We will not Join Issues with People but Will Always Set Record Straight..... NFF Replies Critics Over World Cup Exit

We will not join issues with anybody but we will try and set the records straight always --- NFF By Niyi Busari The leadership of Nigeria football federation has come under serious backlash of late, especially after the Super Eagles failure to advance beyond the group stage of the 2018 world cup in Russia. When this reporter sought the opinion of a top official of the board who prefers to talk on condition of anonymity, he said all that has been said or written against the board in the last one week, are sponsored propagandas aimed at destroying the good work the executive committee has done over the last four years. These criticisms will surely continue but as a federation, we are not ready to join issues with anybody knowing fully well, that all that has been written or said about this board and the leadership are false allegations and blatant fallacies. As a board, our achievements are there to speak for us and we owe the federal government and Nigerians, an apology over the Super Eagles performance in Russia. That apology we have done with sincerity of purpose and with a clean heart full of regrets and disappointments. As a federation, we went to Russia, with the ambition to succeed but like you know, man proposes, God disposes and who are we, to question God's plan for humanity. That does not however mean we have not given it our best shot. For the first time in the history of football management in this country, the Nigeria football federation prosecuted a World Cup campaign without putting the burden of sponsorship on government. We had the private sector completely behind us and we are grateful to all our sponsors for their financial and moral support during our campaign in Russia. Unfortunately, it ended too soon than we envisaged, but we have learnt out lessons and must return to plan. Check out these achievements and tell me if we have done so badly as a board to be bullied by people who had their opportunity before now to right the wrongs in Nigeria football but fell short where it mattered. 1. We succeeded in placing Nigeria football on the continental and World maps, with our landmark achievements in both CAF and FIFA 2. Apart from NFF president Amaju Pinnick becoming a member of CAF executive committee and by the special grace of God, the next CAF Vice president which automatically makes him a member of the FIFA council by September this year, he has succeeded in no small measures in positioning top Nigerian football stakeholders in key positions in the continental body. 3. The current NFF executive committee under Amaju Melvin Pinnick has succeeded in making Nigeria very attractive to the corporate world. In the last four years, we have been able to attract some of the biggest brands from different sectors to invest in football. We have succeeded in creating a lasting and enduring relationship with these companies and we are very confident that in the next few years, Nigeria football will be moving closer to total autonomy from government. 4. We had our setbacks which obviously has to do with our failure to qualify for back to back Nations cups, the Under 17 and Under 20 world cups disappointments too, but we learnt our lessons the hard way and have bounced back in style to make it to the 2018 world cup without losing a single match on the road. 5. We played all the games of the world cup qualifier without any recognised cases of unpaid players bonus and allowances. Same spirit we took to the World cup in Russia, where we got the team fully concentrated all through, as all their monies were paid to date while their share of the FIFA monies were carefully spelt out and will be paid once it becomes available. 6. Almost all National team coaches have been paid their outstanding salaries and allowances while those still being owed, will be paid any moment soon. We are happy as a board, that the players now appreciate the leadership of football in this country and we hope we will have a chance to better our little achievements in the years to come. We have read all the negative stories, especially the one coming from the president general of the Nigeria football supporters club, Rafiu Ladipo. As much as we don't want to join issues with him, we will want Nigerians to know that all that was said, in that interview was borne out of of hatred and mischief. No kobo was paid to the NFF that was meant for the Supporters club. The National assembly might appropriate money for a purpose but not all monies appropriated are released. We know when last we got our quarterly allocation from government but we will not come out and attack the federal government on the pages of newspapers. We have learnt to make do with what we have and move on. Dr Ladipo wanted us to get a few of our sponsors to assist the supporters club to Russia. We assisted them with their fan ID'S and wanted to do more, by getting our sponsors to support the group but as you all know, the group is in total disarray and no sponsor will want to do business with any setup battling with leadership crisis. Ladipo should put his house in order if he wants the NFF to appreciate and recognise them again. 2. We also saw the prediction from primate Ayodele, a man we respect so much. Unfortunately, most of his predictions of late have turned out to be the opposite so, sometimes it is good to just laugh over them as another of his many comic reliefs. 3. There was also a story of the South South members position. As you know, Augustine Okocha the Delta state FA chairman and Emmanuel Ibah of Akwa Ibom state have since denied their involvement in any such meeting, pledging their support for the Amaju Pinnick led executive committee. If these men and other true stakeholders from the South South are saying they were not parties to that secret meeting of mischief makers, then the question one will need to ask is who were those that sighed the communique of this non existent meeting. As a board, we are not distracted by all these stories but we will find time always to advice jobless persons to get themselves busy with better things, instead of spreading unfounded rumours he concluded.