The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated an investigative committee to unravel the circumstances leading to the vandalization of the Moshood Abiola Stadium and recommend measures to forestall recurrence.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare while inaugurating the committee led by DIG Sanni Mohammed (Retd) noted that while the failure of Nigeria to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup is not only regrettable but also left millions of football loving Nigerians unhappy and angry, making them to ask for changes, it is not enough to condone the acts of vandalism and destruction of public infrastructure like the Moshood Abiola Stadium, built with tax payers money and the benevolence of private individuals.

“The Federal Government will not sit by and allow individuals, no matter their ages to just wilfully damage and destroy Federal Government Infrastructure especially a public infrastructure like the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Therefore, this afternoon, I want to inaugurate this committee on the acts of vandalism and destruction of the Stadium. This committee will have two weeks to conclude its assignment and submit its report.

“It is an investigative committee and they will be given necessary access to the stadium, they will be provided with the CCTV footage, they will have access to every relevant person connected with the football match and also the Ministry, Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)and other relevant agencies,” the Minister added.

The terms of reference of the Committee include unraveling the remote and immediate causes of the incident; determine the extent of the destruction; investigate the security arrangement and the role of security generally; identify the culprits; identify victims where we have them; make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence, not just for the Moshood Abiola Stadium but all stadia across the country in terms of crowd control after the games, amongst others.

In his response, the Chairman of the Committee, DIG Mohammed(Retd)thanked the Minister for finding members of the committee worthy of the national assignment, promising they will discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour, and assist the nation to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.

Other members of the investigative committee are Dr Henry Nzekwu(vice chairman), Commodore Omatseye Nesiama(Retd), Alhaji Abba Yola, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, Mrs Tayo Oreweme, Mr Mitchell Obi, a representative of the Director General of the Department of State Security(DSS) and Mr Olumide Bamiduro, who will be the secretary.

The committee has two weeks to turn in their report.

CAF/FIFA accredited photographer and ace NPFL photo delegate, Abdul Momoh
has been honored with the best photojournalist award by the renowned Symbol Magazine.

The Symbol Magazine/ Kwara Alert Newspaper, a popular magazine has rich contents ranging from politics, sports, lifestyle and health with wide range of recognition in and outside Kwara State.

The award was don on Momoh for his dedication and unrelenting contribution to the development of sports journalism in Kwara State and Nigeria.

The award ceremony saw notable people in attendance including the Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Raphael Adetiba, Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Idris Musa, General Manager of Radio Kwara, Kayode Aremu, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Shamsudeen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication, Hajia Abdulrahman among other personalities.

An elated Abdul Momoh used the medium to thank friend and colleagues for their support and encouragement so far just as he dedicated the award to his late mother who encourage him in taking photography as a profession.

He commended the organizers for the initiative which he described as first of its kind.

“This is first of its kind in Kwara where media practitioners were been rewarded, kudos to the organiser and publisher of Symbol Magazine, Mr Remilekun Emmanuel. The online voting make it real for people to vote their choice candidates.”

The easy going Photojournalist has covered many national and international events and have previously bagged merit award in 2017 by Sports Media Ambassadors in conjunction with the Federal ministry of Youth and Sports, South West and 2019 Excellence special awards.

The widely travelled Photojournalist urged photographer to remain dedicated and be more creative toward achieving their goals.

In an exclusive dialogue with the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick about the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, he gave an intense analysis on why the boys need grade A friendly matches ahead of the qualifiers.

“I think the option of Cameroon boils down to Grade A friendly like I have said and Cameroon is one of the biggest African football country, they’ve got quality players and they are the first in history to have gotten to quarter final stage in the world Cup and have been to World Cup more than any other country in Africa and this is World Cup qualifiers we are talking about.

“We want to play top teams in Africa so when the world Cup qualifiers gets tougher, we would be able to know whether the boys can match countries like Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt as far African countries are concerned because they are tough countries.” he said

“Don’t forget that Cameroon will play the Host Nation of Africa Cup of Nations come next year. We are not actually not going into that tournament for Jamboree but we have a target and by God’s grace it going to be a podium performance.” he added.

