NFF Elections: Ayodeji Adegbenro Optimistic To Become Board Member

A sport Administrator and LaLiga’s Communications Coordinator in Nigeria,  Ayodeji Adegbenro who is running to get on board as a member of Nigeria Football Federation for the Southwest along side other three contestants namely Ochiagha Emmanuel, Olajengbesi Yinka, and Emeka Inyama vying in  for Board membership of their respective zones on board of Nigeria Football Federation election forthcoming in the Benin city discussed on 

what He was planning to do if elected. When asked what gave him confidence and how easy it will be contesting with those who have been there for a very long time He said

"Well, it's not going to be easy, but it's not impossible, really, we cannot, continue to do things this way, the same way you do things over and over again, the same way you expect a different result, it is called insanity and football is at the lowest level ever, and we need a change. We need a total transformation. We need to start overhaul. 

We need infusion of fresh ideas. We need to start doing things the right with the proper way. This is why I'm running together on the NFF. This is what I believe I can bring on board. If elected on the board of Nigerian football Federation, 

Then talking about what he would bring onboard and exactly what his agendas are, said, fresh ideas, is what we need right now, we can't continue that way. We need to do things differently. 

We need to conform to global best practices. This is 2022. We should not be doing things the way it was done in 1984. You understand, we, we need to change this right now. What we do is, we pay too much attention to the top,Super Eagle, super Falcon, that is, the peak of our football, but you cannot build a house from the roof. You have to start from foundation.

 So, we need to start from grassroots, age grade football, our local leagues. We need to pay attention to coaching education that is very important. The coaches that will coach the people at the grassroot, you cannot give what you don't have. We've not had Calf coaching course in Nigeria for like five, six years now these are adnormally, should not be happening. I mean, in the last year or two Nigerian coaches going to countries like Ghana Namibia to go to get you and licenses, why are we not having calf courses in Nigeria anymore? These are questions which we should ask ourselves. So the plan for me is to come up with policy, create policies that will enable development of football from the ground up. 

When confronted with why he was starting from the top and not from being a chairman in his state? He laughed and said, "well, interesting question. Really, if he is to start from the top, it will be from, the position of the NFF president. And he is starting from just a board member and that they have earlier held FA election this year or last year and there will be no election in his state there for another three years or thereabout. So where he was starting from is fine, "I mean, where you can consider my level of experience and expertise. So where I'm starting from, I think is fair enough". 

He was moreso asked what his answer would be to how is going to play through the main Politics of NFF which is almost like a Cabal for him , if he ready to push this election all through or will he get to a stage where he will now withdraw? 

 Definitely, not at all, whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well, I don't live in Abuja, I live in lagos, I flew from Lagos to Abuja to pick the form and I had also flown from Lagos to Abuja to submit the form, to attend the screening. So why would I withdraw?

 I am not going to do that. We'll see this to the end. And I believe that, victory is very possible. 

That will definitely happen. Yes. 

And I would like to have your reaction if you win, what would be your reaction? And if you lose what would your reaction be?  

if I win, I hope I do, it's work for me. It's not glamor, It is about rolling up my sleeves, getting in the mud, putting in the work and try to develop and improve Nigerian football. If I don't get on board, I mean, right now I am a sports administrator, for probably almost 20 years. I will still continue to do what I do in my little corner towards the development of Nigerian football.  

So for me, this is not do or die.

Mr. Adegbenro purchased his form on Tuesday in Abuja at the electoral committee’s secretariat.

Recall that submission of form closes on Thursday 8th and the screening of the candidates is fixed for Friday, 9th and Saturday, 10th September with the shortlist of successful candidates to be announced on the 12th by the electoral committee.

However, the NFF polls committee also made petitions against the procedure, and the window to file petitions was slated for Monday, 12th September and Thursday, 15th September.

The hearing of the appeals is fixed for Friday, 16th and Saturday, 17th September at noon daily.

The final list of the successful candidates will then be released on Monday, 19th September, with the campaigns of the successful candidates to commence on Tuesday, 20th September and end by midnight on Thursday, 29th September 2022 ahead of the elections billed for 30th September.