Green, Okocha, Sofoluwe, Others…Of To London For Capacity Building Program

The drive by the current board of the NFF to improve the beautiful game in Nigeria especially in aspect of helping National team coaches with backroom analysis, match preparation and match reading was stepped up today when a group made up largely of former footballers, coaches and some administrators departed for London from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Monday for a two-week capacity building program in the UK.

The two–week capacity building exercise, put together by the Nigeria Football Federation, and powered by the Taleveras Foundation is a welcome development as this is one area where most Nigerian national teams could do with some help.

on hand to see the group off was NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, NFF first vice president Seyi akinwunmi and the Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi of the Taleveras Foundation whose company has been bankrolling most of the “capacity building programs” of the Pinnick led NFF board so far.

NFF Sends team off To London For Capacity Building Programme

The group led by NFF board member Chris Green is made up of the following Nigerian football personalities:

Ahmed Yaro-Yaro, Ann Chiejine, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Dahiru Sadi, David Ngodigha, Edema Fuludu, Florence Omagbemi, Garba Lawal, Idris Musa, Isah Ladan Bosso, John Obuh, Nasiru Jibril, Nwankwo Kanu, Salisu Yusuf, Shaibu Amodu, Siji Lagunju, and Yisa Sofoluwe.

The objective of the exercise is to enable the persons selected to return to Nigeria empowered with the right technical tool with which to provide effective backroom support to the technical crew of Nigeria’s National Teams, as at when required.

Green leads Amodu, Okocha, Kanu, 15 Others To London For Capacity Building Programme

Member of the NFF Executive Committee and former chairman of the Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green is at the head of a 19–man contingent traveling to the United Kingdom on Monday for a two–week capacity building exercise, at the instance of Nigeria Football Federation,

Concerned about the need to develop qualified persons in the country to help coaches of the National Teams in the areas of match reading, match preparation and backroom analysis, the NFF sought sponsorship from Taleveras Foundation to enhance the capacity of these persons through a special programme. Taleveras Foundation was only too happy to be part of a move in support of Nigeria’s football development.

Barr. Chris Green

The objective of the exercise is to enable the persons selected to return to Nigeria empowered with the right technical tool with which to provide effective backroom support to the technical crew of Nigeria’s National Teams, as and when required.

NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick and the Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi will be at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Monday to see the delegation off to England.

The exercise is with the full support and effort of The Football Association, the Professional Football Coaches Association led by Dave Richardson, the League Managers’ Association led by Graham Mackrel, and Full-time Marketing and Logistics represented by Danny Stones.

Also on the trip are former National Team Head Coach Shaibu Amodu and former Super Eagles’ captains Austin Jay-Jay Okocha (new chairman of Delta State Football Association), Nwankwo Kanu and Garba Lawal.

There are also respected former internationals Yisa Sofoluwe, David Ngodigha, Edema Fuludu, Dahiru Sadi, Siji Lagunju and Nasiru Jibril.

Former U-20 National Team Head Coach, Isah Ladan Bosso, former Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach Salisu Yusuf, former U-17 and U-20 Head Coach Sam John Obuh and former Super Falcons’ captains Florence Omagbemi and Ann Chiejine are also included. Coaches Ahmed Yaro-Yaro and Idris Musa also make the list.

The group will be based at Champneys, Leicestershire on arrival, and on Tuesday will listen to ‘Preparation on Scouting’ by former Everton FC player Ian Atkins, now Chief Scout at the Goodison Park, and another paper by former Wolves manager John Ward, before departing for Villa Park to watch the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Brom. A full time analysis and de-briefing on the match will be led by John Ward later on Tuesday night.

Okocha, Kanu, Amodu, Others Off To London As Taleveras Redeems Pledge

The trip of the first batch of highly–qualified Nigerians for match reading and backroom analysis technique programme in the United Kingdom is assured, as sponsors Taleveras Foundation on Monday released the cheque for the amount of money to cover the trip and the programme.

Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi said on Monday in Abuja that his organization was extremely proud to be involved in a process meant to facilitate the rapid development of Nigeria football.

