Lagos — New contract ready

Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu yesterday rubber-stamped the selection of Brazilian star Ronaldinho as the FIFA World Footballer of the Year.

Chukwu told THISDAYSports that the Barcelona midfielder merited his selection ahead of Thierry Henry and Andriy Shevchenko at the FIFA Gala held on Monday in Zurich, Switzerland.

"Yes, Ronaldinho merited the ultimate prize. There is no doubt who is the best player in the world. Ronaldinho is an exceptionally gifted player," Chukwu said.

Every year national coaches poll votes in the exercise sanctioned by FIFA, the international governing body to determine the best player in the world.

The scope of this year's poll was extended for the first time to include captains of all national teams.

Interestingly, though Chukwu professed his likeness for Ronaldinho, the Eagles coach could not translate that into a vote as yet an unidentified official of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) voted in an exercise reserved for coaches.

"I did not see the voting form this year to nominate my candidates. Even at that, if I received the ballot, I would cast my vote for Ronaldinho ahead of Henry. It is not a question of he is better than other players. It is about individual choice," Chukwu said.

NFA has in the recent times abused the procedure for the World Footballer of the Year nomination with the federation opting to by pass its national coaches.

Top officials like Secretary General Taiwo Ogunjobi and even Kashimawo Laloko have entered nominations on behalf of the country.