Dino Sporting Club CEO, Samuel Columbus Omomafe on Saturday received an award of excellence from the Ogun State Football Association.

According to the OGSFA led by board member of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, the recognition came as a result of the Dino SC boss’ immense contributions to the development football in the state and country at large.

Mr Omomafe, a seasoned grassroot football administration is known for his dedication and passion to the round leather game.

He has organized various grassroot football competition for youngsters all over the state, with international scouts in attendance.

He has also helped many players achieved their dream of playing professional football at any club of their choice in Europe.

“I’m really happy and honored to receive this awar,”

“Sometimes I’m a bit shy, but I’m really happy to do what I can do for my people to make things better and also contribute my qouta to the growth of these players and football at large,

“To be recognized by the FA means we are doing something right, and I can assure you, we won’t rest on our oars.” He said.

He presides over Dino Sporting Club, one of the fastest rising football clubs in Nigeria, and the current Creative Championship League Cup holders.

The Club is also rated as the 2nd best in the Creative Championship League, behind Beyond Limits.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO) Olushola Ogunnowo, has dedicated his Football Administrator Of The Year Award to the Nigeria football family.

He made this known after he received his African Illustrious Award as the Football Administrator Of The Year.

This prestigious award, first of its kind to be awarded a football administrator in Nigeria’s football family, and was formally conferred to Ogunnowo on Friday at Oriental Hotels, Lagos alongside other trailblazing Africans.

Ogunnowo’s unmatched administrative qualities and work ethic at ensuring that Nigeria’s grassroot football becomes viable earned him the prestigious award.

A delighted NLO COO told the media after he picked his award: “I am humbled by this award, I want to thank my colleagues in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their cooperation that made me excel in my schedules.

“My sincere gratitude to my mentors in the line of duty (Alh. Alhassan Yakmut, Alh. Tukur Babangida, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed NFF GS, Amb. Fanny Amun). They made me.”

Ogunnowo’s recognition was in line with the African Illustrious Award vision to project and promote excellence in Africa, not as an exception, but as a consistent pattern in the modern African experience pursuant to the above.

The nation’s third-tier domestic league under his strict management policies, has witnessed giant strides.

Ogunnowo, was found worthy for an award by Africa Illustrious award, as its a revered and prestigious African honor, conferred on individuals and organizations who have excelled in leadership, philanthropy, community development, business, academia, technology, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship across Africa.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi expressed his delight for Ogunnowo.

“The award is well deserving of Ogunnowo, as is an administrator per excellence and never compromised standards. These qualities has seen the NLO thrive under his stewardship.”

Expectedly, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau is among the Special Guests of Honor that will grace the event, which will also be well attended by notable Nigerians and other African leaders, like the Former President of Swaziland.

Recall, the nation’s third-tier domestic league under his strict management policies, has witnessed giant strides in the area of talent discovery, talent transfer to the national cadet teams, Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles.

Capacity building of coaches and managers, a prime focus of the NLO is geared towards catching up with the new trends in grassroot football, through organizing seminars and coaching clinics (NLO/Berackiah Coaching Clinic).

To cap it all was the recent business tour of England with five clubs CEOs. The two week tour had the NLO contingent visit English clubs that have the expertise in grassroot football player’s development. Exchange and partnership agreements were signed with a few clubs.

Consequently, as the African Illustrious Award seeks to search, discover and recognize highly distinguished Africans who have been outstanding and exceptional in private and public
service, it’s best to say that Ogunnowo falls into the category.

Ogunnowo’s recognition is in line with the African Illustrious Award vision to project and promote excellence in Africa, not as an exception, but as a consistent pattern in the modern African experience pursuant to the above.

The African Illustrious Award team of seasoned professionals, distinguished researchers, a special panel, and the public, after due diligence, found the NLO COO worthy to receive the prestigious FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR.

