Abuja FA blames clubs relegation on corruption – ‘Some officials diverted funds’

At the end of the 2008-2009 football season, the only premier league club in the FCT, FC Abuja, a club sponsored by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was relegated to the national league while both Nigeria Airforce FC and Voice of Nigeria, VON FC which competed in the professional division, also known as […]

At the end of the 2008-2009 football season, the only premier league club in the FCT, FC Abuja, a club sponsored by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was relegated to the national league while both Nigeria Airforce FC and Voice of Nigeria, VON FC which competed in the professional division, also known as the national league were relegated to the amateur division.

Critics of the present Abuja Football Association, led by Super Eagles co-ordinator Emmanuel Attah had squarely blamed the club’s relegation on the F.A chairman’s busy schedule as they argued that his engagements with the senior national team did not give him enough chance to protect the interest of the clubs.

However in a quick reaction, the FA Chairman while speaking with Sports writers in Abuja yesterday absolved himself of any blame as he stated that the clubs got relegated because those saddled with the responsibility of running them indulged in corrupt practices to the detriment of the clubs just as he acknowledged that most of the clubs were poorly funded.

In addition, he said a post season meeting with all the clubs revealed that some of the clubs got relegated because their coaches lacked the requisite technical knowledge to save them from relegation.

“Those who are blaming the F.A for the relegation of the clubs are not being fair to us. We gave all the clubs the necessary support for them to do well. However, during the post season meeting with the clubs, we discovered that some of the club officials were not transparent in handling the funds made available to them. Moreover, some of the coaches displayed technical ineptitude and that was part of the problem” he explained.

Attah said as an experienced football administrator, his position as Super Eagles co-ordinator is not enough to distract him from carrying out his duties as chairman of Abuja FA.

He said even whenever he was away on national assignment, his deputy and other secretariat staff were always on ground to attend to the needs of the clubs.

The F.A Chairman therefore said beginning from next season, all club officials would be closely monitored so that there wouldn’t be diversion of money meant for the running of the clubs into private pockets.

“From next season, we would expect more prudence in management of funds meant for the running of the clubs. We would not allow a situation where by some unscrupulous officials use the clubs to enrich themselves” he stated.