By Maxwell Kumoye
Seasoned journalist John Atale has thrown his weight behind Nigeria football legend Segun Odegbami as his preferred candidate to lead the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) once the ongoing reform process in Nigerian football is completed.
Atale, while weighing the credentials of Odegbami against those of former NFF presidents Amaju Pinnick and other prominent football stakeholders such as businessman Kunle Soname, said he would vote for the former Green Eagles captain without sentiment.
“Between Segun Odegbami, Soname and Amaju Pinnick as NFF President, I’ll vote for Big Seg for obvious reasons. Sentiments thrown into the gutters,” Atale stated.
According to the journalist, Odegbami’s strongest advantage is his extensive experience both on the pitch and in football administration.
He highlighted Odegbami’s illustrious playing career, noting that the former Shooting Stars star won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, while earning 46 international caps, scoring goals and serving as captain of the national team.
He argued that Odegbami’s experience as a former international gives him an understanding of football that goes beyond administration.
“He knows the game from inside,” he stressed.
Beyond his playing career, Atale pointed to Odegbami’s administrative credentials, citing his leadership of Nigeria’s Bid Management Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, his involvement in Confederation of African Football (CAF) committees, management of football programmes such as the Shell Cup and his experience running football clubs.
He also noted that, despite the long history of former internationals in Nigerian football, the country’s football federation has yet to be led at the top by a former Super Eagles international of Odegbami’s stature.
In comparing Odegbami with former NFF president Amaju Pinnick, Atale expressed reservations about returning the former federation chief to the presidency.
He pointed to Nigeria’s failure to qualify for two FIFA World Cups during the broader period of recent football administration as part of his concerns, while also referencing questions surrounding audits, funding and the increasing politicization of football administration.
“For Pinnick, let disaster not befall the country once again,” Atale stated.
He also urged caution over a possible Soname candidacy, arguing that the businessman should first gain more experience navigating the complex politics and administration of modern football.
“Soname should hang around and ‘learn the ropes’ of modern football politics,” he said, adding that he would rather back an established administrator whose pedigree is already known.
Atale’s endorsement of Odegbami comes at a time when calls for reforms within Nigerian football have intensified, with stakeholders expected to play a major role in determining the leadership structure of the NFF after the reform process is concluded.
Atale’s choice is straight forward, experience, football pedigree and administrative exposure should take precedence when the time comes to choose the person who will lead Nigerian football into its next chapter.
“Let’s allow an established administrator whose pedigree is already known. Rule!”
