Former Green Eagles star, Segun Odegbami has urged the Oyo State Government to take over the Liberty Stadium from the Federal government and restore it back to his past glory.Odegbami made this known on Wednesday at the 10th Best Ogedegbe Memorial lecture at the Seminar Hall of Government College, Ibadan. He said: “The advice i […]
via Odegbami Urges Oyo State Government To Take Over Liberty Stadium — finixsportsblog
Former Nigerian international, Segun Odegbami, has protested against the criteria set by the Nigeria Football Federation for nomination of a candidate for FIFA presidential election.
NFF had said that a prospective candidate must obtain endorsements from their state Football Associations, the National Sports Commission and the Confederation of African Football.
But Odegbami in a letter addressed to the federation President, Amaju Pinnick, and copied to Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, the FIFA General Secretary, Jerome Valcke and CAF President, Issa Hayatou, described the endorsements from the NSC and CAF as unnecessary.
Odegbami describes the conditions as odd and a product of a lack of familiarity with the guidelines for the FIFA presidential elections.
“Why will amaju tell me to go and meet amos adamu or issa hayatou for endorsement, amaju does not like my bid or support my bid to become the president of fifa, probably because have played the game before, two weeks after my declaration amaju hasnt called me, I sat down with him and i told him about my plans to run for the fifa presidency, at first he said it was good but later he told me he was going to speak to some other federation heads to support me, i later heard him on tv saying i should go meet some people for endorsement.”
The former Nigerian forward, who scored 23 goals in 46 matches for the national team. On retirement, he has served as an administrator, educator, writer, international media personality and as Sports Ambassador of Nigeria.
The deadline for candidates to formally present their nominations through their home federations, with other supporting documents, is October 26. Candidates will also undergo an integrity test, through FIFA’s ad-hoc election committee.
African ace football legend and one of the greatest Nigerian players of all time, Segun Odegbami, has thrown his hat into the ring to contest for the post of President of FIFA – the international governing body of association football across the world, with election scheduled to take place on the 26th of February, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland.
In a press statement obtained today Segun Odegbami Said “The current scandal at FIFA is the organisation’s worst crisis in its 111 years of existence. Moving forward, FIFA thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport and that of this esteemed international institution with global followership”
The Former Green Eagles Star believes that FIFA must purge itself, launders its image, restores its reputation and reinstates integrity into its activities and operations and that this would require a new form of leadership with a renewed vision.
“Times like this call for all concerned members of the global football family to contribute to the actualization of renewed objectives for FIFA by electing a deserving and qualified person, with the right character that can achieve the desired goals and restore confidence and integrity to the organization and its activities. The world is very interested in who becomes the next President of FIFA, considering the present image and state of this institution and I see myself fitting into this role” he said.
Odegbami Becomes the second Nigeria to Signify interest in the Highest position in World Football Orji Uzor-Kalu, who had earlier signified his intention to run for the post of FIFA President a few weeks ago.
The Highly experienced Sport Administrator and Journalist while acknowledging that it would be a “long and tedious journey” as affirmed that he was willing to travel around the globe to achieve his aim. Odegbami as also conveyed his intention to the Nigeria Football Federation, as required by the electoral guidelines and FIFA Statutes, as well as to the federal government seeking their support.
Pioneer Chairman of the Board of the League Management Company (LMC), Hon. Nduka Irabor was last night honoured as the Sports Personality of the Year at the Excellence Recognition Awards organised by Global Excellence magazine, a leading entertainment and lifestyle publication.
Irabor beat off competition from two former Super Eagles captains, Segun Odegbami and Stephen Keshi who were nominated for the awards. Keshi was the Super Eagles coach to the World Cup in Brazil 2014 and failed to qualify the country for the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
According to the organisers in the citation read before the presentation of the award plaque, “Hon Irabor’s was the overwhelming choice of the award’s panel for his contributions to the reform of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) which has resulted to improved credibility, increased earning for clubs and acceptable results”.
The citation also attributed the successes of the league reforms to the former LMC Chairman’s leadership style which demonstrates a relentless pursuit of excellence that sometimes may not be agreeable to some but always achieving desirable outcome. Irabor’s contributions to Journalism as the pioneer Editor of the Guardian Express and his performance as a spokesperson for the Federal Government were tracked in illustrating his persistent pursuit of excellence.
