By Victor Okoye
Veteran sports journalist Desmond Ekwueme was spot on in this well crafted piece (attached)
Abuja, March 20, 2024 – Apathy, treachery,Weaponized hunger, greed, selfishness and destructive tendencies to hijack a vision that is not theirs is basically why Ex-Internationals and retired footballers are not in control and command of Nigeria football today.
Some have already signed off their lives for crumbs as perpetual agents of fragmenting the players union in Nigeria, why would any sane man take pleasure in destroying his own house?
The Players union is one in every football playing nation in the world,Nigeria cannot be different.
Imagine a united house with one vision, one voice and a common purse? No Nigerian Ex-International player remembers the players union at the peak of their careers. They only fall back to the union after several years of retirement with nothing to offer.
Sadly even in the face of the current fierce legal battle to restore the dignity and constitutional rights of Ex-Internationals and retired footballers led by the Jallas, Baribotes, Edema Fuludu and others, majority of the beneficiaries are still standing aloof and indifferent, no support , no appreciation. What a professional group!
*Desmond Ekwueme’s piece reproduced by Harrison Jalla.
Indigenous Coach for Super Eagles…
EX-INTERNATIONALS ARE THE ENEMY WITHIN
There’s an adage that says, if there is no crack on the wall, the lizards cannot take refuge in there.
There’s another adage that says, “If the wall didn’t collapse, the goat cannot boast to have climbed it…or to be able to climb it.
In other words, if there is no bickering or quarrel in a home, the enemy cannot strike to tear the marriage or home apart.
The ex-internationals are the real reason why the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) keeps ignoring them and other indigenous coaches to hire foreign coaches. They’re the reason why they’re been rubbished as cheap job seekers and idlers or hangers on seeking for help from the Federation so called big wigs
The ex-internationals are not united. So they cannot fight a common battle that concerns and affects them all. There’s a saying that, United we stand but divided we fall.
The ex-internationals are neglected and belittled by the NFF because they (ex-internationals) are divided. They work against themselves. A single stick of broom cannot sweep unless, it comes together with others to form a bunch.
They witch-hunt themselves. They betray themselves. They act treacherously against themselves. They backstab themselves. They speak ill of themselves. They secretly go after each others job by condemning the works of the person already on the job.
They scheme to replace their colleagues picking holes in his job. Those of them who are not coaches but are influential are even worst. They use their influence on politicians to discredit their colleagues and ensure they’re kicked out of their jobs.
This is why it is difficult for an ex-international to become the NFF President or even get into the board of the Federation. The highest and best position for the ex-internationals is a seat in the inconsequential technical committee always chaired by people who didn’t kick an orange all their lives let alone kick a football.
So for how long will this malady continue? In other climes, ex-internationals are taking leadership roles and positions to direct and manage the football affairs of their respective nations.
Just nearby Cameroun, Samuel Eto’O against all odds is doing his bits to return his country’s football to where it was years ago. Didier Drogba is attempting to do the same in Cote d’Ivoire. Kalusha Bwalya did his bits with Zambia.
But the story is different here. Our ex-internationals deliberately out of envy relegated themselves to the background and turned themselves to ball boys in a Federation and sport they helped build and brought honour and fame to.
The Super Eagles coaching job has been declared vacant and advertised. Applications are requested. Rather than come together and come up with a statement throwing their weights and support around one of their own in this situation and process, they continued where they stopped. They have started selling themselves out and cheap.
They’re selling themselves out to people who take delight in their disunity…knowing that such situation favours them and their continuous dominance and control of the nation’s Football House.
This bickering and internal wrangling among ex-internationals won’t lead anywhere. It is an I’ll wind that blows no good. The bickerings most times are sponsored by those who see the control and leadership of the Federation as their birthright.
They’re politicians or stooges of high profile politicians. Persons who have nothing to do or offer their states or even local government but are handed the plum job of running Nigeria Football.
If these people meant well for football development why is it impossible for them to start by owing and running grassroots football clubs or Academies. Without offering anything to the sport by way of playing the game or running a club, they just ride on the crest of powerful politicians to land the job of managing Nigeria Football.
Of course, the ex-internationals many of whom don’t even know their left from their right aid them to achieve their selfish interests which have taken Nigeria Football back to the stone age.
The ex-internationals don’t know they’re brands in their respective rights who should use their influence, goodwill and image to fetch the nation more honours and glories in a sport that brought them so much honour.
They should stop this internal wrangling and do the needful. Rally round one of you. Support him wholeheartedly. Don’t work behind against him. Don’t pull him down. Don’t backstab him.
His access should be a collective one. The success of Morocco’s coach to Qatar 2022 World Cup rubbed off on all indigenous coaches in Africa. When Late Stephen Keshi won South Africa 2013 AFCON, he brought honour to you all…talking about ex-internationals and indigenous coaches.
When Keshi was in South Africa with his team, some of his colleagues were the ones working with his employers and pushing for him to be sacked and for a replacement to be name while the AFCON tournament was on.
As we speak even the Players Union has been entangled a cold war over the years. Each step taken to make peace has hit a brick wall. Even the peace that once reigned few years ago was too fragile to keep the union sailing smoothly.
Stop the bickering. Stop the beefing. Stop the backstabbing. Come together for the good of the sport and you all.
Enough said!!!
© DESMOND EKWUEME
