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“We Must Not Sit Back and Watch A Few Desperados Hijack Football in Akwa Ibom State” – Hon Nse Essien

Published

4 months ago

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… Akwa Ibom FA Elections not recognized by the NFF

The last has not been heard of Monday’s Football Association Election held in Akwa Ibom state as one of the chairmanship candidate who was disqualified just days to the election has come out to describe the entire process before and during the election as a total charade. 

The founder and financier of FC One Rockets, who is also an executive committee member of the Nigeria football federation NFF, in a ‘No holds Barred’ interview with sports journalists in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state Capital, said, he wants sports loving Nigerians, especially passionate stakeholders from Akwa Ibom state, to understand that the men perpetrating this evil, are on a mission to hijack football in the state. 

The current Deputy chief whip of the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly who also doubles as chairman committee on youth, sports and security, said he has taken time to listen to these men closely and has come to realize that they don’t have the interest of the game or the state at heart, instead, they are more concerned about how they can infiltrate the state FA with inexperience and irresponsible people that will end up using the office for their selfish gains. 

“In the first place, I wouldn’t  have contested in the election because I was disqualified by the Electoral Committee whose chairman Chris Essien is also the chairman of the Screening Committee” Hon Nse Essien confirmed.

“After the screening, I was told that I have been disqualified because they claimed that instead of being nominted by local council chairmen whom they say are not members of AKSFA, i should have sought nomination from executive council members. That to me is totally bizarre”

“Well, I still don’t know where they got their guidelines from because as much as I know, the NFF Statutes which is domiciled in the election guidelines used by AKSFA, recommends three local council chairmen endorsement. Also, as an executive committee member of the NFF, I administer the game at the highest level of Nigeria football so I should be able to protect the rules of the owners of the game” Essien emphasized. 

“Like I said earlier,  the decision of the screening committee was upheld by the Electoral Committee, whose chairman is also the chairman of the screening committee. That in itself, is an aberration but because these men desperately want to install their stooge as FA chairman, they overlooked these obvious flaws which has now thrown the process into deep crisis. Beyond that, a lot of things are wrong with AKSFA and the rule book so I think it’s high time the hidden statute be reviewed to conform with the rules of NFF, CAF and FIFA”. 

“Let’s not also forget that there was a court injunction stopping the election. The immediate past Secretary of Uyo Local football council, Edem Tom Okpon had petitioned the NFF through his lawyer Ekanem Ekanem Esq, asking that the election be put on hold until a Federal high Court in Uyo sits on the case filed before it. As law abiding citizens of this great country, once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, I expect that there was no need going ahead with the election, coupled with the fact that the NFF wrote a letter to AKSFA informing them to stay action. 

“You will recall that in the build up to the NFF Election in Edo state, there was a court injunction stopping the process and the NFF made sure that the injunction was vacated before elections were conducted. That is because, as much as we are guided by the laws of FIFA, we cannot disobey the laws of our land because, in the first place, the football association must conform with the rules and regulations of the federal republic of Nigeria

“You can now understand why I insisted that those behind Monday’s election are desperados. That charade they call election cannot stand and in a sane clime, by now, the Nigeria police force should be out there looking for all those who participated in that election as this is a clear case of contempt”. 

“Let me also  inform you guys that the only cleared chairmanship candidate for Monday’s election, happens to be the personal assistant to the current chairman of the Electoral Committee, Chris Essien, when he was chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan local government council in Akwa Ibom state. He is the one they are now pushing forward to be chairman of the state FA”

“I have decided to make these clarifications for posterity sake. It is on record that some persons who passed the sceeening to contest in that illegal election only got three local council chairmen nominations but in my case,  they decided to disqualify me, claiming three nominations was not enough. 

 “I hope with this interview, i have successfully cleared my name of any wrongdoing and also set the records straight” Hon Essien concluded.

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Nigeria Sports News

Seamoriow Sports Names Akindele Olagbaju As Technical Director/Technical Consultant of Its Football Academy

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2 weeks ago

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September 11, 2023

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UEFA B licensed coach, Akindele Olagbaju will resume in his capacity as Technical Director to the Seamoriow Football Academy beginning from Monday, 11th of September, 2023.

