Flush out cabal holding Nigeria’s football hostage, Chukwuma tells National Assembly

[MrVan]

By Eddie Akalonu

Former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA and proprietor of Gabros International FC of Nnewi,Chief Gabriel Chukwuma welcomes the current inquest into the state of football in Nigeria by the National Assembly but insists there is need for the sports Minister to institute a deeper probe into football.

"The current investigation by the National Assembly is welcome but I would want the Sports Minister and government to do more in this area because a thorough probe will spring surprises as it would expose a lot of rot in the system which is the reason for the dwindling fortune of the game," he told Saturday Vanguard sports.

Chief Chukwuma whose opinion came shortly after the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and the Secretary of the Federal Government, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim brokered peace between the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and two former football administrators, Dr Sam Sam Jaja and Barrister Ray Nnaji, said those who spend their money on football have been sidelined by a cabal.

"Football has since been hijacked by marketers, agents and managers acting for those elected to run the game in ways not conforming with our general interest. It is this rot that has almost driven genuine lovers of football  out of business hence I am calling for a comprehensive  probe as it would help restore confidence in the system and ensure that those intent on investing and impacting on lives of others through football do so."

He recognises that top officials using middlemen, have put heavy obstacles that make it hard on people like himself to continue, vowing however,  that "no matter how difficult they make things be, I will never pack up like others because the Gabros spirit will live on."

On his club which enthusiasts say is special and a melting point for  realisation of dreams for players, coaches and administrators of the game, Chief Chukwuma said that it's "the air of love, friendship, fair-play and homeliness at the club since inception," but that the "growing poor administration of football has adversely affected not just my team but several others who have even closed shop.

Club owners who expend money now lose everything while administrators, their agents and managers gain."

 

Vanguard Nigeria