NFF Annul NPL Election

At The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation meeting on Wednesday, 29th December, 2010 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, crucial matters affecting Nigerian football were deliberated upon and resolved as follows:

1) The Executive Committee noted the tremendous support from the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State to the successful conclusion of the 2010 General Assembly of NFF and to the NFF’s efforts to revive Nigerian football in general.
2) The Executive Committee approved the appointment of Assistant Coaches for the National Senior Team, Super Eagles, as follows:
· 1st Assistant Coach - Mr. Simon Kalika (Dutch)
· 2nd Assistant Coach - Mr. Salisu Yusuf (Nigerian)
· Goalkeepers’ Trainer - Mr. Ike Shorounmu (Nigerian)
3) The Committee considered and upheld the 21st June, 2010 award of the Professor Ibidapo Obe Arbitration Tribunal set up by the Nigeria Football Federation on the Nigeria Premier League leadership tussle. The NFF Executive Committee has therefore ordered for fresh elections to be conducted into offices of Chairman of NPL and Chairman of Chairmen of NPL, within 14 days and in full compliance with the NPL Statutes. The remaining NPL Board members should continue to run the affairs of the NPL without let or hindrance in the on-going 2010/2011 Premier League Season.

4) The Executive Committee appealed for calm and the co-operation of all football stakeholders in the country in order that the NPL’s lingering tussle be brought to a logical conclusion. In the meantime, the Vice Chairman of NPL will act as Chairman before the elections.

The Committee ordered that all State Football Association in the country must conduct credible and transparent elections on or before 10th January, 2011.
Nigeria Football Federation

29th December, 2010

COMMUNIQUE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION HELD AT THE LE MERIDIEN HOTEL, UYO ON WEDNESDAY, 29TH DECEMBER, 2010

1) The General Assembly approved the sum of N6.8 billion as budget for the activities and programmes of the Nigeria Football Federation for the Year 2011.
2) The General Assembly approved the audited account of the Nigeria Football Federation for the Year 2009.
3) The Congress resolved that elections into the State FAs be conducted on or before 10th January, 2011. The NFF will send officials to monitor and supervise the polls.
4) Congress resolved that Elections into the National Amateur and Women’s Leagues be conducted by the NFF Electoral Committee by 28th January, 2011 and the delegates to the elections shall be the Club Owners/Administrators, who shall have one vote each.
5) The Congress further resolved that its decision of 26th August, 2010 in Abuja concerning Alhaji Sani Lulu Abduallahi, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam and Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi be vacated in the spirit of reconciliation.
6) The Congress resolved that all members of the football family having any football matters pending in ordinary courts should proceed to withdraw same in the spirit of sportsmanship while, imploring the Executive Committee of the NFF to open up a channel of communication in resolving such disputes including the matter in CAS with former members of its Executive Committee.
7) The General Assembly passed a vote of confidence on the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation led by President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

8) Finally, the Congress commended the Akwa-Ibom State Government for successfully hosting the 2010 Annual General Assembly.

NFF Annul NPL Election

At The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation meeting on Wednesday, 29th December, 2010 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, crucial matters affecting Nigerian football were deliberated upon and resolved as follows:
 
1)     The Executive Committee noted the tremendous support from the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State to the successful conclusion of the 2010 General Assembly of NFF and to the NFF’s efforts to revive Nigerian football in general.
2)     The Executive Committee approved the appointment of Assistant Coaches for the National Senior Team, Super Eagles, as follows:
·              1st Assistant Coach           -       Mr. Simon Kalika (Dutch)
·              2nd Assistant Coach          -       Mr. Salisu Yusuf (Nigerian)
·              Goalkeepers’ Trainer -       Mr. Ike Shorounmu (Nigerian)
3) The Committee considered and upheld the 21st June, 2010 award of the Professor Ibidapo Obe Arbitration Tribunal set up by the Nigeria Football Federation on the Nigeria Premier League leadership tussle.  The NFF Executive Committee has therefore ordered for fresh elections to be conducted into offices of Chairman of NPL and Chairman of Chairmen of NPL, within 14 days and in full compliance with the NPL Statutes.   The remaining NPL Board members should continue to run the affairs of the NPL without let or hindrance in the on-going 2010/2011 Premier League Season.
 