Coach Akindele Olagbaju currently serving as Technical Assistant to the Technical Adviser of Shooting Stars Sports Club, Coach Gbenga Ogunbote was Technical Adviser to the TikiTaka Nigeria Team between 2017 and 2020 and between that time he led the TikiTaka Nigeria Team to two finals, winning one and losing one with his side losing to the Right To Dream U-17 side that paraded Ghanaian International and now Brighton star, Muhammed Kudus who at the time was a rookie and a budding star and who went on to score the only goal that gave Right To Dream victory over the Coach Dele tutored side at the 2017 final of the B-17 Gothia cup final.

Dele Olagbaju, a University graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University was Technical Adviser to Stationery Stores in 2019 and has worked in different technical and administrative capacities with a number of clubs including as Physical trainer to Sunshine Stars, players and match scout to Lobi Stars, Coordinator of the OSFA academy, amongst others.

He is also credited to have developed a number of players who are now plying their football trade in various top leagues across the globe. Some of the names that have passed through Coach Dele are Alhassan Yusuf who currently plies his football trade with Royal Antwerp, Belgium, Tolulope Ojo, Pyramid FC, Egypt, Bello Babatunde Martins, Future FC, Egypt, Sadiq Awujola, Smouha, Egypt.

Speaking with the media unit of Seamoriow Sports, the CEO of Seamoriow Sports Ltd, Mr Seyi Amos stated that the Academy’s choice was influenced by the rich resume of Coach Olagbaju.

According to Seyi Amos; “Our goal is to raise one of the most talented group of players for our football Academy. We believe in excellence and this is reflected in all what we do, so when we wanted a choice of a technical director and consultant for the Academy, we decided to go for an individual with a track record on youth football development and Dele Olagbaju’s resume clearly fits that ‘

‘We want our football academy to be one of the best from West Africa and by extension Africa in a few years time, so it’s important that the foundation for us to attain that is properly structured which is why we decided to go for an individual with proven record and successes on youth football development and that is why we have settled for him” concluded Mr Seyi Amos.

Coach Dele will resume officially on Monday, 11th with a familiarisation exercise with other members of the technical unit. He will also commence the evaluation of the current crop of players of the Academy.

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Football Academy News

Noni Madueke Father Scouts Nigeria For Talents

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1 month ago

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August 23, 2023

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Chelsea Football Club forward, Noni Madueke’s father (Ifeanyi Madueke) stormed the seren city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the weekend in search of top level and talented Nigerian players on the invitation of Superstars Academy president, Hon. Victor Apugo, who doubles as an NFF Youth Football Development Committee member.

Speaking after a successful hunt, The senior Madueke revealed his delight to be in the country and the quality of talents he has seen but insisted that talent must be marched with hard work.

“I’m happy to be in the country. I’ve been impressed with the quality of facility they have here in Uyo and I’ve also seen some talented players, but they need to put in more hardwork to achieve their dreams. I look forward to being here in November for the Superstars scouting tournament,” said Madueke.

While thanking Madueke for honoring his invitation, Apugo urged him to use his influence and contact to contribute to the discovery and development of talents from Nigeria.

The event held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State falls in line with Hon. Victor Apugo, vision to play a key role alongside other NFF Youth Football Development Committee members in bringing a positive and fruitful change in youth football development in Nigeria.

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Nigeria Sports News

CAF Champions League: Remo Stars FC Arrives Ghana On Board Valuejet Airline

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1 month ago

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August 19, 2023

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Nigerian giants Remo Stars Football Club landed in Accra early this morning ahead of the tense CAF Champions League meeting with Ghanian top-flight league side,Medeama Sporting Club at the Abrankese Stadium, Tarkwa, Ghana on Sunday Afternoon.

To signify the importance of this fixture, the Skye blue stars landed in Accra on board Valuejet Private jet with a stars studded team as well as the club delegation with the Club President, Kunle Soname.

When the game gets underway tomorrow at the Abrankese Stadium, Tarkwa, Ghana, the coach Daniel Ogunmodede tutored side will hope to start off its campaign on the continent on a brighter note as they eye scalp of the Medeama Sporting Club team.

Remo Stars Ghana based opponent’s, Medeama Sporting Club who has been blowing hot on the internet will eye to condemn it’s Nigerian visitors to a defeat before the return leg in Ikenne, Ogun State in a fortnight.

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