This prestigious award, first of its kind to be awarded a football boss in Nigeria’s football family, will be formally conferred to Ogunnowo on Friday December 9, 2022, at Oriental Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos by 3pm alongside other trailblazing Africans.

The Nigerian Professional Footballers Wives Association (NPFWA), the umbrella body of Wives of Professional Footballers in Nigeria have sent a congratulatory message to the new NFF President Alh Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

The Association said the new NFF president who was before his election the Chairman of Chairmen of the NFF is expected to bring his wealth of experience to change the face of Football in Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by the NPFWA president Mrs Ify Ichull Lordson, stated that they were excited by Gusau emergence as president and charged him to pay special attention to the local league as well as the welfare of players.

She further explained that good welfare packages for players would boost their performance to compete with their foreign counterparts to help build a strong National teams for Nigeria.

NPFWA also demanded from the new President to create a special pension scheme for players which will help to guarantee a better life for them after Football.

The Nigerian Professional Footballers Wives Association assured the president that they would continue to pray for the new NFF leadership to succeed in their new position and to have a fulfilling tenure in office.

Ace Sports writer Abayomi Ademetan popularly known as FutbalGalore has teamed up with Alhaji Gafar Liameed’s 36 Lion in a very short ceremony held at the club’s secretariat in Lagos.

Alhaji Gafar is a well known grassroot developer as his team has nurtured so many players from the grassroot to the top of world footballing map.

Top on the list are Junior Ajayi (Smouha), Moses Usor, Peter Olayinka and Yina Sor (Slava Prague), these are players that have excelled in Egypt and Europe respectively.

Speaking shortly after the unveiling, FutbalGalore as Mr Ademetan is widely known disclosed that the opportunity to learn plus the love for young players drew him closer to Hajji Gafar.

“I feel proud and very honored to have been identified with a man that has made men out of young boys,”

“He is one man I called father as he we all know him, he is a promoter of grassroot football.

“We have enough talents in the rural areas and we will need more people in the mould of Hajji Gafar to fish them out.”

“The first agenda for me in peace is to use my role in the media to promote Hajji Gafar and the workings around 36 Lion but first we need to see that Hajji Gafar becomes a board member of the Nigerian Football Federation tomorrow,” He concluded,

The event saw CAF’s Chief Safety & Security Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, and FCT’s FA Chairman, Adam Mouktar Mohammed go head to head as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, represented by his Special Adviser on Media Mr. kola Daniel, Chairman NUJ FCT Council, Emmanuel Ogbeche and the crowd watch on in excitement.

Between the welcome address by Chairman of SWAN, FCT chapter, Bunmi “Blair” Haruna. and the closing remarks by Emmanuel Ogbeche, the candidates addressed critical points raised.

THE CANDIDATES SPEAK

Adam Mouktar Mohammed was quick to highlight his achievements as the FCT FA Chairman when quizzed on his reasons for contesting.

He said, “I have been in the position of the FCT FA Chairman for the last 3 years, and I see myself as a game-changer. We are in the 22nd century where football has evolved into business, with my experience of developing young players from zero to heroes, I’m very much suitable for the job.”

He also emphasized picking players from all over the country and helping them through the ranks, from the U-17 to the U-19 to the senior National teams.

“I have invested my time and money for over 20 years, and have gotten my hands dirty, so I know what is needed and what needs to be done. I resigned from my position, came into administration, and in the last 3 years, I can humbly beat my chest and say I am the best performing FA Chairman in the country.

“We came in with the promise that we wanted to develop facilities, and we have done it. We have trained over 120 coaches which you can verify, and have returned the Abuja league to the top in the country. Talking about international cooperation, I have brought Bayern Munich, making a home-grown player to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the world. So I understand the business of Football,” Mouktar boasts.

CAF’s Chief Safety & Security Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa prides in his continental experience.