In his words, ” The boys will assemble and the team will play in Australia, these are quite expensive flying the team alongside logistics just to give these boys quality friendly matches and as well make the team to be in shape.”

” The boys already know that World Cup is a tournament every player dreams to go, so with this better preparation before September, we’ll be able to be in shape knowing fully well June/July most teams will be on break and we want them to be busy.” he revealed.

“We are still looking for more Quality friendlies so that can be sure that our team is ready for Next World Cup Qualifiers come September.”

NFF President Amaju Pinnick concluded by saying better preparation will make Nigeria Qualify for the World Cup

According to the Fifa Council member Pinnick Amaju “we want to keep the Super Eagles busy in this coming next month knowing fully well bulk of the leagues in Europe would have come to and end and after they rest a while, they should engage in top grade friendly in order to keep the boys in better shape ahead of world Cup qualifiers which is crucial for us as a Nation”

Shedding more light, is the Delta State born administrator “it has has always been our Philosophy to get grade A friendly for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, if you look at our track records we always get friendly matches that can put the team in shape and for cohesion of the team and the forthcoming one is not an exception”

Super Eagles have been able to qualified for the last nation cup and this coming one in cameroon were due to better preparation and well qualities friendly matches the team always play before any major qualifiers.

“There have been good and Quality preparations so far and I think we’ve got quality young lads in the team hopefully the next African Cup of Nation might just be the time for the Super Eagle to have a podium performance again.”

The Fifa Council member concluded by saying the world cup quallfiers demand adequate preparation.

The highly rated Sports administrator was joined by other top personals to give out the customised match balls to all 8 teams that participated at the Football event of the National Sports Festival.

Amos Adamu who was one time Director General of the National Sports Commission was thrilled that a Nigerian Clubside can think of having their own customised match balls, stressing that it is the right step to move the club to greater heights.

Receiving the match balls on behalf of Team Edo, Captain of the side and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shuabu thanked the management of the team for reaching out to all the teams that participated at the Football Event of the National Sports Festival, saying other clubs in Nigeria should emulate the NWFL Championship side, by going into selling of merchandise that will bring in profits.

Barrister Paul Edeh, President of Naija Ratels FC who was represented by Coach Bankole Oloowokere said it was a pleasure to give out the match balls to the football participating teams, stating that football is the sports played most consistently in the world.

“Football is loved by all, that’s one of the reasons we decided to give our customised match balls to all Football participating teams in the National Sports Festival.

“The Naija Ratels customised ball is strong, iconic and reflects the values of the Clubside as we are planning of building a big fan base across all quarters.

Naija Ratels is an NWFL Championship side, based in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and is owned by Legal Luminary, Barrister Paul Edeh.

The former Delta State Commissioner for Sports, Solomon Ogba has sent out a congratulatory message to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who on Friday was elected into the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football. 

Ogba described Pinnick’s victory as a very special one for all Nigerians; especially Deltans who have watched the meteoric rise of the astute sports administrator over the years.

The former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria said he is confident Pinnick will perform creditably well in his new office having done so in the past years in similar capacities.

“This is indeed a great day for Nigerian sports and I am very happy to see our country being projected in shining light in world football circles,” Ogba said on Friday, following the conclusion of the 43rd Ordinary General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco.

“I congratulate my brother, Pinnick and everyone that supported this great course,” he added

Pinnick is only the third Nigerian to serve in world football’s highest decision-making body, after the late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu.

The former Delta State Sports Commission boss attained the exalted seat spectacularly after defeating his only rival, incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 at Friday’s Congress in Morocco’s administrative capital.

 Four of Pinnick’s five rivals, Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Nick Mwendwa (Kenya) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) all pulled out before the voting commenced and opted to back the Nigerian.

Aside from his election into the FIFA council, Pinnick was also returned as CAF’s Fifth Vice President on Friday in Morocco.

Minister of Youth and sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has congratulated newly elected Executive committee member of Fifa and President of Nff Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on his success at the poll.

