By Francis Ajuonuma
Nigeria’s oldest and most glamorous football competition, the FA Cup has lost it value, ex-international, Kadiri Ikhana has said.
Ikhana made the observation while commenting on the state of football in the country under the current Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick.
According to the former national team coach, the FA Cup which use to be the biggest football competition in the country has now been mortgaged to the highest bidding teams as a compensation for their loyalty to the football authority.
“I don’t think there is FA Cup again. I think they are playing friendly matches,” Ikhana, a veteran of the prestious FA Cup said.
I’m best qualified for NFF top position – Ndah
“As far as I’m concerned the FA Cup is the biggest competition in the country and in any country. But now there is no FA Cup. The FA Cup before now about six years ago was still okay but today they use it to compensate teams so that the team that pay more will not lose finally, that’s exactly what is happening to the FA Cup in the last six years. They are only using that slot to compensate teams to go and play continental football, “ added the former Super Falcons and Olympic team coach.
On the solution to the poor administration of football in the country, the 2003 Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Champions’ League winning coach with Enyimba said: Bring in ex-international. You cannot bring shoemaker to come and be a radio mechanic or have you seen somebody who has not played table tennis, coaching table tennis? Bring somebody who has tasted the game to the highest point, then give him the support then we’ll get it right.”
