Knocks, Kudos trail AITEO-NFF awards

Fri, Feb 23, 2018 | By publisher


Sports

OPINIONS were divided between football buffs and ex internationals of the senior national team, Super Eagles, over the last AITEO-NFF awards hosted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden edition of the awards was regarded by the NFF as the celebration of Nigerian football legends.

The award bankrolled by oil giant, AITEO Group was held on Monday at the Eko Hotel and Suit, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Victor Moses got the most prestigious award of the night as the “Player of the Year’’, while China-based Asisiat Oshoala got that of the women category.

Perhaps, the most controversial part of the award aside the technical hitches during the night was the “All Time Legendary Awards’’ which came as the fusion of both former male and female players.

The team list features ex-internationals who had in the past donned the colours of the country and are regarded as exceptional during their playing time.

The list includes Ann Chiejine, Christian Chukwu, Uche Okechukwu, Austin Eguavoen, Felix Owolabi, Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwakwo, Segun Odegbami, Adoke Amaesimaka, Mercy Udoh and Usysen Thomson who made the list.

Speaking on the awards and recognition, ex-international Segun Odegbami, fondly called “Mathematical’’ described the awards as long overdue for the players who had contributed and sacrificed their time immensely for the country.

“What I can say is that the award is long overdue for those who had served the country creditably well; I also want to thank the organisers and NFF for the award.

“It means that our rewards are not in heaven and we can be recognised when we are still living though some have died, yet for those of us living it is a plus.

“Such programmes like this put up by NFF is quite commendable,’’ he said.

Former Super Eagles winger and coach, Samson Siasia, said the event was unprecedented in the history of football in the country.

“This is a great achievement from the present board of the NFF and it should be commended. I see it as a step in the right direction because the award for recognition is a good thing,’’ he said.

Former skipper of Eagles Austin Eguavoen said that the award couldn’t have come at a better time than this when football in Nigeria is back on track.

He commended the NFF for getting it right by giving the award to those that truly deserved to be recognised for their contributions to the national team.

“It is a right step in the right direction for the NFF at a time when the football in the country is back on track. Look at how we qualified for the Russia 2018, good times are here,’’ he said.

However, on the contrary, some football buffs described the “All Time Legendary Awards’’ as a list which did not reflect the true legendary status of past Eagles players.

They queried the decision of those in charge of the selection on the reason for leaving behind great players like the “All-time Highest Goal Scorer’’ for the senior team, the late Rashidi Yekini.

Also, they wondered why the late ex-international, Stephen Keshi, who skippered Nigeria to the famous Tunisia ’94  Nation’s Cup and won same 19 years after as a Coach for Nigeria was not also considered for the list.

The great lawyer turned a national team player who died on the field in National Stadium during the “Italia 90’’ World Cup qualifying match against Angola, Samuel Opkwaraji, was not also deemed fit for the “All Legendary Award’’.

It was, however, argued that the inclusion of those players would have served as a great post-humous award for their selfless contributions to the senior team.

Football analyst Emmanuel Etim of Nigeria Info said the team was flawed with the fusion of male and female players, adding that the list did not reflect the true legends in Nigerian football.

“I wonder what some players are doing in the team leaving out players such as Rashidi Yekini who by all standards was the all-time leading goal scorer of the national team.

“I also don’t know the inclusion of the females in the list, why can’t we have male and female categories?

Afolabi Oni, a sports journalist, described the list as a sham which should be discarded, adding that the list was flawed with the omission of the great hero in the history of Nigeria’s football development.

“The list posted by NFF is highly flawed and I wonder how they came up with the list on the first instance. The list is a slap on the face of true football followers in Nigeria.

“What type of list in the world will have both male and female fused together, aside that I also don’t know what justified the inclusion of some players in the list.

“The NFF has not hid their disdain for Keshi who won the Nations Cup as a footballer and as a coach, what achievement are we looking for more than that.

“If CAF can recognise the late Keshi and NFF does not, then something is wrong somewhere. Look at the late Rashidi Yekini, the all-time leading scorer for the national team was not included?’’ he said.

Oni said that the non-inclusion of great goalkeepers, Peter Rufai and Emmanuel Okala, also showed that the team list was a flawed one.

“I dont know why Ann Echiejile should be in goal leaving the legendary goalkeepers like Rufai and Okala, though their argument is that the list would be reviewed yearly.

“Reviewing the list yearly is not the way to go because it is not an “All Star list. The Amaju Pinnick-led NFF should be more proactive in technical issues.

“We should do things in the right perspective and not putting emotions and sentiments to such a list that will be regarded by the whole world as the real thing whereas it is flawed.

“The list is not a reflection of the true status of our legends but an emotional and sentimental list put up by some individuals who are not in tune with developments in Nigerian football,’’ he said.

However, though the mistake has been made, fans believe that the NFF will live up to its promise to make amends and review the list yearly. It is also hope that the greats left out will in one way or the other be compensated. (NAN)

– Feb.  23, 2018 @ 12:25 GMT |

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