize their potentials.

“The next grassroots competition will be taking place across all the 16 Local Government Area of Kwara State’.

Biffo also used the medium to commend the Nigerian Refree Council for bringing sanity back to the NPFL.

“Nigerian Referee Council in the recent time deserves commendations as a result of an improvement in their job.

 “I think this is the second season we have seen the best in our Referees. Though we haven’t get there yet, but I think there is an improvement. No body would dare to attack the Referees unlike before.

“I give it to the fans too because they make the environment conducive for the match officials. If am to score our Referees, I will give them 60 per cent. We will get there soonest”.

Biffo further described his coaching career as a fulfilling one having traversed across many clubs in Nigeria as head coach. 

“It’s not easy as some people thought. But I thank God today that am where I am and am still planning to move further.

“It is not an easy journey because I have not really achieved what I set out for myself as a coach. But I’m happy, am still on the way.

“Though being a coach in this clime comes along with its challenges unlike what is in vogue in other clime. If you look at an average coach in Nigeria, hardly many of them have sound health and this owes to the environment we operate.

“There are lots of challenges in the job. The day you pen down a contract, you should have it at the back of your mind that your relieve letter is also puts somewhere.”

The Kwara United coach however commended the LMC for doing justice to every club administratively.

“LMC have tried in their own way despite the major bane before them which is this issue of sponsorship. Football is capital intensive, and if don’t have the laxity no matter your idea it would amount to nothing.

“So if LMC have a good backing, a good sponsorship, I bet you they can compete with the likes of Laliga, and Series A. 

“And I think it is on this note the LMC is emphasising much on the quality of the game, because no sponsor would want to to put his money where there is no sanity,” Biffo stressed.

The Kwara born tactician also lend his views on the likehood inclusion of home based players into the national team.

“I wouldn’t want to blame Gerner Rohr for his disdain on home based players, rather the structure and the system.

“If you want any home based player to take up a shirt at the national team, I think he has to undergo the process and the progression from U-17, U-20, U-23 and to Super Eagles.

“In the past when we had influx of home based players at the national team, they all started from U-17. You don’t buy experience, you earned it.

“Untill we go back to the 80s how we developed our national team from the progression cadres. I think that is the bridge between the local players and the professional players.”

Biffo an esrtwhile coach of Katsina united started his coaching career under Coach Kadril Ikhana at Kwara United in 2005 and has risen to coached many clubs in Nigeria including Ondo United, Giwa FC of Jos, Kogi United, Niger Tornadoes of Minna, Abia Warrior and Kwara United. 

  Kwara United FC