FIFA PRESIDENCY: Itemuagbor explains interest in Kalu
Throughout the discussion, Mike Itemuagbor neither assured of a victory for the Nigerian candidate nor spoke of the glaring possibility of losing the election.
Orji Uzor Kalu
But he is bent on campaigning for a Nigerian candidate for the benefits that he said may accrue to Nigeria. And he thumped his chest that the benefits are huge. Yes, the foremost sports marketer in Nigeria today and one of the few respected and recognised in the continent and beyond will go on to campaign for a Nigerian candidate in the next Fifa election to produce President of the world football governing body. And Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State may benefit from Itemuagbor’s campaigns if he decides to run as has been published in the media.
“Fifa Presidency is a global phenomenon and Orji Uzor Kalu gunning for it will put Nigeria on that global pedestal,” Itemuagbor said. For strategic and logistic reasons, he declined to give details of the benefits, only mentioning a few.
“It is important Nigerians play international politics in sports. It puts your country in the proper limelight and could, in a way, promote the game for which a country produces a towering international figure. I may not even go far to give examples. We hosted many events largely because Amos Adamu was in Fifa and facilitated many things. And by hosting those events, we put more facilities in place in Nigeria. And do you know that if Orji Uzor Kalu is a candidate and manages to rally Africa around him, he could be in a position to attract good things that can promote the game in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
If he wields enough influence to negotiate and attract football development programmes because of his exposure to the international game and politics who benefits? Contesting may expose him to the international football politics that may eventually rob off positively for our football.
Footballers will benefit and that will help the growth of the game. But if we don’t have people in international bodies, we may not even know what is happening what more helping to develop the game in our country. I’m not saying that membership of Fifa is the only way to develop the game.
No, not at all. But it helps and the benefits are what I want for Nigeria.”
Nigeria Football Federation has asked anybody interested in the Fifa Presidency to seek endorsement from their State FA, the National Sports Commission.
Another interested candidate, Segun Odegbami, a one time captain of the National team, has protested against the NFF position, stating rightly that they were not Fifa requirements.
Fifa requires candidates to have been active in association football for a period of at least two years and to be endorsed by five federations. Odegbami expected charity to begin at home and applied to NFF for which the federation has given conditions that are not in Fifa books.
Executive membership of a continental football body is an uphill task what more the world governing football body. Itemuagbor acknowledges this but insists that there’s no harm in trial for the benefits such candidature can attract to a country are of international dimension especially with regard to football development and politics.
“Our federation will even be more respected to produce a candidate and make impact with such a candidate but I’m not sure that they are aware,” Itemuagbor lamented.
Orji Uzor Kalu
But he is bent on campaigning for a Nigerian candidate for the benefits that he said may accrue to Nigeria. And he thumped his chest that the benefits are huge. Yes, the foremost sports marketer in Nigeria today and one of the few respected and recognised in the continent and beyond will go on to campaign for a Nigerian candidate in the next Fifa election to produce President of the world football governing body. And Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State may benefit from Itemuagbor’s campaigns if he decides to run as has been published in the media.
“Fifa Presidency is a global phenomenon and Orji Uzor Kalu gunning for it will put Nigeria on that global pedestal,” Itemuagbor said. For strategic and logistic reasons, he declined to give details of the benefits, only mentioning a few.
“It is important Nigerians play international politics in sports. It puts your country in the proper limelight and could, in a way, promote the game for which a country produces a towering international figure. I may not even go far to give examples. We hosted many events largely because Amos Adamu was in Fifa and facilitated many things. And by hosting those events, we put more facilities in place in Nigeria. And do you know that if Orji Uzor Kalu is a candidate and manages to rally Africa around him, he could be in a position to attract good things that can promote the game in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
If he wields enough influence to negotiate and attract football development programmes because of his exposure to the international game and politics who benefits? Contesting may expose him to the international football politics that may eventually rob off positively for our football.
Footballers will benefit and that will help the growth of the game. But if we don’t have people in international bodies, we may not even know what is happening what more helping to develop the game in our country. I’m not saying that membership of Fifa is the only way to develop the game.
No, not at all. But it helps and the benefits are what I want for Nigeria.”
Nigeria Football Federation has asked anybody interested in the Fifa Presidency to seek endorsement from their State FA, the National Sports Commission.
Another interested candidate, Segun Odegbami, a one time captain of the National team, has protested against the NFF position, stating rightly that they were not Fifa requirements.
Fifa requires candidates to have been active in association football for a period of at least two years and to be endorsed by five federations. Odegbami expected charity to begin at home and applied to NFF for which the federation has given conditions that are not in Fifa books.
Executive membership of a continental football body is an uphill task what more the world governing football body. Itemuagbor acknowledges this but insists that there’s no harm in trial for the benefits such candidature can attract to a country are of international dimension especially with regard to football development and politics.
“Our federation will even be more respected to produce a candidate and make impact with such a candidate but I’m not sure that they are aware,” Itemuagbor lamented.
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