4) The Executive Committee appealed for calm and the co-operation of all football stakeholders in the country in order that the NPL’s lingering tussle be brought to a logical conclusion.  In the meantime, the Vice Chairman of NPL will act as Chairman before the elections.
 
The Committee ordered that all State Football Association in the country must conduct credible and transparent elections on or before 10th January, 2011.
Nigeria Football Federation
 
29th December, 2010
 
COMMUNIQUE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION HELD AT THE LE MERIDIEN HOTEL, UYO ON WEDNESDAY, 29TH DECEMBER, 2010
 
1)  The General Assembly approved the sum of N6.8 billion as budget for the activities and programmes of the Nigeria Football Federation for the Year 2011.
2) The General Assembly approved the audited account of the Nigeria Football Federation for the Year 2009.
3)  The Congress resolved that elections into the State FAs be conducted on or before 10th January, 2011.  The NFF will send officials to monitor and supervise the polls.
4)     Congress resolved that Elections into the National Amateur and Women’s Leagues be conducted by the NFF Electoral Committee by 28th January, 2011 and the delegates to the elections shall be the Club Owners/Administrators, who shall have one vote each.
5)     The Congress further resolved that its decision of 26th August, 2010 in Abuja concerning Alhaji Sani Lulu Abduallahi, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam and Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi be vacated in the spirit of reconciliation. 
6)     The Congress resolved that all members of the football family having any football matters pending in ordinary courts should proceed to withdraw same in the spirit of sportsmanship while, imploring the Executive Committee of the NFF to open up a channel of communication in resolving such disputes including the matter in CAS with former members of its Executive Committee.
7)     The General Assembly passed a vote of confidence on the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation led by President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.
 
8)     Finally, the Congress commended the Akwa-Ibom State Government for successfully hosting the 2010 Annual General Assembly.

AFC Chief Backs Moving 2022 World Cup to Winter

Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, the head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is supporting the idea of moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter months to avoid the desert's summer heat.  But the issue is far from being settled.



Through an interpreter at the Dubai International Sports Conference in the United Arab Emirates, Bin Hammam said his country is capable of organizing the 2022 tournament in June and July.  

"They have actually presented the solution for heat challenges, so our country actually [is] ready and willing to host a very comfortable World Cup in the summer season".



However, Bin Hammam, who is also a member of the football world governing body's (FIFA) executive committee, says it would be better to play when the weather is cooler, because the players would be in better shape and not exhausted from a long season.  He added that it is premature to suggest co-hosting the tournament with other countries in the region.

European teams appear to be split on whether it is a good idea to shift the tournament to a cooler time of the year. 

England national team coach Fabio Capello says the heat would force his team to spend most of its time in the hotel.

"It is a big problem because when you stay together for a long time you need to relax, to do something different, not only [go] to training or to play. 

For that reason I think the good idea will be to play in January or February," said Capello.

But Sandro Rosell, president of Spanish football powerhouse FC Barcelona, says the move would be disruptive and force some of Europe's top leagues to change their schedules.

"I have to defend to play in June and July because I don't like to break the Spanish league because it is one of the leagues in Europe that has continuity during January," said Rosell.



FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar earlier this month, beating out the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea.  But the decision prompted protests from numerous football organizations concerned about playing in temperatures that routinely exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

All now lies on the lap of the world governing body whether to shift the tournament to January or the usual June/July.

RUGBY ENDS 2010 ON A HIGH.

“Friends of Rugby” ended the 2010 Rugby Season on a high note notwithstanding the lingering ban on Nigeria Rugby Football Federation by the world rugby governing body.

According to the spokesperson of the group Mr. Ntiense O. Williams popularly called “Mr. Rugby”, “Friends of Rugby” are greatful to God Almighty for a most successful 2010 Rugby Season which has seen us pick up our passion for the game notwithstanding the fact that Nigeria Rugby Football Federation is still banned by the International Rugby Board as a result of a concession of the board of the Rugby Federation by the National Sports Commission!”

Said he, “We were able to rise above all distractions and administered a most successful 2010 Rugby Season with the following programs to be proud off:

Cape Town 10’s Rugby Tournament
The Season started with the Cowrie Rugby Football Team’s International participation in the Cape Town 10’s International Tournament in South Africa in early February. The team performed creditably well and got to the quarter-finals of the tournament, losing on board room points to the Semi-finals slot on cards offenses.

