Dalung blasts NFF’s "fire brigade" approach

Nigerian sports minister has fired a salvo at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after blasting them for planlessness, poor management and lacking goodwill.


Sports minister Solomon Dalung had to step in and ensure the government released 100 million Naira for the country to honour last weekend’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia after the NFF claimed they did not have the cash to do so.

The minister was most critical about what he described as “NFF’s fire brigade” approach.

“We must improve on the way we do things. We cannot be writing emergency memos to the President. Personally, I’m not too comfortable (with that). Memos should have gone out much earlier on,” Dalung said.

“That Christmas is on 25 of December, you don’t need anyone to fix that date for you. So, you start planning in January or you save enough to contain the demands in December.

“The economic situation (in the country) is not too friendly, but as I advised, if you have little money, you plan well. Management of resources is also very, very important.”

The top government official is equally disturbed that the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick do not have the goodwill to overcome some of their challenges.

“Everything is not all about money. The image of the federation is very, very important,” he reasoned.

“The NFF were founded in 1945 and if by now you don’t have goodwill, then something is basically wrong.

“People appreciate goodwill more than anything you can think of.”