Two of the respected stakeholders in Nigeria football have made their opinions known as to who become the next President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for the next four years.

Former Chairman of Sokoto State Football Association, Mallam Danladi Bako and President of Remo Stars Sports Club, Honorable Kunle Soname did not minced words when they openly declared that the current Vice President of the federation and Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is the best man to lead the federation for another dispensation.

The great men in Nigerian football were parts of the creme De la creme of the countries football that graced the official declaration of Barrister Akinwunmi for the NFF top seat held in Abuja recently.

Mallam Bako in his remark at the reception said “I’m from the North and I have endorsed Seyi. NFF affairs have never been an issue or politics of where anyone comes from. It’s about competence and my conscience tells me that Seyi is eminently an outstanding personality that can take Nigerian football to where we all all desire.”

Mallam Bako pulled no punches in explaining why he feels BSA is the right man to succeed Amaju Pinnick, and take Nigeria football to greater heights with a holistic approach and professional execution.

“Seyi is one man we respect so much,” he continued. “That is why the who is who in Nigerian football came to grace his declaration. Those who decide our fate in Nigerian football, the congressmen are present here. They have a choice to make whenever the time comes as to who they endorse but by me being present here, it has given support to Seyi.”

Mallam Bako further made the point to underline the spirit in which football unifies Nigeria, and what support of BSA means. “If I and those of us who don’t want to bring politics of region and ethnicity into the elections are supporting him, what else? What goes around will come around. Once upon a time you had Alhaji Galadima, followed by Sani Lulu followed by Aminu Maigari. One stretch of three chairmen from the North, so why didn’t you complain at that time? So if you follow my drift I am looking for the merit and the best material.”

As the date for election of NFF President, Vice Presidents and other executive committee members on 30th September draws near, most football stakeholders and observers seem to consider BSA the front runner and almost certain of the top job in Nigerian football – if the outcome were based solely on merit.

Akinwunmi, the incumbent Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) Chairman, has a reputation for focusing on grassroots and schools football, with his Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation offering scholarships to indigent kids – as well as running LSFA increasingly as a commercial enterprise.

His tenure has seen LSFA introduce Nigerian football as a key part of the global football business in the 21st century. In 2012, the LSFA organized Soccerex West Africa, the first time the sports business forum came to this part of the world outside South Africa

Akinwunmi also led a rebrand of football in Lagos by creating a commercial brand for LSFA, ekoFootball, an entity that drove corporate partnerships through active stakeholder engagement, sound business propositions, and solid governance.

What makes BSA the standout candidate – and demonstrates him walking the walk of his Football First vision – is his record in schools football and youth development at LSFA.

The Lagos State Youth Football League remains the most vibrant across the country. As NFF 1st Vice President, Akinwunmi led the Zenith Bank under-13 national team project; while also steering through the adoption of the Channels Kids Cup by the NFF as a protected tournament.

Most informed observers seem to be of the view that the scope, depth and innovation of BSA at the helm of LSFA make him a very strong merit based contender.

As a long standing corporate lawyer with over 30 years of experience, Akinwunmi would also bring integrity to the office, along with the analytical mind to cut through to the most important issues. He is a man who gets things done in football.

Add to this his quiet but impactful work in his area of responsibility in the outgoing executive team – youth development; and it is easy to see why Akinwunmi is widely believed to be the most competent man for the job.

His colourful declaration event was graced by FA Chairmen from all the geo-political zones, other NFF Congress members, retired internationals, football administrators, representatives of corporate Nigeria, and a myriad of members of the Nigerian football family who BSA has helped over the years.

The audience composition, glowing endorsements, and reception to his well articulated strategy for Nigerian football all point to his early lead.

Certainly this reflects a general desire in football circles to restore the dignity of real Nigerian football culture. This is in line with the Federal Government’s recently published position on how Nigerians want their number one sport to be managed and projected.

Mallam Bako, who has a long standing exposure to and experience of football and its administration in Nigeria explained the characteristics we need at the apex of the NFF.

“I want a President that will use our money judiciously and is accountable. I want a President that will take care of all national teams without giving excuses of no money.

“I want a President who will not only attract sponsorship or engage coaches, but disclose the terms and any contract contents to Nigerians. I want a President who will reengineer Nigerian football from grassroots.

“Whoever wins this election, I beg everyone to support him… I’m very much confident that Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will win based on his track record. Anyone who can effectively manage Lagos FA, a Lagos with over 20 million population, a population of another African country, can do very well as President of NFF. So Seyi has a lot to offer.”

Barrister Akinwunmi, is his declaration speech, made the following commitment to the Nigeria football family. “I guarantee you that as much as I love football, as much as I love my friends, one thing that is paramount in my mind is football. As much as I love and cherish the camaraderie that we share and that is football, and that must come first. Nigeria football can change, only if we put football first.”

BSA introduced his anchor four-point agenda: Infrastructure, Development, Business and Technology.

