Onigbinde fears football masterplan will fail if neglected by incoming government

Chief Adegboye Onigbinde

• Cautions against surrendering football administration to government

Former Super Eagles Coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, has warned that the 10-year football masterplan submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday may fail to achieve its aim when the current government leaves office.

According to Onigbinde, the project will only succeed if Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, and the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, put machinery that will ensure it is implemented by their successors.

Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Onigbinde, who lamented that he was sidelined in the writing of the football documents despite his continuous call over the years for Nigeria to have a viable football plan, said the document should be made available for Nigerians to know and monitor its budget, as well as police those managing football to ensure they stick to the guidelines.

“The 10-year football masterplan is a good step in the right direction, because this is what I have been clamouring for over the years.

“But it surprises me that I was not carried along, because I have written series of documents on how football will develop in Nigeria. I will not be surprised if some of my ideas are on that document.

“I believe I was not involved in this football masterplan project because they know I will not receive any bribe or influence to scuttle the job. But I believe the document can only see the light of day if there is a solid policy put in place for incoming officials soccer to follow.

“10 years plan is a long project and for it to be effective, all hands must be on deck.

“In other countries where things work normal and the citizens work to develop any project they met on ground, it would not