Rakia 10’s Rugby Tournament
Rakia 10’s Rugby Tournament was the official opener for “Friends of Rugby” 2010 Rugby Season on the domestic scene as 12 Rugby male teams and 4 Invited women’s team slogged it out for honours in the National Championship in the first week of march. The Tournament had Cowrie RFC & Benin girls emerging champions in the male & women’s categories respectively.

Lagos Rugby Union League
The 2010 Lagos Rugby Union League kicked off on the 1st of May with a 6 team format, one up from the previous season. The most successful Lagos Rugby Union League ran for six months ending in a grand finale on October 17, 2010 at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos with Cowrie Rugby Football Club successfully defending their league title in grand style and creating a new National Rugby Union League history of recording a 100% win of all their 10 Rugby League matches throughout the 2010 Lagos Rugby Union League program. The League organizers successfully featured all 30 matches on a centralized venue- the National Institute for Sports pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos from 12noon through to 6pm every fortnight Saturdays.

Independence Rugby Celebrations
“Friends of Rugby” were one of the very few sporting organization to join the entire country in celebrating the nations golden jubilee with a National 7’s Rugby Championship which created another national rugby history with the unprecedented participation from Rugby Clubs around the country and an international Rugby clubside from Ghana in attendance. The Tournament had for the first time 16 Rugby Clubs in attendance and 6 Female teams as well, with Cowrie Rugby Football Club and Benin Rugby Football Club once again emerging the undisputed national champions respectively!

Mike Ukomi Schools Rugby Tournament.
“Friends of Rugby” returned to the “Catch them Young” schools program in November when they successfully hosted the Mike Ukome Schools Rugby Tournament at St. Saviours School Ikoyi Lagos. Toyibat Comprehensive Schools emerged champions in most of the categories.

Dubai 7’s Rugby Tournament
Cowrie Rugby Football Club attended the Emirate Airline Invitational Dubai 7’s Tournament and successfully reached the Quarter-Finals of the Cup event losing to the eventual winners in that category. Unfortunately, the Female team who were preparing for the event could not attend as there was no more slot for them in their category. They have nonetheless being guaranteed of a slot for next year.

Match Official Training Program
“Friends of Rugby” have over the last season decided to invest in its domestic match officials and it ensured that a Match Officials Training Program was carried out by the IRB Educator for Nigeria every Friday evening at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. These individuals eventually coordinated all the 2010 Rugby Season programs and tournaments for the group to the delight of Rugby Stakeholders in the country.

Tri-Regional Rugby Championship & National Rugby League Finals.
“Friends of Rugby” were however disappointed that they could not complete their scheduled program for the 2010 Rugby season, as the Tri-Regional Rugby Championship & the National Rugby Union League finals between Cowrie RFC & Kaduna RFC was suspended to make room for a much important national rugby stakeholders meeting.

National Stakeholders Rugby Meeting.
The present lingering controversial crisis affecting the concession board of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation which resulted in their ban and declared unrecognized by the International Rugby Board was brought to the fore when the President & CEO of the Nigeria Rugby Federation misinformed Nigerian that the ban was lifted, but this was immediately refuted by the President of the Confederation of African Rugby in a nationwide radio broadcast which further brought the country into international embarrassment! (Thanks to investigative & balanced broadcast by Brila fm)

The Nigeria Rugby Stakeholders therefore met to find out the way forward towards resolving this lingering crisis which has affected the game in the country adversely. The meeting was well attended with 26 Rugby Stakeholders in attendance and eventually cast a vote in support of the IRB directive for a democratic elections to be conducted by Rugby Stakeholders in Nigeria by the end of February 2011.

It is expected that once the election is conducted by the rugby stakeholders, and this position is formally communicated to the sports world governing body, that the ban will be lifted for Nigeria to be fully re-integrated into the committee of rugby playing nations in the world!

Cowrie Rugby FC & Benin Rugby FC Adjudged Most Successful Clubs
Meanwhile, Cowrie Rugby Football Club & Benin Rugby Football Club have been adjudged the most successful teams of the 2010 rugby season, by winning all the tournaments that they participated in the domestic arena in the outgoing season!

“Friends of Rugby” have further promised a most memorable rugby season for Nigerians come the 2011 rugby season!

