Featured

Stay Clear Of NFF Job If…, Gara-Gombe Warns FCAAN President

Published

5 years ago

January 17, 2021

Joel Ajayi

Founder and President of Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN), Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje has been warned to stay clear of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) job if he wants his integrity intact.

The former chairman of Gombe Football Association (FA), Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, gave the advice in a chat with LEADERSHIP Sports, saying the USA based Dr. Eguaoje, who have conducted several FIFA, UEFA and CAF sanctioned coaching courses in US, Africa, and part of the world, would be messed up should he accepts an offer from NFF to serve as their consultant for coaches.

The former scribe of the defunct Nigerian Football Stakeholders Forum (NFSF), questioned the genuineness of NFF in engage FCAAN president after signed MOU with a football coaching clinic organization, Berackiah/ABIGOL Grassroots Coaching Clinic to help develop the skills of coaches in Nigeria’s Nationwide League One (NLO).

According to him, I’ve known the president of FCAAN, Dr. Terry Eguaoje, based in the United State, for some time now and he has been conducting coaching courses and programs approved by FIFA, UEFA, and CAF for the United State Soccer Federation and other Federations across the world.

I understand, he has conducted over 700 coaching courses in the last seven years and NFF wants to bring him as consultant coaches. But my advice for Dr. Terry is that he should not take that job. They would mess him up,” Gara-Gombe warned.

“If the founder of FCAAN, the Football Coaches Association of African Nations is coming to Nigeria to conduct Coaching courses for coaches, then, why is Berackiah going around to do the same thing. Which direction, syllabus, program certificate will be produced by Bereckiah, and will FIFA, UEFA, or CAF sanction the certificates?

“The whole thing looks clumsy because the leadership of the Nigerian Football Coaches Association (NFCA) doesn’t know their right and responsibility. NFCA is an affiliate of NFF and a member of the congress. It is supposed to be a strong voice in Nigeria’s football, but when you have a stooge as a president of the association, what do you expect, nothing. If the leader of an association is not performing how then do you expect him or her to encourage others to do well. Leadership is the barometer that every other member of the organization to follow.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

Share on Facebook