Amaju was elected into the exalted position of Fifa Executive committee after emerging victorious at the CAF election held in Morocco on Friday,
winning by 43 votes to his opponents 8 votes.

According to the statement from the Minister’s Media Office, this is an opportunity for Nigeria and indeed the African continent.

The Minister charged Amaju to use his position to reposition Nigerian and African football “This is an opportunity to use your new position to make Nigerian, African and World football great again and make it better than you met it. This is the reward of hardwork and unity of purpose. We are better off when we support our collective aspirations for the development of our great country. This is an honour well deserved”

The Minister had last week declared open support for Amaju , thus securing the backing of the Federal Government. The Minister was appreciative of the support of Mr. President and the efforts of the foreign Ministry.

Amaju becomes the third Nigerian after Late Mr. Orok Oyo Orok and Dr Amos Adamu to occupy the Fifa Executive committee seat.

Signed

Media office, Honorable Minister of Youth and sports Development

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was on Friday in Rabat, Morocco elected into the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football. He attained the exalted seat after defeating his only rival, incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 at the Congress held inside the Royal Ballroom of the Sofitel Hotel in Morocco’s administrative capital.

Four of Pinnick’s five rivals, Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Nick Mwendwa (Kenya) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) threw in the towel before the vote and opted to back the Nigerian. General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi casted Nigeria’s vote.

It is a remarkable case of rapid global football boardroom upliftment for a man who, a little over six-and-half years ago, had no intention of contesting for even board membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, but has now been in the post for six-and-half years (becoming the first person to democractically secure a second term), won election as Member of the CAF Executive Committee, served as CAF’s 1^st Vice President, still serving as Member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, and now a reverred member of the world’s highest decision-making organ for football.

Pinnick’s entry into the 37-member FIFA Council came at the 43^rd Ordinary and Elective General Assembly of CAF, and was accomplished hours after the man he supported for the CAF Presidency, Dr Patrice Motsepe of South Africa, mounted the ‘throne’ unchallenged. Motsepe’s challengers Augustine Senghor of Senegal, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire had all withdrawn from the race before today’s poll.

The elevation is for a four-year term, and automatically makes Pinnick a Member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football.

A man who sets and pursues his vision doggedly, Pinnick thus becomes only the third Nigerian to serve in world football’s highest decision-making body, after the late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu.

The quest by the suave and effervescent football administrator for the seat was solidly backed by the Government of Nigeria, which delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Nebolisa Anako was on ground in Morocco.

A mining billionaire who is also into banking and telecommunications and has businesses in 40 African countries, Dr Patrice Thlopane Motsepe is also the owner of top South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns.

In his acceptance speech, Motsepe expressed gratitude to the African football family for his attainment of the position, saying it is a huge honour to serve African football at the highest level. “All of us can and will work together,” he said, underscoring the need for team work, collaboration and sense of togetherness as he praised Senghor, Yahya and Anouma who withdrew from the race.

I got this message;
“Paulo please remember to pray for me on Monday 08 March, I will be 80. I will be attending a Thanksgiving Holy Mass.  Unfortunately you will be in Warri.
This is quintessential Linus Mba.

Humility personified, a man married to the whistle, the best Nigerian referee alive.
80? Yes Eighty and your expression changes because he does not look it.
No, he does not.

However, a brief peep at the compressed biography of this father of two forces one to believe that he has seen it all.

In an interview granted The Nation Newspaper four years ago, he was referred to as a man with “naked enthusiasm and puritanical devotion.”

Mr. Linus Mba epitomizes the best in Nigerian refereeing through hard work, devotion and uncanny love for the profession.

Born on March 08 1941 in Enugu, Mr. Linus Mba was introduced to the whistle at St. Theresa’s College Nsuka after Reverend Father William Butler “rescued” him from neglect by his colleagues who ostracized him for not being useful either as an outfield player or a goalkeeper.

“…He called me to his office and handed me the Laws of the Game and that launched my interest in refereeing right from secondary school.”

