FORMER board member of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Emeka Inyama has declared that those calling for the resignation of the president of the nation’s soccer federation, Amaju Pinnick, following the failure of Nigeria to qualify for AFCON 2017 are not being fair to the NFF leader.
Inyama stated yesterday that as a person who only left the NFF board some few months back, he knew how passionate the NFF president is about Nigeria football and his desire to take the game to the next level.
The Abia Warriors boss said the fact that Nigeria did not qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup did not mean we should rock the boat, especially for a board that had recorded several successes before now.
“We all know that Nigeria has before now qualified for virtually every international tournament under this same board. Beyond qualifying for major tournaments, we have won in places like Chile (FIFA U-17), in Senegal at the U -23 Nations Cup and African Women Championship. The truth remains that we can’t win all the time. And when we fail to win, it should serve as an avenue to take stock and re strategize and not to make selfish calls for people who are working hard to quit.”
Continuing Inyama said: “ The Amaju that I worked with in the NFF board is very passionate about our football. He is one young man who is ready to put in everything in an effort to get result. What he needs now is our support and encouragement ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.”
Inyama whose side Abia Warriors had started this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League on a bright note also gave a pat on the back to the League Management Company (LMC), organizers of the league.
“Our league is getting better with every season. This informs why the fans are getting back to the various league venues. The officiating has improved a great deal and this is why clubs now get results on the road. The LMC is getting it right and this is good for Nigerian football,” Inyama said.
He was quick to add that the target of Abia Warriors this term is to finish in the top bracket of the league log and pick a continental ticket.