Daily Independent Online.
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Thursday, July 08, 2004.
NFA summons NRA warring factions
By Ben Alaiya
Group
Sports Editor
The Nigeria
Football Association (NFA), says it’s not ready for another crises in one
of its affiliate bodies after the recent resolution of the Nigeria Coaches
Association feud.
It has therefore
summoned the warring factions in the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), to a
meeting next week in Abuja. The meeting is likely to hold mid-week, according
to NFA Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.
He said the reason
behind the convening of the meeting was the need to reconcile the three warring
factions of Dr Sam Sam Jaja, Abel Ehigie and Afam Nnaji, ahead of the August 21
elections in Lagos.
In the first place,
this is a football matter and we must ensure that it’s settled out of
court because FIFA frowns at such settlement, we also want to ensure that we
get all the contending parties to a round-table where all disagreements would
be settled for the sake of football development in the country. Galadima
said he has already informed
out-going NRA boss, Col Dogo Joro Yabilsu about the peace parley that will also
have NFA Secretary General in attendance as it would afford the NFA the
opportunity to make credible
contributions to the feud, which he described as a family affair.
The list of those to attend the meeting may also include
respected retired referees like Mr Linus Mba and serving referees like Mr Segun
Oguntade, who have one or two bones to pick with the NRA leadership.