Issued by

This Communique was released by Ntiense O. Williams
Secretary

League Sponsorship: Chukwu unhappy

Former captain of the senior national team, the Super Eagles (then Green Eagles), Christian Chukwu has expressed disgust at the lingering sponsorship brawl of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

Chukwu, who has also served as coach of Rangers International of Enugu, told the NationSport that the earlier the problem of who becomes the title sponsors of the local league is settled, the better it will be for the progress of the game.

"The NPL board has done well so far in trying to develop the league in the country. But I will like to encourage them to focus on the settling ones and for all the sponsorship problem of the league, or else their efforts so far will be jeopardized.

"It has become necessary to resolve this issue because it will mean more for the clubs who are struggling right now to settle their bills. The players also need their allowance and salaries paid in due time so that they can feed well and give their best in the field of play," Chukwu pointed out.

He advised that the league is gathering momentum, adding that the continues disagreements in terms of who the sponsors should be for the league will slow down the progress.

Lille Christmas champions

Unfashionable Lille drew 1-1 with St Etienne on Wednesday but it was enough to guarantee they finished the year top of the French championship for the first time since 1949.

A trio of pursuing clubs failed to take advantage of them dropping two points, with PSG losing 2-0 away at Nancy, the visitors playing most of the match a man down after Mamadou Sakho was red carded and a second-half double by Youssouf Hadji giving the hosts the points.

Rennes also lost, 1-0 away at struggling Caen while Lyon were held to their second successive draw with a 1-1 draw at home to Auxerre.

All three trail Lille by a point while champions Marseille are another two points adrift as their poor recent form continued with a 0-0 draw away at Brest, leaving them with just a haul of four points from their last five matches.

Lille's prolific striker Moussa Sow had given them the lead with just under 20 minutes remaining of an evenly-fought encounter as he slotted home his 14th goal of the season past Jeremie Janot after being set up by strike partner Ivory Coast international Gervinho.

However, their joy was dimmed two minutes later as they conceded a penalty when Blaise Matuidi went down in the area as he tried to squirm past two defenders and referee Said Ennjimi had no heistation in pointing to the spot.

Bakary Sako fooled former France international goalkeeper Mickael Landreau to go the wrong way to level the scores.

Despite the disappointment of drawing, Lille coach Rudi Garcia was ecstatic at finishing the year as championsip leaders and they also have a game in hand on all their rivals.

"I prefer to focus on the fact we are autumn champions, and the magnificent first half of the season we have experienced," he said.

However, not all was rosy for the Lille handler.

"We tried everything this evening to win, on a difficult pitch, which is beginning to worry me about how it will cope with the rest of the season.

"I do not know if we are champions by default. The big sides have not accrued enough points but that is the championship at the moment. I am not going to reach any hasty conclusions. We have a one point advantage but the big guns are all there."

Paris Saint Germain were always fighting against the odds once Sakho was given a direct red card in the 13th minute for a foul on Hadji by referee Anthony Gautier.

Hadji it was who was to make PSG pay in full as he broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, outpacing Zoumana Camara and shooting past PSG 'keeper Edel.

The 30-year-old Moroccan international sewed up the points eight minutes from time as he pounced to beat Edel again from a tight angle after the Cameroon goalkeeper had saved from Bakaye Traore's long range shot - the victorious players were rewarded afterwards with an extra day's holiday over the Christmas break.

Marseille's disappointment at dropping further points will have doubled with a thigh injury to recent acquisition French international fullback Rod Fanni - who was only brought in from Rennes last week as a replacement for long-term injury victim Cesar Azpilicueta.

And to make matters worse for the champions Charles Kabore the player who switched to the position when Fanni was taken off was sent-off five minutes from time for his seocnd booking.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps was surprisingly upbeat despite the run his side were on.

"Four draws and four points from a possible 15, is not a good sequence, but happily the other teams aren't taking advantage of it.

"All things considered I believe this is a point won tonight."

Bordeaux stumbled to their fifth successive draw, though, the 2-2 home tie with struggling Lens was gained in adversity as French national captain Alou Diarra - who had scored their opening goal - was sent-off for a second bookable offence when they were trailing 2-1.

However, the hosts stole a point at the end as Yoann Gouffran levelled in time added on.