(http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pius-Ayinor.jpg)Every time members of the Nigeria Football Federation react to comments made by well-meaning Nigerians, I always wonder if they actually realise they are public office holders. All they want to hear is that everything is fine with the game in the country.
If they don't understand what it means to hold public trust or to react to comments and manage the country's football system, we shall continue to educate them on the pages of newspapers free-of-charge until they learn.
I felt bad listening to the chairman of the FA Technical Committee, Mr. Chris Green, heap insults on Adokiye Amiesimaka last week, just because the latter dared to say that employing the new technical director for the national football team,Tom Saintfiet, was a waste of taxpayers' money.
The fact that some of us did not complain about the appointment of the Belgian does not mean that all of us approve of the choice. Personally, I don't think he is fit for the position.
I don't believe Saintfiet is the right candidate for that job. He lacks the necessary experience and exposure for such an important position.
Some of us have decided to give the man and those who employed him the benefit of the doubt. But our silence on the matter should not be taken for acquiescence.
Come to think of it, is Saintfiet really qualified for the job? Must we employ a foreigner just for the sake of it? Adokiye once led the fight against using over-aged players for our age-grade teams and he was vilified. But today the same federation has accepted that fact and it is preaching it to the coaches.
I expected the NFF to take that particular comment, and many others, in its stride, not rain abuses on other people whenever they disagree with their decisions.
Some time ago, Chief Segun Odegbami made a comment and the NFF reacted by abusing him and describing his football career as rubbish. He was derided for not playing in any league in Europe. Then the body said Nigeria could not qualify for the World Cup until 1994 because Odegbami was not a good footballer.
Is that the same way as saying that Austin Jay Jay Okocha was never voted the African Footballer of the Year because he could not play well? Does it mean that everyone that won that award on the continent would stand ahead of Okocha when the best footballers from the continent are listed?
I have never imagined that every ex player can be a good coach or football administrator. I have written on that and berated the group of ex footballers clamouring to lead the NFF just because they played the game.
Green's argument that the likes of Joao Havalange and Issah Hayatou never played meaningful soccer cannot be applied to everything. Retired footballers may not be the best administrators, but when it comes to matters of team tactics, commentary, and players, they are in the best position to speak.
When the Super Eagles were about to meet their Guinean opponents in the 2012 Nations Cup qualifying match in Abuja last year, a vice-president of the federation was quoted as saying that the Eagles would beat the Guineans silly. He was neither the coach nor one of the players, yet he was quick to conclude that the Eagles would beat Guinea. In the end, we left the stadium almost in tears, while the visiting Guineans celebrated.
It is not as if the current board of the NFF has not made progress in any area, but while they are eager to enjoy accolades, they should be able to absorb criticisms, too.
Those of us who write articles in newspapers or comment on the television can never enjoy full support. Every week, people say it to your face that you have written rubbish but you just have to take it in your stride and move on because you are in the public domain.
The FA managed settle the issue of match bonuses and allowances for the players and it was given credit for that. But, if a country that was once rated the fifth best in the world suddenly fails to qualify for a Nations Cup event or the Olympics Games and loses in every continental contest, within a spate of three months, we should be ready to face criticism.
In spite of the criticism, there must be something to take away for good.
What we expect members of the NFF to do is to concentrate and redeem their image with actions. When actions speak, words and criticism become nothing.
The Punch