Responding to Akinwunmi’s vision for Nigerian football, Remo Stars Chairman and sports betting billionaire, Mr Kunle Soname remarked that, “football anywhere in the world has gone beyond mere rhetorics to strategic business model which is capable of engaging everyone interested, especially young people and give them meaningful life.”

He continued, “so redirecting the focus of Nigerian football is paramount if we must achieve the desired goal.”

A shortlist of candidates will be released by the NFF Election Committee on Monday, 12th September.

The first whistle at the competition will be blown 4 days from today and with the draw for the tournament set for August 23, the Organizing Committee Coordinator has reported good preparations for a mind-blowing competition.

2022 ValueJet Invitational Pre-Season Football Championship, will take home total prize monies of N3.5Million, with the champions going away with a cash prize of N2 Million, the first runners up take home N1Million and third place team get N500,000.

Badawiy said, “Preparations are going well as planned. From the onset, there have been communications between the Organising Committee and ValueJet.”

“The number of days that the competition would take place promises moments of exciting football at this year’s Tournament.”

Badawiy thanked Hon Kunle Soname for his financial and moral support in ensuring that this year’s event becomes a reality.

“Hon Kunle Soname is a Sports loving man. On behalf of my committee members, I’m using this medium to thank him for his support.”

“He deserves an applause for working around the deck to ensure that we don’t lack anything. The crucial role of my team of organizing committee gives me joy.

The money spinning tournament will take place from August 24th to September 3rd at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

Remo Stars, Kwara United, Lobi Stars, Plateau United, Niger Tornadoes, 3SC and Sunshine Stars have already confirmed their participation for the competition.

Others are Gateway United, Bayelsa United, Ijebu United, Bendel Insurance and Vandrezzer.

The venue of the tournament is Remo Stars Stadium.

The owner of FC Nilayo and the Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Hon. Bukola Olopade has described Hon. Kunle Soname, owner of Remo Stars Sports Club as a gift from God to Nigeria, and has admonished stakeholders in the sports sector to tap from his exposure and his wealth of experience to build a formidable sports structure that will stand the test of time.

Hon. Olopade gave the admonition while celebrating the iconic sports administrator and philanthropist on his 55th birthday.

The former sports commissioner in Ogun state noted that whoever decides to invest in sports will succeed in taking the youths away from the streets, get them engaged and provide them a means of livelihood, hence the need to extoll a man like Kunle Soname who has done it on a large scale.

“If I have a whole day to sing the praises of Hon. Soname, I will go on and on, but the right words will fail me because he has done so much”

“Those that are also close to him can attest to the fact that this is a man that should be extolled and celebrated everyday and not just his birthday. He has invested in football and Table Tennis, he keeps spending his money to develop the Para Sports and put food on their table, he had on different occasions sponsored so many other sporting events”.

“The Ultra modern Remo Stars international stadium project that is gradually nearing completion will be class above others when completed, Hon. Soname is spreading the tentacles to get more people engaged and employed, he’s a man of vision and determination, he’s rare and different on all front”.

Honourable Olopade wrapped up his eulogy with prayers and wished the celebrant many happy returns in good health and multiple blessings

Chairman of Remo Stars football Club of Ogun state, Kunle Soname has sent two of his most trusted coaches to Kaduna to monitor the ongoing NSM/Walin Kakuri football competition taking place at the Government College, Kakuri, football pitch.

The Chairman, CEO of Bet9ja, one of the sponsors of this event, said but for his very tight schedule, he had wanted to watch the final of this competition but that he has sent two of his trusted coaches to Kaduna to watch the matches and recommend possible players that could be snapped up by the club for the ongoing NNL campaign.

Chairman and owner of 36Lion Football Club, Hajj Gafar has already planned his trip to Kaduna next week as he hopes to watch the semi final and final matches of the competition.

So far, Kaduna fans have been treated to top class football action with over five matches played in a competition that is getting lots of plaudits from key stakeholders.

Earlier on Sunday, YMCA FC and FC Porto drew goalless after extra time with Porto winning on penalties by four goals to three.

The competition continues on Monday with some mouthwatering fixtures on the card.

All is set for the ceremonial kick off of the National Principal’s Cup on Friday with the match between Igbobi College, Lagos and Government College, Kaduna at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

The Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare is expected to take the ceremonial kick off, even as Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo–olu, Director General of NYSC Brigadier General Ibrahim Shuaibu, Chairman of Remo Stars Football club Honourable Kunle Soname are expected to grace the event.

According to the Director of Grassroots Sports in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr Ademola Are
The revival of the Principals Cup is one of the cardinal programmes of the Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare aimed at reviving schools sports development and grooming of young talents in the country.

Apart from footbal , table tennis, Badminton, and Atheletics will be competed for among all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The State finals will hold from 8th- 12th March, Zonal Finals 18th- 22nd March, while the finals takes place from 1st- 5th April 2021.

Signed

Media office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development