“We are doing this based on our belief that the potential is there for Nigeria football to be much better than what it is now, and everyone who has something to offer should come forward and be counted.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick (third from left) in handshake with Taleveras Foundation CEO, Igho Sanomi (third from right). High Chief Emeka Inyama (second from left) and Barrister Amadu (left) and others officials of Taleveras join them.

“Taleveras Foundation is excited to be involved in this programme that will see the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Jay –Jay Okocha, Coach Amodu Shaibu, Garba Lawal and Florence Omagbemi improved themselves in order to be able to deliver positive impact on Nigeria football in the very near future.”

NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, just back from CAF duties at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, praised Taleveras Foundation for the organisation’s professionalism, integrity and keen interest in the development of football in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“I was at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, but I was not happy that the Super Eagles were not there to defend their title. The capacity building programme in the United Kingdom is one of the plans the present NFF Executive Committee has in place to reposition Nigeria football.

“For me, and other members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, Nigeria must never again fail to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“I like to commend Taleveras Foundation for redeeming their pledge. I have been reliably informed that most of the persons listed for the trip have already secured entry visas into United Kingdom.”

Officials reliably informed that the first batch will depart Nigeria for the United Kingdom on 25th February. Among those listed are former National Team Captains Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal and Yisa Sofoluwe, Coaches Amodu Shaibu, Sam John Obuh, Isa Ladan Bosso, Salisu Yusuf and Kelechi Emeteole, Edema Fuludu, Paul Aigbogun, Dahiru Sadi, Ann Chiejine, Siji Lagunju, David Ngodigha, Florence Omagbemi and Garba Musa.

Shehu Dikko Sponsors 7th Veterans Cup

Shehu Dikko will sponsor the 7th Veterans Cup for the country’s top former internationals in Kaduna from Thursday.

A total prize money of a million Naira will be up for grabs when former internationals like Garba Lawal, Henry Nwosu, Taju Disu, Friday Elahor, Friday Ekpo, Taiwo Oloyede, Patrick Pascal and Edema Fuludu lace their boots again and try to roll back their glory days on the pitch.

All the expenses of the teams will also be borne by the sponsor.

A total of eight All-Star teams will feature in the tournament, which will be staged at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and end on Saturday.

They are defending champions Bauchi, hosts Kaduna, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abuja, Kano and Gombe.

The teams are drawn into two groups with matches to be played on a league basis and the top two from each group to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition.

SHEHU DIKKO

“We wish to use this tournament to reunite our past heroes and also find other ways of giving them hope and empowering them,” said Shehu Dikko.

The draw and gala dinner will take place on Wednesday with another dinner on Saturday night.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola bankrolled the first three Veterans Cup, while the fourth and fifth editions in Abuja were co-sponsored by Shehu Dikko.

The sixth tournament was sponsored by the Kano State Government last year.

Keshi: I Have Free Hand To Pick WC Team…As Maigari Focuses On Excellent Outing

As the football world eager awaits the meeting between the Nigeria Football Federation NFF Technical Sub-Committee and Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Tuesday in Abuja, the coach has disclaimed reports that he was being arm-twisted to included some players in his squad to Mundial 2014 in Brazil.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes Keshi as saying that he has a free hand to select the best players for the World Cup from the NFF, even as he was not averse to taking advise from well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition. “The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of well-meaning Nigerians, but to be honest to Nigerians nobody in the NFF has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the Head Coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of interest”, Keshi declared.

The media has been awash with reports credited to ex-NNB and Super Eagles midfielder, Edema Fuludu, that Keshi was under great pressure to include certain players. “All Nigerians are entitled to suggest whoever they think should be in the team but all of them must also respect the fact that I and my assistants have the final say and we will not fail Nigerians in this onerous duty”, Keshi added.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who said he has also been inundated with such reports, said he as a former footballer and now an administrator of the game will never force any player on any coach, let alone an experienced and tested coach like Keshi. “The focus as I always say should be on a good outing in Brazil not needless controversy that people generate to make name on behalf of other innocent Nigerians, especially those of us at the NFF.

“We talk with Keshi everyday and he is happy with the support he is getting from us and I have told him that if and when he needs any tool that will make him do well in Brazil, he should not hesitate to tell us and we will provide, so why should people delight in causing controversy. I think enough is enough and it’s about time we come together as a nation to focus on the World Cup in Brazil”.