Corruption: Beast that blocks football progress in Nigeria

Bookmakers characterize corruption as a type of contemptibility or a criminal offense which is embraced by an individual or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s personal gain.

It may involve many activities which include bribery, influence peddling and embezzlement and it may also involve practices which are legal in many countries.

Political corruption occurs when an office-holder or other governmental employee acts with an official capacity for personal gain.

Corruption and wrongdoing are endemic humanistic events which show up with normal recurrence in basically all underdeveloped nations like Nigeria varying degrees and proportions

In Nigeria, the public authority has put forth attempts to limit corruption through the establishment of various regulations agencies and the implementation of honesty frameworks, yet there is pretty much nothing, unfortunately or no accomplishment by any means.

Greed, ostentatious lifestyle, customs, and people’s attitudes are believed to have led to corruption to thrive in Nigeria.

Corruption has impeded growth and development in so many aspects of our lives, football inclusive.

Also, that is the reason why from the 2013 when Nigeria won Nations Cup in South Africa to date, Nigerian football is on the decay. No significant advancement and improvement have been recorded.

Without a doubt corruption will not permit our soccer to develop and create. And that explained why there is no private participation in our local leagues.

And unless we have private participation in our leagues like what we have in other countries og the world, football will remain dead in Nigeria.

The people who imposed themselves on us and served as managers of our soccer are gold diggers and good examples of excessive leaders who are more interested in power than action.

They are occupying offices in the Glass House of Abuja not for the good of the game but for the foreign currency they collected as allowances. That made them to be more interested in what they are getting than soccer development in the country.

Most or all of them are not true or genuine stakeholders because they don’t own any football team but yet they supervised football. That explained why we don’t have free and fair elections in the NFF.

Therefore, some week ago, the Vandrezzer Football Club announced its withdrawal from the Nigerian football league which many looked as a big setback for the game.

The chairman of the Vandrezzer FC, Mr Joe Udofia, confirmed the negative and sad development from Spain where he is currently on holiday with his family.

Mr. Udofia who reiterated his longstanding commitment to revolutionizing Nigerian football, said his primary goal was to foster growth in the sector and provide opportunities for talented youth in the country.

“My aim was to transform the operational dynamics of football, which has witnessed some positive effects in the last three years, particularly in clubs investing in branding and merchandise’’, he explained.

The Chairman said he had injected over $3 million into the club, football development, and broadcasting equipment, hoping that the authorities would align with their vision.

According to him, pervasive issues in Nigerian football extend far beyond financial investments and are impeding its growth and development.

“Corruption among those in positions of authority has deeply entrenched itself in the system,” Vandrezzer FC boss added.

Mr. Udopia revealed that his team faced challenges such as poor officiating, intimidation from the away club and their supporters, vandalisation of broadcast equipment, points deduction, and corrupt practices among other things are what ultimately led the owners of the club to withdraw their support, viewing Nigerian football as a sinking ship.

The Chairman felt betrayed by individuals whom he had entrusted with the club’s development. They prioritized personal gain over the club’s welfare.

The team manager who is now with another club, openly exhibited malicious intent towards Vandrezzer FC, while the management colluded with some players to manipulate match outcomes for trivial rewards.

These practices persisted until Mr. Udofia became aware last year when a former coach posted a screenshot of the team taking money from the management of the club they travelled to play against and lost scandalously, prompting him to withdraw funding from the first team and focus on the academy.

“The outstanding salaries owed to staff were a result of this corruption, punishing innocent individuals for the actions of the guilty few,” he explained.

Although there hasn’t been an official statement regarding Vandrezzer FC’s withdrawal from the league, rumors circulating is indeed true, and the chairman’s frustration with Nigerian football has reached its peak.

Mr. Udopia then assured me that all staff owed salaries would be compensated in the coming weeks, having approved a sum of N14 million to clear all outstanding payments.

A fan who commented on this sad development said, “witnessing this downfall is disheartening. As I personally invested time and money into the club, made sacrifices, and travelled to away matches at my own expense to support the team. It’s painful to see it end like this,” he added.

These were similar negative motivations behind why groups from Corporate bodies like Leventis United of Ibadan, Julius Berger FC of Lagos, Vigilant Insurance Professionals (VIP) of Lagos, DIC Bees of Kaduna, JIB Rocks and NASCO Jets all of Jos of blessed memory all pulled out from our leagues.

Likewise, from individual side, Jespa United of Onisha, Giwa FC of Jos, Stationary Stores from Lagos, Ranchers Bees from Kaduna, Abiola Babes of Abeokuta, Iwuanyawu International of Oweri and Udoji United of Akwa and many more all left in light of the fact that the climate to prosper was not there in Nigerian leagues.

As at now nearly all our football clubs are owned and managed by state governments who also entrusted their cronies to manage them.

And sadly, most them know nothing about football or its administration. They are the ones that used to bribed referees to get results to justifies their appointments.

Until this large number of gold diggers are pursued away from the system and bring back genuine stakeholders to manage our soccer, no reasonable privately owned business will partake which implies that our soccer will stay lacking.