Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, June 30, 2004.
Ministry demands N5m from NFA for Algeria game
By Ben Alaiya
Group
Sports Editor
The Nigeria
Football Association hope of earning N10million from the sale of the clash between the Super Eagles and Algeria, yesterday ran into a hitch as the money is expected to be halved
by the Sports and Social
Development Ministry which
wants the it as charges for the cleaning and usage of the Abuja
National Stadium.
NFA Secretariat
staff were discussing in low tones
yesterday over the untoward development , which they say has been one of the
causes of the cold war between the FA and the ministry. “This match was
supposed to be played in Port Harcourt, where we would have made money from the
state government and even players allowances would have been taken care of but the ministry insisted that
the game should be played in Abuja and is now making outrageous demand for so
called cleaning,.We are definitely not happy with the development”,
commented a staff of the NFA.
Officials say NFA
Scribe, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi is too scared to comment on the development as it
seems a trap has been set for him
by the ministry. The thinking is that any confrontational stance by Ogunjobi would pave the way for his sack. But NFA Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima told
Daily Independent yesterday that he was yet to be briefed on the development
and will make a categorical
statement if it’s true that the ministry was demanding money for
stadium usage.
When told that the
development has been confirmed by secretariat staff, he
said, he does not rely on them for his information but works with the Chief
Executive Officer, who will bring it to his notice in due course.
Meanwhile, Algeria
Desert Foxes, the Super Eagles opponent are expected in the country via Lagos
today for Saturday’s match. The team is expected to jet out to Abuja
later in the day and NFA protocol officials are said to be at alert to give the
visitors a good reception on
arrival.
