Super Eagles World Cup miss: Amaju not Gusau should take the blame, says Gombe
By Uzor Odigbo
Former Gombe United Football Club Chairman Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe says ex-Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss Amaju Pinnic should take the blame for the Super Eagles’ elimination from the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Gombe, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Commission, said in a statement that Ibrahim Gusau, the current NFF Chairman has no blame.
He said: “Recently, I watched former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Melvin Amaju Pinnick in his usual arrogant, boisterous, and grandstanding style on Arsie TV telling the world without shame and insulting our collective sensibilities how he sees himself as the Life President of the NFF.
“I dare ask, which past federation president in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, or Africa has ever described himself in such a manner that suggests he is all-knowing, all-powerful, and indispensable?
“Perhaps Amaju, in a subtle way revealed to us that he still has a firm control of and over our football despite his massive failure for eight years as NFF President
“Amaju went further to disclose in that television programme how he has been calling, discussing, and advising with Super Eagles players”.
“This implies that he has access to the players and a sort of control on and over them. This is coming from someone who has left office for about four years.
“When you call yourself a life president and you boast of regularly speaking with the players, you are indirectly saying to Nigerians that their football and national team are in your hands and you can choose whatever you wish to do with them. The result we have seen.
“Should Amaju repeat this Nonsense again, I will reveal the details of what happened during NIGERIA/ZAMBIA Match and he will end up in jail and will settle the debate of who is a life President of our Football.
“Interestingly, Nigerians know that the only thing Amaju is good at is failing and failure. Little wonder, under his watch, Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets couldn’t qualify for 2022 and 2021 World Cups, respectively.
“When a man boasts that he speaks with Super Eagles players regularly, it means he has the listening ears of the players and could manipulate them, especially when you consider that bulk of the players who failed to qualify Nigeria for 2022 and 2026 World Cups got into the team during his tenure as NFF President”.
“Recall that Amaju once told Nigerians before the cameras how he instructed the then coach of Super Eagles Gernot Rohr to include a player he (Amaju) tagged, “My player, my quota” in the 2018 World Cup squad. In other words, he influences the invitation and selection of players and likely the team list for games during his tenure.
“Painfully, Amaju was quiet or chose not to speak when the same Super Eagles players were threatening to boycott the World Cup playoffs in Morocco. While the protest was on, no word came from Amaju as “life president” of the NFF to calm tension and convince the players to jettison the idea of boycotting the playoffs as it would be counterproductive and capable of painting them and the country in a bad light.
“Amaju’s silence was an approval of the players’ decision, which eventually contributed to scuttling their chances of booking a World Cup ticket. That is the handiwork of someone who says he regularly talks with the players. Who knows? Perhaps Amaju may truly have spoken with the players secretly over the demand for their bonuses and allowances, which no doubt is their entitlement but turned around to be a protest and later a threat to boycott the playoffs. Your guess readers are as good as mine.
“Yet when I wrote in my previous piece that Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is not to be blamed for the Super Eagles World Cup miss, some people didn’t understand me. When I said there were enemies within who wouldn’t want Gusau to achieve what they couldn’t achieve, some people were ignorantly hurling stones at me.
“Truth is bitter, but we must say it. The reason why our beloved country is facing all manners of challenges and literally from all fronts including sports is because we have failed to look at ourselves straight in the face and eyeball to eyeball and speak the truth.
“How can someone come out to say he calls the players and speaks with them? What were you discussing with the players after you had left office that you couldn’t or didn’t discuss with them while you were in office as NFF President? And what were the outcomes and benefits of your discussions while you were in office and after you left? Two World Cup misses in succession, isn’t it?
“Those blaming Gusau should continue playing politics and turn their backs at the truth. If we fail again to tell ourselves the truth and continue running around this endless circle, we should pray that we don’t make it a third World Cup miss back to back come 2030. It is not a matter of God forbid, but the reality that we must avoid.
“I maintain that there are landmines laid along the way even before the Gusau-led NFF assumed duties. But Gusau chose to be a gentleman by trying to navigate his way, avoid them, and assiduously work to secure result. But when the foundation is faulty, like they say, what can the righteous do?
“Indeed, the real masquerades behind Super Eagles World Cup miss are shamefully crawling out of their abodes, shrines, shells, closets, and enclave. The enemies within Nigerian football are tired of hiding.
“The anger and curses from Nigerians over Super Eagles World Cup miss, among other issues, are smoking them out of their hideouts. It is time for confessions”.