“I sit currently in a position where I can see what happens in all 54 countries in Africa, and we have what is called the Directorate Review Session every Monday, where we look at the development and progress in each member association. Unfortunately, I sit at the meeting weekly and listen to how my country Nigeria is mostly at the bottom. In terms of development programs, progress in capacity building, league performance, and so on, and I said within myself, that in this coming election, I will not be sitting down anymore in the comfort of my office in Cairo, without coming back home to try and vie for the position.

“I consider myself fit for the position because this is my profession. I studied sports from my first degree to my Ph.D. at the University of Ibadan, and I also worked within the purview of the NFF for many years, where I was privileged to be in the very engine room that drives the entire process of Nigerian Football, which is the office of the Secretary. I have also worked with FIFA since 2015, in a job that has given me the opportunity to support the delivery of different competitions. I have also been able to join CAF to start up a department that was never in existence in the last 60 years of our African Football, and today, within 3-and-a-half years, that department is the second best in the world.”

“I thought that with my wealth of experience and knowing exactly the problems of Nigerian Football, it will be uncharitable to close my eyes, and not come back home to try to contribute,”
Christian Emeruwa said while answering questions on why he decided to vie for the position of NFF president.

The event had journalists and football fans gather at the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) FCT Council Secretariat, Utako Abuja.

Armed to the tooth, Afolabi, is an astute football administrator and a silent achiever who’d seen it all in football circle, has been involved in organising, preserving and upholding the integrity of the game most especially in the apex league of the land.

The Osun born technocrat who is aiming to become an executive board member (South West) has received blessings from creme de la crème of Nigeria’s football towards September 30th election. He’s out to improve football from grassroots and he believes the perfect time is now.

“I see this call as an opportunity and I feel the time has come for me to pursue and maximize the opportunity that is more aligned with my aspiration.

“My mission is to strictly develop grassroots football as it’s also in alignment with top contenders for the apex seat.

“Therefore, it is not too early to contribute my quota to the development of football up there. I have the capacity to do things differently and get the desired results as per grassroots football development.

“Topmost priority must be placed on grassroots football development. This is where all players should start. It is the heart and soul of players development. Nigeria as a country is endowed with amazing football talents.

“We ought to priotize proper grassroots football development, this guarantees a continuous success at all levels of football. In this modern day football, talent is not enough, it must be properly nutured and managed towards maximum potential.

“I believe and urge the congressmen to vote for competence, passion, trust, vibrance and loyalty.” He concluded.

By Harry Awurumibe

A week to the much-awaited Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election into its Executive Board slated for September 30 in Benin City, frontrunner in the race for the President of the federation, Dr. Christian Emeruwa has continued his nationwide consultation with critical stakeholders in football in Nigeria.

Dr. Emeruwa who seems to be the only presidential candidate running for the exalted office has for the past 15 days been engaging the NFF Delegates to the Elective Congress in Benin City, just as he has held several media sessions with the sporting press.

Specifically, the astute football administrator and Founder/Head of Security and Safety Department of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) who was the first person to indicate his interest in the NFF Presidency and the first aspirant to buy the form has held Consultative Meetings with NFF Zonal Delegates across the six geopolitical zones except South South Caucus meeting which hold this weekend.

The former Head of Integrity Unit of NFF has successfully held meetings with the North Central, North West and North East Caucus of NFF just as he also met with South East and South West NFF Delegates.

Worthy of mentioning is the facts that 95% of State Football Associations Chairmen attended the meetings where Dr. Emeruwa presented his strategic plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit Nigeria football stakeholders if voted into the office in Benin City.

Aside holding meetings with FA Chairmen, the most visible candidate out of the 11 cleared by the NFF Electoral Committee first met with the vibrant Nigerian sporting press when he hosted the Sports Editors at Sheraton Hotels Ikeja in Lagos where he laid bare his plans to overhaul the entire gamut of Nigeria football administration and organisation of the various leagues.

Also, Dr. Emeruwa has held strategic meetings with other critical stakeholders in football as he has extracted commitments from the multinational oil company TotalEnergies Plc after paying a courtesy visit to the. Managing Director Dr. Samba Seye in Lagos.

The energetic presidential candidate has also become a toast of the media as he has made several appearances on national and international television stations, radio and newspapers houses to sell his plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit stakeholders if voted into the office.

Meanwhile, Dr. Emeruwa on Thursday attended NFF Presidential Debate organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter for the 11 persons cleared to contest for the September 30 presidential election.

Sadly, Dr. Emeruwa and current FCT Football Association, Chairman Mohammed Mouktar were the two contestants out of 11 who attended the debate which took place at Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Secretariat at Utako, Abuja.

Nine other candidates for the NFF top post did not attend the debate, although details of why they failed to show up could not be obtained as at the time of this report.

The presidential ambition of the frontrunner in the forthcoming Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Presidential Election, Dr. Christian Emeruwa has received further boost as the Executive Governor of Abia State. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has thrown the full weight of the state behind the aspirant.

The Governor made the official declaration on Saturday when he received Dr. Emeruwa who hails from Ikwuano-Oboro Local Government Area in Umuahia, Abia state, at the Governor’s Lodge in Aba, the commercial nerve center of Nigeria.

Dr. Ikpeazu who attentively listened to Dr. Emeruwa who briefly presented his strategic plan for Nigeria football, expressed his joy that one of his indigenes has a lofty vision that can transform Nigeria football.

The Governor who has been funding two Nigerian Premier League clubs Enyimba International and Abia Warriors Football Clubs since he came into office seven and half years ago commended Dr. Emeruwa’s bold steps to run for the NFF President post.

An elated Ikpeazu therefore welcomed him to Abia state and assured Dr. Emeruwa of the full support of the people and government of Abia state led by his good self.

He also encouraged Dr. Emeruwa to trudge on, saying that it will be a good thing for an Abia indigene who is a technocrat that understands the game to champion the way the game will be administered in Nigeria.

He said: “I am highly impressed with what I have seen and heard. Above all, it will be a good thing for an Abia indigene who is a serving international football technocrat that understands the game to champion the way the game will be administered in Nigeria”.

“I assure you that you will have the full support of the people and government of Abia state led by my humble self to ensure that you realise your ambition to become the next President of NFF come September 30 in Benin City, Edo state.

The visit to Governor Ikpeazu was part of Dr. Emeruwa’s wide consultations with critical stakeholders in football in Nigeria including state governments that sponsor most of the football clubs playing in various Nigerian football leagues.

Dr. Emeruwa will also during the trip hold strategic meetings with critical stakeholders in the South East before returning to Abuja to continue his engagements with other Election Delegates ahead of the the September 30 NFF Elective Congress in Benin City.

The signs are looking good with how the new leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF will look like in the coming elections billed for 29th of month in Benin, Edo State.

The new board is expected to have more football technocrats on board with the latest news that Proprietor of 36 Lion Academy, Liameed Gafar, has joined the race to become one of the biggest decision makers in Nigerian football.

The popular football administrator made the announcement on Wednesday

He made his quest known on Nigeria Sports Mouthpiece, NSM, a popular sports WhatsApp platform.

“Good afternoon NSM.

I greet you all with the love of football and the grace of God.

May I officially announce to this great family that I will be contesting in the forthcoming NFF Elections as a Board Member on the platform of a club founder from Lagos State.

It’s all about the common interest of Lagos.

It’s all about improving Nigeria Football”

Being a strong stakeholder in youth football and his academy having produced some brilliant players like Peter Olayinka and Collins Sor, Gafar says he wants to strengthen the lower leagues in order to help them produce young players for the elite division.

He also promised to push for proper training of former international players in order for them to train those at the grassroots.

Soon after his announcement, he got royal endorsement from Alhaji Sani Abdullahi of the Walin Makera Babba Royal Family in Zazzau Emirate Council, Kaduna. The Royal Family’s endorsement is a huge boost to Liameed Gafar whose achievements in Youth football is known far and wide.