NFF, Keshi squabbles can cost Nigeria 2014 W/C ticket – Sani Toro

Apart from Rangers, no other Nigerian club is left in this year’s CAF competitions. What would you say is responsible for their dismal outings?It is rather unfortunate but there are a lot of factors that may be responsible. First and foremost the quality of players in these clubs is an issue to be considered. And […]

Apart from Rangers, no other Nigerian club is left in this year’s CAF competitions. What would you say is responsible for their dismal outings?
It is rather unfortunate but there are a lot of factors that may be responsible. First and foremost the quality of players in these clubs is an issue to be considered. And of course the management of the teams and the standard of the domestic league are issues to be considered. When do we normally start the league and when do we stop?. When do other leagues in the continent start?. Do our league start and continue to the end?. Is the Nigeria Football Federation supporting and guiding the clubs?. They are supposed to assist by sending powerful delegations to lead the clubs whenever they are going out to represent the country. And I know that during our time, NFA used to send delegation to accompany the teams. You also have to look at the contributions from the state governments which are the owners of the clubs. How committed are they? Let’s look at the show of shame by Heartland when they were to travel out. They were not given money on time. It was on the last day that they were given money. These are some of the questions we must find answers to before we begin to make progress.
What do you have to say about the complaints by the clubs that they got eliminated due to hostilities and bad officiating they faced?
No! No!! we have passed that stage in our football. Clubs should stop complaining about officiating and hostilities anytime they lose. Do we have the best officiating even in the domestic league? So what are we complaining about?.  They should forget about such complaints and do the necessary things that they are suppose to do. It is only when the clubs are up and doing that we can see good results.
What is your take on the ongoing row between club owners and the League management Committee?
I keep wondering why the minister of sports should intervene in what is purely technical. It is the responsibility of the Nigeria Football Federation to resolve the difference between the club owners and the league management committee. They are the body charged with the responsibility of administering football and that is their responsibility. These things are wrong but the moment some of us come out to say anything because this is Sani Toro, people will begin to read meaning into it.  Like in this issue of club owners and the committee, there is no way the club owners should not be taken along. They are the owners of the league.
Are you therefore happy with the recent effort by the NFF to resolve the crisis between the two bodies?
I think they are making the right decisions at the right time. So let them work harder to resolve the crisis as soon as possible in the best interest of Nigerian football. There is no way anybody can register a company without the consent of the clubs. For NFF to call for the meeting, it means they have discovered the injustice being done to the club owners.
But people like you should be making contributions to reposition Nigerian football but it’s like you have given up. Are you among those sitting on the fence?
No! No!!, I am totally committed to Nigerian football and nothing will stop me from making contributions especially in areas where I am consulted. And there is no way anybody can discuss football in Nigeria without mentioning my contributions. There is no way I would turn my back on Nigerian football. It is a matter of dialogue which is the surest way to peace and development in all human endeavours. Anytime I am given the opportunity, I will be ready to serve. I will surely serve Nigerian football for the rest of my life.
Many people feel you are on sabbatical because failed to realise your ambition of replacing Dr. Amos Adamu in CAF. Are you nursing grudges?
No! No!! far from it. It is not the issue. So many things are happening but these are things we do not need to discuss on pages of newspaper. There is so much selfish interest in Nigerian football and when you want the right things done, it appears as if you are courting some people’s trouble. If you want further clarification on these, you wait until when we see face to face.
Most people are of the opinion that the absence of a Nigerian in the Executive Committee of CAF is having adverse effect on the country’s football. How true is this?
Well, we have to put our house in order. It is very very important. Whether there is a Nigerian in the executive committee or not, there are so many Nigerians in the various committees and they should be able to make the necessary contributions. There is no way CAF or FIFA can totally neglect Nigeria. This country is big and formidable. Nigeria has contributed enormously to football development in Africa and the world. We are the giant of Africa. There is no country in Africa that has contributed to football on the continent more than Africa. And talking about committee membership, apart from Cameroon and South Africa, there is no other country that has as many committee members as Nigeria. All we need to do is to put our house in order to move forward.
Super Eagles first competitive match after the victory in South Africa was the match against Kenya which ended in 1-1 draw. What does this say about the Super Eagles?
It is always our problem in football. Anytime we win a major championship, we go to sleep. We relax and begin to underrate our opponents. The return leg in Kenya is a crucial one and it will be difficult but by the grace of almighty Allah, Nigeria would win and qualify for the 2014 World Cup. All we need is the cooperation of the technical committee. The lingering crisis between keshi and the NFF is dangerous and won’t take us anywhere. If not properly handled, it has the potential to deny us the 2014 World Cup ticket. Instead of cutting down Keshi’s backroom staff, he should be allowed to work with those he wants so that tomorrow he won’t have any excuse to give. If you take away his staff and anything happens tomorrow, he can come out and say it is because he did not have the full complement of his backroom staff.