NIS DG extols Gusau’s reforms, worthwhile football projects

By Amaechi Agbo.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu has heaped plaudits on the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) for the silent revolution that the latter is engendering in Nigeria football.
Shaibu led a team of NIS Management and Staff to the NFF Secretariat on Monday, where he extolled Gusau’s excellent and lasting reforms, passion for football development from the grassroots, and the focus on infrastructure that has seen remarkable improvements in playing pitches across the nation.
“There is a silent revolution going on in Nigeria Football that people may not appreciate for now. The fruits of those reforms will be evident in the coming years. See what is happening in the League. Last weekend, Bendel Insurance went to Bauchi to defeat Wikki Tourists FC. Shooting Stars went to Maiduguri to defeat El-Kanemi Warriors. These things were not possible some years ago. The NNL is also undergoing remarkable transformation.
“More than that, we can see the focus on football infrastructure. In years to come, different NFF administrations will look at this project you are doing nearby (NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches) and commend your vision,” Shaibu told Gusau while on a condolence and strategic visit to the NFF.
Gusau’s passion for development of the game from the grassroots is well-documented. His administration has encouraged many more grassroots football tournaments than any other before it, and only on Wednesday, he was made a patron of the nascent Renewed Hope Unity Cup football competition.
Reforms have been firm and unwavering in the area of refereeing, with a lot of bad eggs already thrown off the dock, while the NFF and WAFU-B supremo never misses an opportunity to warn active officials on the dangers of misconduct and bringing the game to disrepute.
The NFF shipped in modern communication gadgets for the referees, and got its Official Bank, Premium Trust Bank, to change the looks of the match commissioners with branded and impressive suits.
Coaching courses have returned with full force after staying comatose for several years before Gusau’s ascension, and these have included CAF C-License and CAF B-License programmes, with a historic women-only CAF C-License course that drew 30 women to Abuja for a three-module programme over three months last year. CAF’s approval for the A-License course is right by the door, and the women-only CAF B course will take place next year.
The reforms have continued off the field, with FIFA-endorsed amendment to the NFF Statutes successfully implemented at last month’s extraordinary general assembly of the NFF.
Gusau’s shuttle diplomacy, unwaning campaign and ceaseless exhortations have resulted in noticeable improvements in stadia facilities in Benue, Ogun, Kano, Oyo, Bayelsa, Edo and Kwara States, with more States registering their commitment to ensure better playing pitches in their domains.
Above all, the construction of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and two new training pitches (with renovation of the existing one) in the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium has drawn global applause, with the projects on course to be completed in the first quarter of next year.