The Falconets who returned
from Germany where they
were engaged in the
expedition to honour Nigeria
at the FIFA Under-20
Women’s World Cup arrived
to the end of a rough deal
yesterday night at the
Presidential Villa where all
they got for their efforts in
reaching the final was a
promise of scholarship.
Received, with a sumptuous
late dinner, by the First Lady
of the country, Her
Excellency Dame Patience
Goodluck Jonathan, the girls
were looking askance as they
found out all they were going
to get was scholarship to the
university level, which many
of them do not know if they
were going to be able to make
use of.
Expecting the occasion to be
the night to herald an arrival
of sorts for them, the girls
seem lost in thought when the
question of happiness was
thrown at them last night
after the dining had ended.
Every one of them talked to
asked for anonymity, and
none had a pleasant word for
the Federal Government; one
said: “Must it be the wife of
the president to receive us
because we are females? I’m
sure if the Super Eagles had
got to the semi-final of the
World Cup in South Africa,
they would have been met by
the president.”
Another asked: “Are you sure
this is the end of it? Are they
saying I should put my
training aside now and
concentrate on gaining
admission to school. Didn’t
anybody tell them that to
even continue in this game
after attaining this level
that we need money to buy
our equipments?“
Rather than address the
welfare of the girls post
their near complete success
after the World Cup, the
Nigeria Football Federation
was busy with the political
side of the game with the
NFF Acting President, Alhaji
Aminu Maigari using the
whole night to put the lie on
reports that the Federal
Government and the National
Sports Commission were
interfering with the day-to-
day management and
administration of football in
the country.
Speaking at the reception
organised for the Falconet at
the Presidential Villa Abuja,
Tuesday night by the First
Lady Her Excellency Dame
Patience Goodluck Jonathan,
Maigari said the present
administration at the NFF
has been receiving
tremendous support from the
Government and has nothing
to complain about. The
Nigerian team won the silver
medal at the just concluded
FIFA U-20 World Cup. They
lost 2-0 to host Germany in
the final.
Maigari said of his non-
interference campaign:
‘‘Contrary to assertions and
impression in some quarters,
the Government has not been
meddling in the day-to-day
running of Nigeria football.
Instead, what we have been
receiving is support, co-
operation and valuable
advice where necessary. We
wish to assure the
Government that we have
nothing to complain about.
We are in close collaboration
with Government on all
matters and this is good for
the overall benefit of the
game.’’
Maigari went on o commend
the First Lady for her
support, which he said had
helped the team in so many
ways to become the first
Africa team to play in the
final of a FIFA organized
football championship. The
NFF president also commend
Her Excellency, Hajiya Amina
Sambo, wife of the Vice
President and the
Honourable Minister/
Chairman, National Sports
Commission, Hon. Ibrahim Isa
Bio
‘‘The Honourable Minister
deserves plaudits for the
way he has brilliantly
overseen the sports terrain
since coming into office. We
commend him for this
constant support and
understanding. We equally
praise the efforts of the
Director General, NSC, Chief
Patrick Ekeji and Director of
the NSC toward development
of football in Nigeria.’’
Conclude Maigari
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To me, this is 50% ok!
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