NFF Mafia against Stephen Keshi Unveiled…Shared Super Eagles players’ bonuses, Coach Salaries
- Presidency wades in, to wield ‘big stick’ against Federation
- How Dangote, Mike Adenuga convinced Jonathan to recall Keshi * Sports Minister to query NFF over ‘issue’
- Mafias’ wives have choice boutiques across Nigeria–INVESTIGATION
BY RAMSON LIONEL/GROUP SPORTS EDITOR/Just back from JO’BURG
NIGERIA Football Federation (NFF) seems ‘fishing’ in troubled waters as a result of the alleged bias and seeming financial recklessness of some mafias in this federation whose routine interest is sitting upon the bonuses, salaries of Super Eagles players and their successive coaches. This alleged looting and hijack of the ‘goodies’ belonging to Super Eagles has become a way of life for these mafias who trade with this money and release the said fund at their pleasure. Nigeria’s present Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi who made history as the first Nigerian to have earlier won in 1994 African Nations Cup (AFCON) as then Captain and won few days ago same cup in South Africa as Coach became a victim of these same mafias who threatened to sack him should he open up on the treatment meted on him to the media, except he won all his matches at the just concluded AFCON.
How NFF threatened Keshi
Naija Standard gathered that the NFF leadership had summoned Keshi, ably called ‘Boss’ was allegedly summoned about three times before Super Eagles team left Nigeria for training Overseas that if there came anytime the Nigerian team lost out in AFCON, he should forget his accruable salaries, official car, official house, bonuses as plans was already in place to ‘embarrass him through a public sack letter.’
A source in NFF who would not want his name mentioned in the media because he is not authorized to speak confirmed that “True, Keshi had been warned three times before the Super Eagles team left Nigeria for training Overseas for AFCON fiesta that he should erase his mind from all his accruable salaries, bonuses and those of the Super Eagles players because the team’s payment would be delayed since a chunk of these funds had been expended on trading by few of the mafias wives. There are strong mafias in the NFF who trade on the profit of the Super Eagles team. We know them very well. Their wives have choice boutiques across major cities in the country. Only the presidency can break this cartel.”
Dangote, Adenuga convinced Jonathan to recall Keshi
Further investigation by Naija Standard revealed that billionaire businessmen, Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga Junior-Globacom boss placed phone calls to Keshi when they learnt late yesterday night that Super Eagles handler had ‘thrown in towel’ when he discovered that the NFF mafias were ready to ‘rubbish’ his high-earned credentials through public sack, without paying him if he had not won all his matches. That was why the moment Super Eagles got crowned as ‘King of African Football’ in South Africa, Keshi had granted an exclusive interview to a popular radio station in Madiba’s of his plans to resign. He quickly confided in Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation International Magazine and resigned thereafter.
Keshi’s move was seen as a ‘master stroke’ by the NFF mafias who now became jolted when Adenuga and Dangote briefed President Jonathan all the challenges, financial difficulties and humiliation this wave-making coach suffered in the hands of the cartel.
Presidency wades in, to wield ‘big stick’ against Federation
Obviously furious Nigerian President, Naija Standard learnt within the Villa had expressed shock at the ill treatment meted on Keshi. Immediately, he summoned Bolaji Abdullahi, Minister of Sports to verify the extent of this wickedness on Keshi. Jonathan placed a phone call across to Keshi (then in South Africa) and pleaded with him to rescind his decision on the promise that he will investigate the activities of these mafias in NFF and wield the ‘big stick.’ He told Keshi that henceforth, he should be free to relate directly with the presidency on matters bothering on his welfare and those of the Super Eagles.
At this juncture, Naija Standard learnt Keshi agreed to withdraw his resignation letter and rescin d his decisions as a mark of honor for Nigeria’s presidency.
NFF Mafia Unveiled
Undercover investigation by Naija Standard revealed the following people as the mafias allegedly hindering football growth in Nigeria. These same mafias are behind Keshi present predicament in Super Eagles before hardwork and fate finally stood by him to have won AFCON for posterity in Nigeria. They are parts of NFF Board members including: President: Aminu Maigari, 1st Vice President: Mike Umeh; 2nd Vice President: Davidson Owumi and Chairman of Chairmen: Effiong Johnson