The young Linus then joined the Nigeria Referees Association, Onitsha and continued his passion until he went in search of the golden fleece in London where he bagged B.Sc (Hon) Applied Economics and Diploma in Journalism at the Regent Polytechnic London, where he was also trained by the London Football Association (1969 – 1972) up to the semi professional cadre in 1976.

He returned to Nigeria in 1976 and till 1990 was assigned the best and the toughest of matches including two Challenge Cup finals – Shooting Stars Ibadan and Sharks of Port Harcourt in 1974 and Abiola Babes Abeokuta versus Ranchers Bees Kaduna in 1976.

By 1984, young Linus Mba was badged by FIFA and defended the badge till 1990 when he retired.

It will be difficult attempting to chronicle the life and times of Mr. Linus Mba in a tribute, but we cannot fail to mention that he was a member of the Executive Board of the NFA from 1992 – 1996, Chairman Referees Committee 1992 – 1996, and represented Nigeria in the 1994 FIFA Congress in Chicago, USA.

He was a CAF referees instructor since 1996 and Member CAF Referees Committee from 2002 – 2012.

Mr. Mba has served as FIFA Referees Instructor from 2005 till date, appointed a FIFA Technical Adviser on Refereeing from 2008 till date, only two of them in Africa, the other being Neji Jouini of Tunisia.

The Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly referees magazine, The Whistle, sees this as a pet project very close to his heart.

“…Since 2014, even during the period of the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown, we got the magazine going, geared towards constantly updating referees and assistant referees on evolving changes in modern refereeing…”

Circulated in over thirty African Member Association’s Referees Committees as well as to FIFA and CAF, the latest edition got rave revues from Mr. Amaju Pinnick, President of the NFF, his first Vice Barrister Akinwumi, Chairman of the Referees Committee Dr. Sharif Inuwa Ahlan, Secretary General NFF Dr. Mohammed Sausi, Chairman NRA Alhaji Tade Azeez among others.

CAF Referees Manager Eddy Maillet, FIFA referees member Anyan Lim Kee Chong and the Chairman CAF Referees Committee, the Rwandan Celestin Ntugangira also penned commendation for the whistle magazine.

If you ask the father of two what he considers his greatest achievement, he will say “all achievements are great… but I cherish the progress we have made as a country. The quality of International referees, the training of Assessors to monitor referees instead of the traditional Match Commissioners, in brief the re-organization of the structure and machinery of technical development of refereeing in Nigeria.”

This reservoir of technical information and data on refereeing in Nigeria and by Nigerians at both national and international levels, prides himself as never receiving bribe in whatever form when he was active as a referee. 

“No regrets. I walk tall. I never did. I may not have been popular for that but I thank God that my reputation is intact and am happier today for it…”

A Central Bank of Nigeria Research Officer, Journalist with Business Times, Public Relations Officer, later Export Manager Volkswagen Nigeria, this widely travelled icon remembers vividly his refereeing exploits in Africa, including the Africa Cup of Champions Semi Final tie between Zamalek of Egypt and FAR of Morocco in 1985.

What is the secret of longevity of this CAF/FIFA Assessor and Match Commissioner?

“Grace of God.  Simple and straightforward life. Honesty and service to humanity. I keep my mind free of all stress and deceit…”

For yours truly a friendship spanning over 30 years, a celebration of professionalism, hard work and dedication.

Today a legend of the whistle clocks 80 and is still counting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAZI!

Federal Capital Territory Referee Council member Hannah Elaigwu has been voted the NWFL Premiership Referee for the month of December.

The FIFA accredited referee earned the accolade on the back of an impressive performance in the NWFL Premiership week one encounter between Nasarawa Amazons and FC Robo Queens.

A game the ‘Lagos Landladies’ won by a lone goal and she was adjudged to be very fair with her decisions all through the game, according to the assessors at the stadium.

The monthly award which is proudly sponsored by the NFF 1st Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwumi is aimed at honouring women referees who have strong work ethics, have knowledge on the rules of the game and are positive role models. The winner will go home with a cash prize of N25000.

A team of women football experts and panelists voted based on reports gathered by assessors all around various match centres.