In his response, Irabor who was represented on the occasion by the LMC Head of Special Projects, Harry Iwuala thanked the organisers for the recognition and attributed the success to the collective effort of the LMC Board.
“I want to first thank the organisers for recognising that there has been reforms which has improved the league. Indeed this award is a testimony to the fact that when you perform well, Nigerians will recognise your effort.
“We worked as a team to make the league what you have come to commend and we are conscious of the fact that it is not yet a finished product. We are proud of what we have done but it is still work in progress. We will continue to give it our best and believe that with the concerted effort of all Nigerians, we will bequeath a viable league that will provide more job opportunities and enhanced living”,
The award was presented by popular actress, Abiola Atanda also known as Madam Kofo and Barrister Tunde Braimah, a former Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos. The ceremony was held at the Balmoral Event Center.
CANDIDATES CLEARED FOR THE NFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTTEE ELECTIONS 2014
The NFF Electoral Committee pursuant to its mandate from the NFF General Assembly has concluded the screening of candidates for the NFF Executive Committee Elections, 2014 and cleared the following persons to contest in the elections:
PRESIDENT
• Ogunjobi Taiwo Joseph (Osun State)
• Yola Abba Abdullahi (Kano State)
• Chief Mike Umeh – (Anambra State)
• Pinnick Amaju Melvin (Delta State)
• Iorfa Mtem Dominic (Benue State)
• Dikko Shehu (Kaduna State)
• Amanze U. Uchegbulam (Imo State)
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
• Inyama Emeka (Abia state)
• Adamu Shehu (Kaduna State)
• Seyi Akinwunmi (Lagos State)
• Suleyman Muazu (Sokoto State)
CHAIRMAN OF CHAIRMEN
• Musa Gusau Ibrahim (Zamfara State)
ORDINARY MEMBERS
North Central Zone
• Agara Silas (Nasarawa State)
• Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande (Plateau State)
• Ahmed Yusuf (Fresh) (Niger State)
• Bewarang Bitrus Yigol (Plateau State)
North East Zone
• Yahuza Adamu Haruna (Bauchi State)
• Abiso Alhaji Bashir (Bornu State)
• Modibbo Hussaini A. (Taraba State)
• Kachalla Baba Gana Kalli (Bornu State)
• Zira Emmanuel Stephen (Adamawa State)
North West Zone
• Sharu Rabiu Inuwa (Kano State)
• Balele Aminu (Katsina State)
• Babangida M. Tukur – (Kano State)
South East Zone
• Agwu Felix Anyasi (Abia State)
• Obikwelu Jude Benjamin Chukwudi (Anambra State)
• Okenwa Chidi Ofo (Enugu State)
• Igbokwe Leonard Ikechukwu (Anambra State)
South-South Zone
• Tenebe Jarrett Celestine (Edo State)
• Green Christopher Tam-Abinye (Rivers State)
• Oswald Atuake (Cross River State)
• Chief Abel Ehigie (Edo State)
• Gospel Ewa (Bayelsa State)
South West Zone
• Adepoju Emmanuel Olaleye (Oyo State)
• Tinubu B. Ayodeji (Lagos State)
• Otunba Sunday Dele Ajayi (Ondo State)
• Majekodunmi G.A. Adesina (Ogun State)
Interested Previously Cleared Candidates
The underlisted candidates were previously cleared to contest in the elections before the re-constitution of the NFF Electoral Committee. In accordance with the further guidelines for the elections these candidates are eligible to participate in the elections on the basis of their previous clearance having fulfilled the condition that they write to indicate their willingness to contest in the elections scheduled for 30th September 2014. They are:
• Ogunjobi Taiwo Joseph
• Chief Mike Umeh
• Amanze U. Uchegbulam
• Inyama Emeka
• Seyi Akinwunmi
• Ahmed Yusuf (Fresh)
• Tinubu B. Ayodeji
• Agwu Felix Anyansi
• Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande
• Adamu Shehu
• Igbokwe Leonard Ikechukwu
• Atuake Oswald
• Kachalla Babagana Kalli
• Sharu Rabiu Inuwa
• Babangida M. Tukur
• Otunba Sunday Dele Ajayi
• Majekodunmi G.A. Adesina
• Chief Abel Ehigie
• Gospel Ewa
• Suleyman Muazu
Disinterested Previously Cleared Candidates
The following persons were previously cleared to participate in the elections but have failed to write to the NFF Electoral Committee to express their willingness to participate in the elections based on their previous clearance and contest for the positions set against their respective names. They are:
