WARRING FOOTBALL GROUPS CEASE FIRE

 
The new Minister and  Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Yusuf Suleiman in his efforts to end the crisis in Nigeria football yesterday endorsed  the setting up of a seven-man committee to reform football in the country.

This was contained in a Communique issued after a two-day meeting between the Minister, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by its president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the group led by Jarret Tenebe.

Speaking at the joint press briefing, Suleiman said from the beginning he was optimistic that if the issue was truly how to develop football in the country, then the crisis would be easily resolved. He praised the two feuding bodies, the NFF and the NFA for accepting to come to a round table saying with patriotism, there is no issue that cannot be resolved amicably.

'After listening t both parties, it was very clear that it was their passion and interest for the development of the game that made them to take the various positions they took, the only difference was the approach each of them adopted'.

He also revealed that the seven man committee which will be made up from each of the two parties including another five to be nominated by the NSC would be inaugurated next week adding that then  terms of reference would be made public. But it appeared that the minister has been streamlined into the earlier script of the NSC which had soft spots for the rebel group. The ministry asked the rebel leader Tenebe to read the communique.

'After listening t both parties, it was very clear that it was their passion and interest for the development of the game that made them to take the various positions they took, the only difference was the approach each of them adopted'.

He also revealed that the seven man committee which will be made up from each of the two parties including another five to be nominated by the NSC would be inaugurated next week adding that then  terms of reference would be made public. But it appeared that the minister has been streamlined into the earlier script of the NSC which had soft spots for the rebel group. The ministry asked the rebel leader Tenebe to read the communique.