By Amaechi Agbo

As Countries across the world gear up for resumption or cancellation of football activities following suspension due to coronavirus also known as COVID-19, Chairman of Nigeria Professional Football League side, Akwa United, Paul Bassey has stated that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, does not have plans to resume football activities in the country, Bestchoicesports.com.ng reports.

The NFF on March 18, 2020 suspended all football activities across the country following the spreading of COVID-19.

Speaking in Channels on Wednesday, Mr Bassey noted that from all that have been happening, the NFF is not ready to resume football activities in the country.

The Akwa United Chairman noted that despite the green light given by the federal government through the minister of youth and sports, the NFF is yet to come out with plan on how and when it wants football restarted in the country.

He expressed worry that despite the fact the Federal government has given go ahead for the National Sports Festival, NSF to hold this year, NFF failed to leverage on the situation to recommence the league.

He wondered that the sports festival that would see over 5, 000 athletes converge for honours, why would football not be restored

“Few days ago, I sat down with the federal government. Because before now we have been waiting for the government. The government is the minister of sports who can talk to the FG or the NCDC and get back to us.

“If the minister few days ago can agree with the National Council of Sports that the National Sports Festival can hold if logistics especially health infrastructure are provided, then let the NFF go and tell the minister that we are ready to start.
“If he can give approval for a sports festival that will involve 5 000 athletes, at least, then let us verify the COVID-19 infrastructure in one or two states and start the league.

“And we need a plan, we cannot wait forever and ever. NFF does not have plan to restart the league. Let us for instance, by May 25 say this is what we want to do. And present it before the government who will either approve or not approve it. But the issue is that we must have a plan. By the 25 of June, we want to start the league, before then, but nobody has said anything. We need the players back to training.

“The minister have agreed that we can host the sports festival and that was the biggest news I have heard in months. If the festival can hold, the league can also hold without problems as long as we take care of the health situation which we can,” he said