Pinnick: Nigeria Too Big To Be Silent

NFF President Amaju Pinnick has again emphasized that Nigeria has the quality and quantity of population, and the wherewithal, to be a strong voice in the international sphere.

Speaking on the popular early morning programme of the Africa Independent Television (AIT), KAAKAKI on Tuesday, Pinnick, not for the first time, urged critics of the Nigeria game to be constructive and not destructive, and to cultivate the habit of proffering alternative solutions whenever they feel what was being offered was not good enough.

“Instead of simply castigating those at the helm of affairs, we should have tendency to offer what we believe are better solutions for specific issues. It is not about one person; it is about our dear country, Nigeria.

“When myself and other persons at the helm of Nigeria football travel out of the country, we go out there to project the Nigeria game, to seek for partners for Nigeria football in order that we can actualize our development plans.”

He dismissed statements by some persons about new Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh being inexperienced, declaring that Oliseh’s playing career that saw him winning Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze, Olympic gold and and starring at the very top level, plus post –playing career work with FIFA Technical Study Group, and technology, will take care of that area.

“We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh. Other African countries were gunning for him, but he opted for his country. Oliseh’s stock in international football is high because apart from his work with FIFA, he has a company that trains and grades coaches all over the world.

“What the NFF, Oliseh, the LMC and other aspects of Nigeria football need is support from everyone, and patience, so that we can put in place our development programs that will take the country’s game to a new height.”

The NFF boss expressed delight at the impact of the Federation’s capacity –building programs, which has seen referees and coaches going to the United Kingdom for some interesting education.

“We can all see the impact of the new orientation in our referees who handle League matches, and everyone is now talking about the League again. We will soon begin to see the impact of the coaches’ training in match analysis, and we also have plans to send some administrators for similar programs.

“The present NFF leadership is driven by passion to make a difference, and we have that capacity to make the difference in administration of Nigeria football.”