Sports

NFF Have Wasted Our Five Years In Football-Senator Kalu

Published

3 years ago

November 19, 2021

Ibrahim Lawal

Africa’s Pillar of Sports and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu has called on the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick to wake up and replace Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr,

Senator Karim Benzema hopes he will win the Ballon d’Or when the award is handed out on November 29th.

Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, and Jorginho are just some of the frontrunners for world football’s most prestigious individual award, but the Real Madrid forward also has a good chance of winning the trophy for the first time in his career.

Last year he was the second-highest scorer in La Liga. Benzema scored 30 goals for the club last season, his joint-highest haul, and has 293 goals for the side since his arrival in 2009

Orji said that the last five years under Rohr as Eagles coach have been wasted as far as football in the country is concerned.

Kalu wondered how under Rohr the team that parade stars and talented players are struggling to qualify for Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup competitions.

“In the last five years, we have wasted our time in football. There is nothing new we are doing any longer. To see a country with many professional players home and abroad struggling to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup is heart-breaking.”

He said Gernot Rohr is not a good coach adding that he rejected the German when he applied to be Enyimba FC of Aba coach while he, Kalu was Governor.

“Gernot Rohr is not a good coach and I don’t understand why he is still managing Super Eagles.

“When I Was Governor, he applied to become employed as Enyimba coach. He was brought to Nigeria by Oscar Udoji but I refused to employ him.

“I am calling on the Chairman of NFF, Mr Amaju Pinnick to wake up and to quickly find a replacement for Rohr,” he continued.

Kalu who under his stewardship as Abia State Governor, Enyimba International FC won back-to-back the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004; said Nigerians have the capacity to make themselves proud and blamed Rohr for not doing anything new with the team since 2016.

The report emerged Wednesday morning that Gernot Rohr, 68, was sacked by the NFF but the spokesperson of the federation, Ademola Olajire denied the story claiming that he was not aware of the reported sack.

Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday qualified for the World Cup play-off where they will likely come against Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, DR Congo, or Mali.

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Sports

Speaker House Reps, Abbas, Others Thumbs NFF President Over NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches

Published

6 hours ago

March 19, 2025

The Gleamer

…Says It Will Boost Nigeria’s Economy

By Joel Ajayi

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for initiating the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches, describing it as a transformational project that will boost Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Speaker Abbas praised the initiative and pledged the National Assembly’s full support.

“This is a noble project, and the National Assembly will give it full support. I congratulate the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, and I thank FIFA for agreeing to fund this project,” he stated while cutting the ceremonial tape.

He also assured the House of Representatives’ support for the visionary leadership of Engineer Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the NFF in other key areas where assistance is required.

Leading the FIFA delegation, Gelson Fernandes (Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer/Regional Director, Africa) reiterated FIFA’s commitment to funding the project, emphasizing that infrastructure development has been a priority since the tenure of President Gianni Infantino began.

Expressing his excitement, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated that the hostel and training pitches will serve all Nigerian national teams, leagues, and academies.

“Indeed, my joy knows no bounds. From the day my Executive Committee and I were sworn into office in Benin City on Friday, 30th September 2022, I was determined to push this project forward as a legacy for Nigerian football.
“For sustained success, we must provide a conducive environment, infrastructure, equipment, and support systems that enable players and officials to perform at their best.

“Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management but also reduce costs, allowing us to invest more in grassroots development programs.”
Several dignitaries present at the event applauded Gusau’s leadership, determination, and commitment to football development in Nigeria.

The event was well attended by local and international stakeholders, including sports enthusiasts, who witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches.

In addition to the hostel, the project includes:Two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass). Reconstruction of the existing synthetic pitch.

Also, Spectators’ sitting terraces with 1,838 seats.Two dressing rooms for players, each accommodating 27 players.Two dressing rooms for officials.

The construction is expected to last 24 months and is fully funded by FIFA under its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme.

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