On his third day in office, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has assured that he would run an inclusive administration, bringing all stakeholders on board to offer counsel on the best way to deal with policies and situations.
Gusau was elected last Friday at the NFF Congress, leading in the first ballot and eventually winning the second ballot by 39 votes to one by his challenger, Pastor Peterson Idah.
“Administration at every level, that of football inclusive, requires the wisdom to be able to listen to everyone who has an idea and then pick the very best to deal with each situation at hand. Those of us in the Executive Committee are only privileged to be representing the entire fraternity.
“We will run an inclusive administration in which ideas and advice will be welcome from all quarters, and will be guided in our resolutions. It is very important to resuscitate the League and engender a massive football economy from which every stakeholder can benefit and also be happy to contribute to its growth”.
Former Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission, Gusau served in the Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship, and is also a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) organising committee for youth competitions.
He is equally a CAF Safety and Security Officer.
Having served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen and member of the NFF Executive Committee under the immediate past president, Mr Amaju Pinnick, Gusau said he is determined to focus hard on the welfare of players and officials of the various national teams, in order to ginger and motivate them for podium appearances at international competitions to the glory of the country.
“It is important to prioritise grassroots football and youth development. And that we will take to heart. It is also important to win trophies, and both can go side-by-side. Winning trophies is good for our country’s image in the international sphere and also helps to motivate the upcoming stars at the grassroots level”.
The new NFF Executive Committee will hold its first meeting in Abuja in a few days.
Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Matawalle has meanwhile congratulated Gusau following his emergence as the new NFF President.
While receiving Gusau at the state Governor’s lodge in Abuja on Sunday, Matawalle expressed his delight with the outcome of the election and urged the helmsman to bring in his robust ideas and wealth of experience in football administration in piloting the affairs of the Federation.
The governor added that, as Chairman of the state Football Association and that of the Sports Commission, he believed that Gusau’s experience in sports administration and management would be telling in the growth and development of football in the country.