• Giwa Christopher Musa – North Central Zone (Plateau State) – President
• Yahaya Adama – North Central (Kogi State) – Ordinary member
• Farouk Yarma Adamu – North East Zone (Gombe State) – Ordinary member
• Shema Mohammed Sani – North East Zone (Yobe State) – Ordinary member
• Chief Obinna J. Ogba – South East Zone (Ebonyi State) – 1st Vice president
• Chief Johnson Etim Effiong – South-South Zone (Akwa Ibom State) – Chairman of Chairmen
• Chief Obuah Felix Amaechi – South-South Zone (Rivers State) – Ordinary member
• Segun Odegbami – South West Zone (Ogun State) – President
NFF Electoral Committee
As the countdown to the final burial of the Late Albert Onyeanwuna gathers momentum, the All Stars International of Lagos will on Sunday, Sept 7, take on the Lagos SWAN Team in a Novelty match in honor of one of Nigeria’s best footballers of all time. The match will hold at the Eagles Club, Surulere, Lagos.
The event has the full backing of the Anambra State Government. The late Onyeanwuna has been variously described by ardent followers of the Nigerian football as the best dribbler of his time from 1950 to mid 60s.
Onyeanwuna died on 22nd April, 2014 in Lagos, aged 78.
The midfielder, who thrilled Nigerian football fans in the 1950s and 1960s, was the then pivot of the senior national team, then known as the `Red Devils’.
He had 26 International caps and was credited with six goals during his time.
The match will see the executive governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, leading the Ex-Internationals such as Segun Odegbami, Henry Nwosu, Friday Elaho, Friday Ekpo and others against the Lagos SWAN Team that has never lost a match in the last one year.
Onyeanwuna was one of the biggest players of his era — a master dribbler; he debuted for the Red Devils on October 30, 1955 against Ghana in the Jalco Cup and played his last game on March 26, 1965 against Morocco in an Olympic Games’ qualifier.
He not only played but scored for Nigeria in the 4th Africa Cup of Nations and Nigeria’s first appearance in 1963. The tournament was hosted by Ghana.
The former Nigeria International will also be honored with another Novelty match in Port Harcourt on Saturday, September 13, 2014.
Onyeanwuna would be buried on September 19, 2014 at his home town Abatete, Anambra State after a Christian funeral service.
Nigeria’s preparations for Mundial 2014 in Brazil peaked on Sunday evening in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, when ex-national team skipper and one of the pillars of the 1980 Nations Cup winning side, Mathematical Segun Odegbami (MON), visited the team’s hotel and later joined the team at its training ground.
Looking trim and boyish in his jeans top and trousers, Odegbami said he was motivated to come and join the team’s training because of the caliber of players and coaching crew that the team parades. He even threatened jokingly at a point while discussing with team skipper, Joseph Yobo and Coach Stephen Keshi, that he would have joined the session but for the lateness of his invitation letter. “That means we will need double ambulances here”, Keshi retorted.
At the end of the nearly two hours of training, he declared thus “I like what I saw at the training ground, the hunger of the boys, the confidence they displayed and the way and manner the coaching crew conducted themselves. Something tells me history is in the making with this team”.
The team had its last training session on Monday evening in the United States and will depart Tuesday morning for Miami, Florida, from where they will connect and American Airways airliner to Samba land Brazil. The flight from Miami to Sao Paulo is scheduled to be eight hours, according to Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor.
Already, the NFF and FIFA have perfected plans to give the team a grand welcome at the airport, including a media press conference and reception by the city authorities in Sao Paulo, before the team will retire to its camp base in Brazil’s bustling commercial capital.
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