Leadership (Abuja)
Salihu Othman Isah
7 June 2008
interview
What is your current relationship with Ray Nnaji, a member of your board who, at the height of the NFA/NFL impasse, threatened to drag you to court over corrupt practices in NFL? What is also the rationale behind teams playing in an empty stadium due to unruly supporters, as well as the state of professional football in Nigeria almost 15 years after? How long do we have to wait for our league to develop compared to that of Europe?
Let me start from the last one. How long? I will join you in asking that question, how long? As for me and my board, this is our second year of professional league. I want to challenge anybody to tell me how bad compared to others; how bad this present board is. I want Nigerians to always remember, especially you pressmen, that all of us on that board are used to managing teams. I, for instance, managed the (Bendel) Insurance Football Club. This is the first time we are coming to manage fifty-two clubs. It's not easy. There is a big difference, a wall of difference. The headache is more than enough. So, Nigerians should please understand through you pressmen, because you are the people that write, and in most cases nonsense. Yes, I am challenging you. I want to be taken on. I have told the press, times without number, that when I go wrong they should call me to order, but when I do well, praise me, to high heavens and don't insult me, because you cannot do it. You have never done it. So, people should please learn. We are learning.
You are talking of Europe now, America, Japan, Germany, even South Africa, Malawi. Their governments built the infrastructures and stadia all over the places for them. No club in Nigeria has a stadium, none. It is the state stadium. If football leaves there, hockey comes in. When hockey leaves there, it is church service or party on the same pitch. I mean, that is nonsense! If we have done well, give us credit. Be bold enough, not people writing nonsense in the papers for money. We are all sacrificing, nobody here (referring to members of the NFL board) is on salary. None. You only get your allowances, sitting allowance-N30-N40, 000, and you sit maybe once in two months. Once in a month or once in two months for N30-N40, 000. No, it's wrong. Can you sacrifice? What are you sacrificing? You know, we are sacrificing. Like I told the Senate Committee on Sports, I challenge anybody. I brought out my hard earned millions (of naira) to start Nigerian Football League. How many Nigerians have done it? Yet people sit down and write nonsense, you know; just because you want to support one person. If you hate me, don't hate our policies. If the board is doing well, say the board is doing well; not Oyuki Jackson Obaseki because the face is bad. No, it's wrong. You are not punishing me, you are only a detractor to Nigerian football.
Thank God, we had the initiative of trying to affiliate with other bodies; getting in touch with the EPL (English Professional League). We just came back from South Africa. We are getting ready to go to MSL (Major Soccer League) in the US, and Bundesliga in Germany. We are trying to learn. So, please give us time to learn. If you know it, come. Come and give me advice. I am open. If you don't meet my other board members, come to my office, you would meet me on ground. Give your advice.
Now for how long? Let us wait and do it; anytime, we could get it right. I have been shouting and the board met, took a decision that we should build stadia for all the Premier clubs; went to the banks, tried to syndicate loan. We have been appealing to state governments for the second year to give us C of O (Certificate of Occupancy), just C of O and leave the rest to us. The stadium is not going to cost you one kobo, only the land. Give us C of O, but none. Only Niger State governor, and that is why I think they call him the 'master servant'. He brought a C of O to us. But it was faulty. The C of O was in the name of Niger State Sports Council. I am not building a stadium for the state government. We sent it back with thanks. The C of O should be in the name of Niger Tornadoes, because we are going to use it as collateral in the bank. If the money is not paid, the bank seizes the property. Simple! But nobody, nobody. Then, you are blaming NFL. They have to take care of the pitches. Who should go and take care of government pitches? People don't sit down to look at that sense. Is NFL the owner of Enugu Stadium? It's government stadium. No club has a stadium, except Gabros. So, please when you are writing, sit down properly, look at this side, and look at this side and come to a conclusion; not to write-off everybody in NFL. That's very wrong, because the job is enormous, not everybody can do it. No.
Coming to your second question on our relationship. Nnaji came back begging and I told him "I forgive you." At this age, why should I hate somebody and die. How many years do I have more? He came begging and we forgave him; no, with a condition that he has to be careful. If I want to stretch him, I will stretch him to the fullest. The board said, "let's leave him". Shamelessly, he comes around in many board meetings. Someone has asked me why don't we suspend him. I said no. If NFA suspends Dr. Singabele, we won't do that. Not that somebody criticises me and the board members say he should go. Has he been able to prove corruption? So, why should we? He's there. He is receiving the worst punishment, because when he is coming to the office, he says ha! Oga dey office and if they say yes, his heart will melt. That's enough punishment for him; more than enough punishment. You know, the day he does not have the strong heart, he collapses and that is the end. So, leave him, he is receiving his punishment. Is he very free with any of the board members? No, because they look at him as a sell-out. Now that you (Nnaji) have sold out to NFA, what have you gained? Now the board is waxing stronger and stronger, receiving accolades from right, left, centre and back. Will you say you are part of the accolade? He's not! He cannot lay claim to it.
For empty stadia in the beginning of this season crisis broke out. When you say crisis broke out, I have asked questions, time without number, what was the cause? I can't understand. I don't know. I don't know. If you don't like Oyuki Obaseki, that does not mean you should destroy football. If you do, the god of soccer in Nigeria will destroy you.
On empty stadia, we have tried what we can. During our course in England with the English Premier League, they gave us some clues to it; banishing because of riot, yes. Now, tell me, because we banished a club, the very first team that was banished was my club, from Benin to Kaduna. There are so many hazards. My board is considering it. We don't think it is good for the health of the boys. The greater offenders are the supporters and the fans that fight. So, instead of suffering our boys, we are still giving it a thought, that is why you should contribute to it. Let us know what we can do. We are considering the boys playing in an enclosed stadium where the the supporters will be outside and when they hear goal,then one would ask who scored, and the other would answer, how I go know now, no be una fight? You know, we think that punishment should go to them. That is why we are considering that option. We have just amended our rules and regulations. But during the end of this season, we would amend the rules and regulations, call a congress and pass it. My dear, it is because today is the last day of the league that is why I will make my views open. I have never answered questions on these issues partaining the decision of the NFA appeal committee. I was in Ghana when the decision was taken. I have never talked to the press on it. Not that I was afraid, or that their decision was right, no; no. Personally, don't you think football is the one suffering? Kaduna United has just been promoted to the Premier League, then tomorrow, the team fields an unregistered player, what do you want us to do? To refer to the decision of the Appeal Committee (of the NFA) that if someone commits murder and people around arrests the murderer, someone is dead, and before the police comes, would you say that man is no more a murderer? I am asking a question? He has committed murder. Someone fielded a player that was not eligible to play. That is the greatest and worst offence in FIFA and CAF-to field a player that is not registered, and it is in the laws, the Articles are there. Each time the O and D (Organising and Disciplinary Committee) takes a decision, they write it, referring people to the Sections and the Articles. It's there; if you fined a player that is not registered, three goals, three points to the opponent and that rule was applied to the latter. I do not know the rules the Appeals Committee used. I don't know the rules they used, because tomorrow if other clubs come up with it, I don't know if we will refer to that section which is wrong. So, you know, for Nigerians, I am even happy you are asking now after about two, three weeks. Nigerians don't forget things easily. It will come up tomorrow. But at the most appropriate time, I will do so. As at today, I have not received any letter from NFA conveying their decision. I don't know, the ES (Executive Secretary, NFL) is here. Have they written? (The chairman inquired from the ES who replied that the NFA is yet to officially notify the NFL of its decision). I asked some of the clubs involved and they said they had not been communicated, which means that decision cannot stand. It can't stand. When we take a decision to the O and D, the next morning, almost immediately, all the clubs affected get their letter, this is the decision based on this. If you are not satisfied, appeal. But, is it not worse now that they replayed the match and it was still three goals, three points. God is on the throne. So, we have no other comments, we are watching, but at the appropriate time we would talk.
What is the NFL doing to ensure that players and the technical crew of clubsides get their sign-on fees and salaries as at when due? This question becomes necessary because we have seen cases where a team is relegated and their payment becomes history? What is your board doing to also ensure adequate live television coverage of the Nigerian league, since it will go a long way to curb the excesses of referees?
That is a beautiful question. First of all, let me thank you for congratulating us, provided it comes from the bottom of your heart. If you have been following the trend, I have always hammered against it. Footballers are not the bollekaja boys of yesterday. Footballers are superstars of today, why must you owe them, after working for you; after giving you promotion or whatever.
