This Day (Lagos)
2 November 2009
Lagos — The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday expressed utter shock at what it described as derogatory comments made by former player Adokiye Amiesimaka about the Nigeria U-17 team currently campaigning in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009.
"It is a shame that people can take personal hatred and vendetta to the level that Amiesimaka has taken his own. We are shocked by his statements, particularly coming from a former international player, but we remain resolute and committed to lifting the image of Nigeria through football and refuse to be ruffled by such unpatriotic comments", said Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.
Amadu was referring to Amiesimaka's column in a national newspaper on Sunday, in which the former Green Eagles' winger made sarcastic comments on the present Nigeria U-17 team.
"At a time that all Nigerians are happy at the team that we have put forward despite the odds, and the team's performance is making many people to talk about the strength and savvy of Nigeria football once again, the 'destroy-them-by-all-means' attitude of the likes of Amiesimaka is very strange.
"We are not claiming to be perfect, as that is a virtue that belongs to only the Almighty God. But Nigerians are aware of the efforts we made to ensure that we put forward a genuine team.
"The team underwent MRI scans at the National Hospital in Abuja and at the world -famous Aspire Academy in Qatar, and is still being subjected to the scans at the on -going competition. But simply because he wants to destroy, Amiesimaka has gone out to invent.
"We are not bothered. It is left for Nigerians to judge these kind of statements coming in the middle of a World Cup. We are only stunned that there are Nigerians who so passionately hate their own country, simply because they are not at the helm", said Barrister Amadu.
Amadu concluded: "We should learn to celebrate excellence some of the time, not trying to bring down other people all the time. Has Amiesimaka being obsessed with so much hatred for our successful players because he never played in the World Cup? It is possible".
Former Green Eagles winger Adokiye Amiesimaka had claimed that Golden Eaglets captain Fortune Chukwudi is at least nine years older than he says he is. Writing in his column for national daily, The Punch, Amiesimaka claims that Chukwudi played for his Sharks youth team as far back as 2002/2003 football season.
"In the 2002/2003, I was chairman of the Sharks of Port Harcourt," Amiesimaka wrote. "I decided to have a feeder team of fresh school leavers not older than 20 years. "As the feeder team concept was relatively new and because I had my own ideas about how a team at that level should be handled, I also doubled as its coach. "One of my key players then is the current captain of our so-called Under 17 team.
"By his own admission at that time, that is seven years ago, he was 18 years old. MRI test or not his football history is common knowledge.
"If we are not utterly irresponsible, how can he be eligible for this tournament when he is not less than 25 years old now?" Amiesimaka claimed in the column.
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