LAGOS - Technical consultant to the NFF, Adegboye Onigbinde has frowned at the way Nigeria ‘exposed her dirty linen in public’ to FIFA during the last week.
Despite expressing happiness and joy that the Federal Government of Nigeria has rescinded its decision not to host the 2009 U-17 World Cup, Onigbinde says the country got it all wrong.
“I am very happy like other soccer loving Nigerians that the Federal Government rescinded its decision and Nigeria will now host the U- 17 World Cup come 2009.
“This is a welcome development because not hosting the event would have had negative implications on the country’s football most especially the players that could have been exposed through the competition.
“Nigeria is a respected nation when it comes to football and things should have been initially sorted out at home before going directly to FIFA,” Onigbinde told KickOffNigeria.com.
The former Super Eagles handler was saddened by the way Nigeria was ridiculed because of ego fighting between two bigwigs in Nigerian sports which has now gotten to a worrisome stage of trying to out wit others to the detriment of the Nation.
“This case should not have gotten to this sorry stage if things were done properly. To me it was a domestic problem which should have been resolved amicably before sending a letter of withdrawal from hosting the global event.
“Yes if the figure quoted was bogus, the authority should have called the people involved to round table discussions where the government intentions would have prevailed after all.
“What we are doing now is what we ought to have done in the first place before rushing to FIFA to submit our letter of withdrawal. We shouldn’t have washed our dirty linen outside.
“The authorities could have summoned the LOC and request for the budget where it would have pruned down without any noise like it was eventually pruned down now.
“I am convinced that it was a case of what we called “bad belle” that is somebody trying not only to blackmail the country but entire continent of Africa because he has an axe to grind with certain persons,” Onigbinde said.
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