It's wrong. If one is relegated, fine. Maybe, you didn't coach your boys well. Maybe, the coaches are being owed six, seven, eight, nine months. Players are being owed four, five, six, seven months. About twenty, thirty match bonuses have not been paid; you know. Check yourself. Now, that brings us to the question of only government funding football in Nigeria. We have only two, three, four clubs that are owned privately-Bussdor, Gabros, Ranchers, Mighty Jets. I have always told clubs, especially those fighting to go and take a cue from Mighty Jets. The chairman is one of our board members. The club is being run by okada riders (commercial motorcyclists)and taxi drivers. On match day, you meet almost 1,000 okadas being donated to pay salaries of Mighty Jet footballers. They have no allocation from government. They donate every match day; these are supporters. Not supporters that would want you to bring more money to them to go and do charms, or to go and bribe referees. That is not a supporter, that is a worker and that now brings me to the question of consultants. It is only about a week now, got to know they have consultants in clubs; old retired referees and old ex-internationals. They go about canvassing for referees; I was reliably informed that the referee that slumped during that Enyimba-Bayelsa match was requested for by a particular club. This is a man we had since stopped using about two years after his accident. How he came on board is still surprising.
This again brings me to the question of placement of referees. That is what is done all over the world. I have given documentary evidence to the National Assembly on leagues of other countries. The FA according to FIFA, appoint referees, nobody is talking about that. They appoints, they train, they grade, they discipline. Get a list from the pool and say this hundred people are for Premier League; that is what is done before the league starts. It behooves on the league body to have their placement committee.We are all club owners. We know the referees that are thieves. We know them; those that use text...we caught some. So, we cannot place such referees for a match like this (Kano Pillars versus JUTH at the Sani Abacha Stadium) or in Ilorin (a match between Kwara United of Ilorin and Bayelsa United of Yenagoa). We know them. Do you know how much clubs are owing footballers and coaches? About a month ago, N180 million? We have the list and I swear, any club that does not pay every kobo will never be registered (for next soccer season). I am ready to fight. We have taken a decision that clubs will never be registered if they owe. You must not owe anybody. Why must you owe players? Why must it be footballers? And if you go to investigate, one of those governors, last season, told me this is his club. They are owing and I said I will never do certain things. The commissioner was coming everyday, flying, begging. I say never. If you like, you could cry blood. The governor phoned me the first time. I said sorry, Your Excellency, sorry there is nothing I can do. You are a lover of football, if you want football to grow, then go and pay them. The second time, then the third time, the governor phoned me, he said: "Chief please sanction this man. I gave this man six hundred million (naira) for this club. How can he be owing them? Two governors have told me that before. "I gave him three hundred million (naira)," "I gave him two hundred and fifty million (naira). Why should he owe footballers"?
Footballers are no more a question of omo wa ishe o rishe (a Yoruba saying that literarily translates to: Job seeker without job). No. they are superstars. They entertain you. Instead of you to have hypertension, you become very happy; although, your hypertension would be compounded if you lose (general laughter). Yes. You see, they have children, they have wives, they have fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters who they would train; they are training like you and I. Then, why must you owe them. No club will be registered if you owe one kobo. Just wait and see.
For the TV coverage, we thank God we broke through. And we have just started. This man with this pod here now (pointing to a cameraman with TV tripod in the hotel room where this interview held), is going to commence the live telecast by the special grace of God when we start. Our discussion with AIT has reached advanced stage and we are talking about 4-6 matches every week. We are expecting Al-Jezeerah (international satellite TV station). They are beginning to show appreciation and interest for the Nigerian league. So, let the Nigerian press portray us positively so that more people can come, not to kill us. It's wrong. If there is quarrel between NFA/NFL, take sides. Come out with the truth. You are wrong, you are right. Simple! Please it is my appeal today to the Nigerian press, especially the big ones to stop writing nonsense.
How far has the Statute Committee gone with its work? Secondly, there was this issue of going to solicit the assistance of the Inspector General of Police in respect of adequate security for our matches. What was the response in that direction?
The Executive Secretary would have been in a position to answer that. We wrote to the IG seeking for an appointment. We are still waiting for them. The Statute Committee you talked about: This is the Statute of the Nigerian Football League as amended in 2008 (holding up a bind copy of the draft document). I was reading it in the car. This is their final draft. It has been sent to all board members for us to go through. We are holding a board meeting very soon so that we can take a stand.
Then about the IG. Like I rightly said; we are waiting for them to give us a date. The IG's office is such a high place, you cannot just burst in. You know, we have written and we are expecting him to give us an appointment, and the board will go and pay a visit. But, it is a good thing it didn't even happen now. We would have enough time during this break. At least, we have two-three months to go. We are putting so many things in check, so many. We are going to come out in beautiful colours next season, because I have warned; anybody that causes crisis will crash. We are ready for anybody, because we don't go against the law. We work within the law.
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