Between Vincent Enyeama And Desire Oparanozie: NFF And How Not To Treat Nigeria Heroes And National Teams Captains

By Alhaji Gara Gombe

Recently the NFA (NFF) Communucations Department issued an embarrassing and ridiculous statement just to tarnish the image of Desire Oparanozie the Former Captain of our Female National Team (Falcons)

The NFA while dropping Excluding from the List of invited players to Turkey for an invitational Tournament, they said she should work HARD on her GAME. Indeed the NFA Under Amaju Pinnick is blinded by hatred for Desire. They went ahead to invite players some of whom never played compétitive FOOTBALL and are clubless for over 2 years or more.

What was Desire’s offence? It was because she stood up for her players as CAPTAIN to DEMAND and fight for the WELFARE of the Team against an incurably Corrupt and ILLEGAL NFA. Players Accumulated allowance have not been paid for many years. Desire paid for her boldness and for doing what is Right. In dropping her the NFA was Petty, vindictive, wicked and cowardly sustaining.

They took the Captain Band and gave it to Asisat Odhoala who insulted Nigeria in a tweet during the #Endsars protes that Nigeria is a JUNGLE. This is someone who is even bearing the Prefix of a NATIONAL HONOUR of M.O.N but Shamelessly the NFA did not repremand her but sustainably continued to reward her as a Captain.

So what then is the Difference between ASISAT Oshoala’s statement and that of Nnamdi Kanu who called Nigeria a ZOO? In fact Nnamdi Kanu has never capitained Nigeria or is an MON or placed His hand on his Chest and sang the National Anthem.

Similarly, Vincent Enyeama was the captain of our national team, (Super Eagles). When the Eagles were to play in Kaduna Vincent complained about insecurity of which he was Right and as captain he was speaking for the Team. Before that time he complained about poor travel arrangement by the NFA for the Team.

Instead of them to listen to him and address his concerns they slammed him with a Querry. Nigerians descended heavely on NFA. While this was going on Vincent mother Died. It took the NFA Two weeks to issue a Condolence to its National Team Captain that was bereaved. In fact his club in France issued a statement faster and even before his home FA did. What a shame!

Just as Enyeama was fixing the burial of his mother the NFA fixed an Eagles Camp resumption in Europe on the same day Vincent Was to bury his mother. As chief mourner, Enyeama left Nigeria on the same Night he buried his mother to join the Eagles Camp only for him to find out that he was removed as captain of the Super Eagles and in his Place Ahmed Musa was appointed.

As if that was not enough, he was embarrassed and kicked out of his Hotel Room which the NFA are still denying. Vincent is not just an ordinary player. He is our most Capped player in our football history and the most consistent goalkeeper in our national team history. That is why till today we never see peace in our goalkeeping until the NFA apologised to Enyeama.

One of those instances Vincent complianed about travel arrangement for the Eagles was the time they played in Kaduna on Saturday and they were to play again on Tuesday I think in Morocco or Algeria instead of NFA to arrange for the Chartered flight to pick them up in Kaduna, the same night they played to their next game venue so that they rest that day and train on Sunday and Monday the NFA drove the Eagles to Abuja from Kaduna.

On arrival in Abuja they were on board the Chaetered Flight on Sunday for 6 Hours waiting for Amaju Pinnick who was to fly in from Lagos on that Sunday to join them where he went to watch and attend Night of a Thousand Laugh Event of which he was a sponsor.

HOW on earth can anyone not complain with this kind of arrangement and Leadership arrogance.?

Indeed the NFA should learn on how to Treat our NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAINS.