Blame Galadima if FIFA bans Nigeria

[Richard Akindele]

Former technical director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Kashimawo Laloko, says Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima should be held responsible if the hammer of the world football governing body, FIFA, eventually falls on Nigeria.

For over six months, the NFA and the Sports Ministry had been enmeshed in a battle for the soul of football in the country, and few days ago, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, hinted that the body would meet in Germany on June 5 to deliberate on how to ban Nigeria.

But Laloko, who is known for his vocal nature, told Sunday Sunsport in an exclusive interview that Galadima must put his ego aside and resign without delay to save the country from FIFA’s axe.

The former Gambian national team coach stated that Galadima does not have any mandate to continue as NFA chairman since most Nigerians have passed a vote of no confidence on him after he insulted their sensibilities by voicing infamy that qualifying for the World Cup was not Nigeria’s birthright.
Laloko, who is presently the director of Pepsi Football Academy, said Galadima stands condemned if FIFA would ban Nigeria.

“FIFA ban is not new to Nigeria. We are not going to be the first to get banned neither will Nigeria be the last.

“But, if a board has failed to meet the wishes and aspirations of the people, that board should leave office.

“If Galadima says the World Cup is not Nigeria’s birthright, he has no right to be there.
“Galadima has no mandate. Nigerians are saying that he should leave for the country to avoid being banned by FIFA. One person should not hold the entire nation to ransom,� he said.
Reacting on Nigeria’s absence at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which begins June 9, Laloko said Nigeria would not be missed at all.

“The world will not feel Nigeria’s absence at the World Cup. Why should anybody do that? Are we the only country that would not be at the World Cup?� he asked.

“The fact remains that we failed to utilise the golden opportunity presented to us in the group stage of the qualifying series to the mundial. We had no business not qualifying from that group.
“We are stubborn, we are not disciplined and we are disorganised. We usually fail to do the right things at the right time and when the worst happens we will begin to complain.�
Laloko also commented on John Mikel Obi’s transfer saga, pointing out that NFA were paying lip service to the player’s travails.

“The NFA are not saying much about Mikel’s case. All we hear is Manchester have accepted him, Chelsea are after him. But who and who have resolved the case, we do not know. For me, wherever he goes, I do not care. One thing is certain, wherever he settles down, Pepsi Academy must collect their royalty.

“We will continue to raise players for Nigerian clubs and national teams. Pepsi is the largest and most productive football academy in the world. While it took Manchester United 10 years to produce Wayne Rooney, in 10 years, we have produced more than 30 players for clubs and national teams, and we will continue to do so.

“Right now, we have set up a new academy centre at Abatti Barracks in Lagos. We are consolidating on what we have. There were a lot of demands coming from parents in Lagos.
“But it’s unfortunate, what Nigerian clubs do is to take our players without making payments. They are not making efforts to produce young talents. This is one of our problems,� Laloko said.

Source: Sun