I dont think those who engage with the AFN as constituted owe anybody any explanation in respect of such engagements. I went to Glasgow to watch the Commonwealth Games because it is about 45 minutes flight from Dublin and because I could afford the return flight and hotel accommodation.Ordinarily,if I came in contact with AFN officials during the trip,I do not owe anybody any explanation especially our athletes and ex athletes. But due to this forum,I owe you a duty to know what transpired.In relaying my interactions with individuals it is left for you to arrive at one conclusion or the other. Tafida Wadzani Gadzama is a member of the board of the AFN and as you know he is a golden Olympian from Sydney 2000.He is also an officer of the Nigerian Prison Service. I love him because he accepts his human failings without qualms. He accepted that he compromised his integrity when he was lured or tricked by Ogba to attend a Meet in Qatar. He represented the interests of the ex athletes and athletes on the board by his posturing before the elections. After the eections,the issue of the ban of Soetan led to many enquiries about his views and what he was doing to reverse it. As you and I know,Soetan remains banned. I was shocked when Gadzama politely advised me and others to contest elections into the AFN Board instead of just writing on facebook.At the time,I sympathised with him and did not attack him for deviating from his stated goals when campaigning to be elected. Glasgow afforded me an opportunity to confront Ogba over Gadzama. He said that he was the member chosen for grassroot development but unfortunately he has not come up with any programme for them to execute.He said that he barely attends meetings. I understand the position as Gadzama is resident in the UK and is now elected a councillor in charge of youth development or so. I dont think in relaying what Ogba said about him,I have done something wrong.From the foregoing it is obvious that something has to give because he cannot be in two places at the same time. I want to conclude this post by stating that we have numerous ex-athletes.Not every ex athlete has the time to criticise the AFN.Not every ex athlete is interested in AFN politics.Not every ex-athlete is interested in becoming a member of the board.But I know that whether active or otherwise,we all crave for progress in our sports.I stand for progress.I am not interested in AFN job!
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 10:32:41 +0000
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