Maigari Applauds Match Commissioners

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari recently charged match commissioners in the country to be responsible and conduct themselves with dignity and honour whenever they have the privilege.

In a speech read on his behalf at the 2011 NFF Match Commissioners’ Seminar at the Merit House, Abuja by a member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, Maigari insisted that match commissioners play a very key role in the organization of matches and can help the revolution being launched by the NFF to ensure that the fans return to the stadia around the country.

“A Match Commissioner gives the go-ahead for a match, after examining the ground, the medical provisions, the security provisions and crowd behaviour. He has the power to stop a match if any of the important items is inadequate or poorly laid out.

“With these privileges, of course, go a lot of responsibilities. With so much powers, the Match Commissioner therefore, must be a man of integrity and great honour. He must bear himself appropriately, and must be able to stand above all temptations and compromise, and deliver a good football match for all to savour.

“This year, it is the determination of the Nigeria Football Federation that our Match Commissioners must perform to the letter. The present administration at the NFF has laid out a holistic programme for the general development of the domestic game and among these is good match organization at the local front”, said Maigari.

A book written by a member of the Nigeria Women’s League, Mrs Edith Nwakire, titled ‘Essentials And Principles of Football Match Commissioning: The Nigerian Situation In A New World Order’, was launched at the seminar. The 94-page book dwells extensively on how to write a match report, how to efficiently commission a football match and how to ensure the security of match officials before, during and after a match.

Another member of the NFF Executive Committee, Mr. Suleiman Kwande was present at the event, alongside Assistant General Secretary (Competitions) of NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi who represented the Ag. General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu. Two former Secretaries-General of the NFF, Dr. Tijjani Yusuf and Mr. Momodu Kadiri were also present.