To succeed in office as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has got to watch his back because sycophants seem to be swarming around him.
Giving the advice in a chat with TheNiche was ex-international, Etim Esin, who called on the NFF president to beware of sycophants who have nothing to offer him and the development of the game in the country.
He said: “We’ve seen elections in the past that ushered in good leaders, but at the end of the day, the leaders failed to perform not because they were not good but because of bad advice from different quarters.
“Many would come with the hope of having the interest of the country at heart, but what they wanted is for their selfish interest.
“Pinnick has been elected by the delegates because they believe in him and they know that he can do the job, but it is now left for him to beware of those who come with requests.
“He should be careful of the sycophants, draw near people with vast experience of football administration and also operate an open-door policy.
“He should be ready to listen the more and talk less. The task before him is very challenging and he has promised not to fail. The only way he can achieve that is by being focused.
“I have said it times without number that the problem of our football development is our leaders, and unless they begin to do the right thing, we will never get there. I just hope that the new leadership of the NFF must have learnt from the mistakes of the past leaders and put in place machinery that would enhance his success in office.”
Pinnick defeated former Secretary General of the NFF, Taiwo Ogunjobi, and chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club, Dominic Iorfa, to emerge as president of the NFF in an election held on September 30, 2014 in Warri, Delta State.
On the two-legged African Nations Cup qualifiers between Nigeria and Sudan, the former Super Eagles player warned that the Stephen Keshi-led technical crew of the Super Eagles must not underrate the Sudanese.
“We’ve seen it severally that football is no longer mathematics. There are no push-overs again in the game.
“Agreed that the Sudanese are on the rear of the group’s table, that should not mean that we should take things for granted.
“They can be tough on the Super Eagles, and the only way we can get past them is to double our preparations and be ready for their antics.
“There is nothing stopping us from not qualifying for the Nations Cup billed for Morocco next year. Although, we found ourselves in a tight corner after the 3-2 defeat we suffered in the hands of the Congolese in Calabar and the goalless draw against South Africa in Johannesburg. that does not mean that we can still not qualify.
“We can qualify if we do the right things and the players are in their right frame of mind, with the support and encouragement of sports-loving Nigerians,” he said.