You’re also involved in bribery – Mantari

The permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development, Mr. Solomon Mantakari has told the Professional Football Club Owner’s Association members that they too were involved in the bribery scam that almost rocked the Pro-League that ended since over three weeks ago without final league table. Nigeriasports.com can reveal.

“It takes two to tangle”, Solomon Mantakari told members of the Professional football Club Owner’s Association that paid a courtesy visit to the honourable Sports minister, colonel Musa Muhammed (rtd).

Mantakari, who represented the minister, though noted that the Nigeria football Association has in the recent past not been up and doing stated that members of the Professional Football Club Owners were also guilty lots in the bribery scam.

The Honourable Lumumba Adeh-led Professional Football Club Owner’s Association during the visit had prayed the Sports Minister to assist in the abrogation of the decree 101 as it adversely affecting the administration of football in the country.

The minister was also told that the Nigeria Football Association has since inception of the Pro-League Board not been involving them in all contract deals as it affect the clubs as well as the players they nurture to stardom.

Citing the case of transfer of John Utaka to a North African clubside for a meager sum of 20,000 US dollars, the former Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Chief Festus Onigninde, who delivered a key note address to the sports minister said the North African club sold Utaka for 2 million dollars six months later to a club in Qatar.

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“The Qatar club eventually sent him (Utaka) to Lens FC of France for 4 million dollars. Good business no doubt. Football all over the globe is big business and if properly packaged, will not only reduce financial commitments of government, it will also have positive impact on the economy of the country”, Chief Onigbinde said.

The embittered members of the professional football club owners association later went on another courtesy visit to the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Honourable Sirajo Harisu.

Hon Harisu, while promising to look into the deplorable state of football administration in the country, said he would want a situation where members of the NFA would be physically present.

“I would not want representatives at the meeting so that we can sit and amicably resolve all problems as it affect the administration of football in the country”, said Honourable Harisu, who disclosed that already he has a petition against the NFA, which he was yet to handle.

Club Owner’s Association in soul-searching mission

Members of the Professional Football Club Owner’s Association have resolved to reposition the association to a vibrant position.

The professional football club owner’s association secretary, Arthur Kwame in a communiqué at end of its meeting in Abuja this evening said a five-man committee has been put in place to work on how to reposition the association.

The committee has the former Chief Coach of the Super Eagles and FIFA Technical Instructor, Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde as the chairman.

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Other members of the committee are Barrister Igbokwe, Alhaji Ibrahim Sakiru, chief Olayiwola Olagbenro, Mr Olowo and Arthur Kwame as the secretary.

Kwame however said that a functioning secretariat would be established in Abuja, and would encourage urgent advocating of autonomy of the running of professional football league in the country.

Remarkably, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development, Mr. Solomon Mantakari had tongue lashed the members of the Professional Football club Owner’s Association during a courtesy visit on the minister that some of them were also involved in the alleged bribery scam that almost took the shine off the Pro-League in the country.

By Fidelis Ebu in Abuja