Nigerian Football Federation should stay clear from the victorious Dream Team VI

Successes have lots of friends but failures have enemies and that is the story of Samson Siasia and his Dream team VI. I find it very funny and ridiculous that the NFF is trying to take the glory for the success story of this young lads when we know the role the FA played from inception. The NFF failed to pay these boys their allowances and owed the coaching crew and not minding that, the team still forged on to bring success to the country.I must commend the patriotic spirit of the coaching crew and the team in general.I said it before and I am saying it again, it is high time the NFF books are looked into because they don't function as a business minded organization. The same money they don't have now came out after the team won the trophy and we saw some of the officials flying from Nigeria to Senegal and back to Nigeria again just to join the podium celebration. Questions should be asked and answers provided, what would have been the fate of Siasia if the team failed to win? Will this money be paid if we did not win? How did the NFF get the money so quickly after the noise made by soccer loving Nigerians? Is this process the best practice around the World? What is the assurance that this would not repeat itself again? What happens to other teams that are yet to get their money? What about the coaches being owned? Even though we won the competition we still need the FA to account for their actions because the tax payer needs to know what the money collected by the NFF is used for. Going forward the system needs to be changed and those who failed to perform their jobs professionally be shown the way out as the embarrassment is not right for this country.Therefore someone should tell the NFF to put their house in order and not claim the glory of Samson Siasia and the lads.

Aston Villa downward slide in the Premiership

Aston Villa FC, one of the most respected clubs in the premiership is going through the most difficult season. Even with the appointment of a new coach Remi Garde, the club is yet to find its feet. The fact remains that the management needs to do a lot to keep the club in the premiership at the end of the season. A quality of players being bought and the current  team needs a total change as the fortune of the club has been dwindling for the past 5 seasons. This season they are currently bottom of the log and the loss to Arsenal has put more spanner to the works. It will be a sad story if VILLA PARK fails to host premiership matches next season as the club and management will loose a lot both on and off the pitch.

Michel Platini dreams of becoming FIFA President dashed by CAS

The dream of suspended UEFA president Michel Platini of becoming the next FIFA president has been dashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). With the decision of CAS, this has finally put to rest the eligibility of Michel Platini. This is another chapter in the sad story of football officials that are directly or indirectly linked to the FIFA drama. It is my believe that many lessons will be learnt from this as justice must always prevail. For Michel Platini, this is a time for him to reflect on all his actions and dealings in both UEFA and FIFA.

Nigerian Football Federation and failed commitments

Money has always being the main reason why problems persist in our football. The Nigerian Football Federation has failed to meet up with its obligation as regards payment and settlements of debts for work done. The current situation in which our players and coaches are being owned salaries and allowance is a sad one. Just recently the NFF board took his members for a training and workshop in the United Kingdom and we all know that lots of money would have being spent with some members enjoying fat allowances. What is quite shameful is that some of our coaches are being owed for months and even years and nothing is said or done about it. I hope the NFF board knows that the players and coaches do have families to take care of. The question one needs to ask is this is the NFF broke? was there no allocation for players and coaches wages? where are the grants and other income coming in from CAF and FIFA? I think it is his time the NFF books are audited and checked by reputable audit firms and forensic experts and if need be invite the EFCC. What the NFF should be thinking of is how to depart from their old ways they are used to and embrace change because a worker deserves his wages. I am of the opinion that the coaches and players association should unite to fight this injustice. The NFF cannot continue to run our football without following laid down policies and procedures as football is a global brand. With all these issues I don't think the private sector or any would be investor will be willing and ready to do business with the NFF. Accountability should be the watchword and going forward the current board must be made to fall in line,enough of sentiments and lets face reality.

English Premier League Clubs and the Champions League

Looking at the performance of the English club in the Champions League this season, a lot is still desired. The round of sixteen might be a tough not to crack as bookmakers favourite still remains the Spanish and German clubs. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City  will know who their next opponents is by 14^th of December 2015 and even though the clubs are not favourite, no one should rule them out as the coaches in question for the clubs Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini are all experienced coach who on a good day can all spring surprises. Even though Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich remains the bookmaker’s favourites, no one should rule out the English clubs

Tax Issues involving Barcelona Players

Lionel Messi, Neymar da Silva Santos and now Javier Mascherano are some of Barcelona players that have Tax related issues. The image of Barcelona FC as a club is in doubt as football followers feels there is more than meets the eyes. Recently the club was given a provisional suspension for signing under aged players and this affected their transfer signing over the summer as player signed Arda Turan can only feature from the next transfer window. All these point to the fact that Barcelona has questions to answer. Even though Barcelona is doing well on the field, but off the pitch a lot of controversies rocks the club. There is the need for the football body to place a searchlight on the club as the club need to go through the integrity test for we sports fans to see or feel there is no cover up in the actions of the club.

School Sports Development and catch them young Program

There was a time in this country where school sports was the driving force in grassroots development for our sports. Every school invested in sports development with inter and intra sports competitions being organized .The private sector were fully involved and the result was champions bring groomed and made that helped to define our nation’s sports. Over the years this aspect of our sports development have been neglected and the result is the fall in standards and our inability to participate in international competitions effectively. Our school fields and compounds have been converted to other structures and functions. Many schools don’t partake in inter house sports activities with the excuse of trying to meet up with the school curriculum calendar. The government has majority of the blame as these schools under their initial owners the missionaries always gave school sports a priority. Also Educational inspectors don’t consider the facilities intending schools applying for government licence do possess and plans they have for school sports before licence is granted. In the western world a child’s talent is discovered from home and nurtured to fruition through school sport and that is why they are champions. For the country to bring back its lost glory, we need to re-visit school sports and we must inculcate the school sports into the educational curriculum of our children.