Friday, December 7, 2007

NFA, please don't baffle us with ignorance

“If you can’t dazzle others with brilliance, then baffle them with ignorance” ANON


The NFA will continue to baffle us with ignorance because it seems that is as far as they can get in being innovative.

I am saying this again and again and almost sounding like a cracked record because the FA has not shown any respect whatsoever for our women footballers as regards injuries.

In 2000, Prisca Emeafu got injured in camp while the Super Falcons prepared for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and what happened? She was abandoned her career was truncated, no thanks to the negligence on the part of the FA.

In 2006, Blessing Akusiobi, the one they call Onye Aba, in a bid to “die” for her country, like we always tell them to do, tore her knee ligaments while going for a tackle in the Under 20 World Cup quarter final match against Brazil and was returned to Nigeria and Mr. Alonge’s clinic in Ibadan.

When Alonge recommended she be flown to Germany for surgery, Fanny Amun who was Secretary General then boldly and shamelessly said he was not aware of her injury and needed the coach of the side, Emmanuel Tetteh to write to him officially before he takes action.

Tetteh, on his part refused to write citing the fact that Fanny Amun was leader of the delegation at that World Cup and was the only one who had access to Akusiobi when she got injured so did not need to be told she was injured.

While both of them argued about if she was injured or not her condition got worse. It will be a miracle now if Akusiobi still kicks a ball.

In August 2007, Vera Okolo cracked her knee while playing in an Olympic Games qualifier against Ghana in Accra and was dropped from the World Cup team on the strength of that.

On return from Germany she visited Mr. Alonge’s clinic (That man again) in Ibadan and after a minor op on the knee he recommended that she be taken to Germany for a major op that will take her back to the pitch but our NFA again claim they are not aware of her injury.

Two NFA board members including Bola Jegede were in Accra when she hurt her knee, yet the board can come out openly through their chairman, Sani Lulu and Chief Media Officer, Ademola Olajire to say they do not know she is injured.

When Lulu met Vera in Lagos and asked why she was not on the team she told him she was injured and he gave her money to go hire a taxi to Ibadan to visit Mr. Alonge yet two months later he claimed he did not know she was injured.

A few weeks ago, the same Lulu claimed the girls were not patriotic enough. It makes me laugh myself to stupor.

So far two girls have tried to be patriotic and their football careers ended. Maybe they also want Vera Okolo’s career to end and those of some other girls before they start doing the right things?

No where in the world have I seen where a footballer gets injured while playing for his country that he has to notify the country’s FA of his injury before they KNOW SHE/ HE IS INJURED. Nigeria is indeed a great country.

The NFA must act now. Apologise to Prisca Emeafu for truncating her career and also do same to Blessing Akusiobi who could still play and then they must apologise to Vera Okolo for denying knowledge of her injury and then do the right thing by approving and releasing funds for her trip to Germany.

I hear the op will on only cost about ten thousand euros. Let us pay up. NOW!!!
It is not too much for a Nigerian hero.

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