Ex-Super Eagles star, Sunday Oliseh, on Wednesday opened a Twitter conversation on how the incoming administration could refocus the country’s sports to make it deliver on its goals—national unity and youth development.
The ex-international lists some points he wants the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to address to strengthen the sector and raise its performance bar. He asks his fans to discuss the points listed on his blog, sundayoliseh.tv.
Unlike the current arrangement where states own the majority of the football clubs in the country, Oliseh calls for a broad privatisation programme that will change the status quo. He charges the incoming administration to, through an enabling law, privatise the clubs and ban state governments from funding them.
He says a law making it illegal for state government to own sports clubs and facilities is important, as it will make the sector more efficient.
“A law banning state governments from not only owning football clubs, but also sports infrastructure should be put in place. Privatising football clubs to motivate profit orientation and reduce state sponsorship that obviously is a catalyst to all kinds of irregularities will go a long way in growth stimulation,” he argues.
According to Oliseh, privatisation will make local and national leagues more efficient as platforms for upcoming stars, while also serving as social tools for youth development.
Calling on Buhari to wage war against corruption in the sector, he says those who stole sports funds in the past must not go unpunished. He says Nigeria’s sports, being a mirror of the country, should not be allowed to function without accountability.
He writes, “Corruption, which is crippling Nigeria’s general well-being, is also evident in sports. Currently, attention is focused on football where there is gross unaccountability while other sports are neglected. This should be tackled through improved accountability and stiff punishment for inappropriate behaviour.
“Those involved in scandalous cases such as missing millions from the football association’s coffer and those for football matches involving two Nigerian promotion playoff games should not go unpunished.”
The 1996 Olympics gold medalist urges the President-elect to show more interest in the development of local sports, which he says is at its lowest point in its history.
“Nigeria’s sport heroes are often left to rot after making their country proud. Buhari will motivate interest in national glory by ensuring better compensation for our sports stars when they represent Nigeria,” he urges.
Frowning at what he describes as historic neglect of the country’s sports stars, he recalls that the golden generation of 1994 is yet to receive the houses promised them by the Federal Government.
“Today, 21 years after, the fact is that some have, sadly, passed away without receiving any thanks for putting Nigeria on the world map of respectable sport nations.
“Do not be deceived, the western countries compensate their sports heroes to the tune of millions of dollars when they win in their national colour. So, why will Nigerian sports stars not be compensated?”
Oliseh decries excessive “politicisation of sports,” saying it is ridiculing the country. Internal disagreements, he suggests, should be tackled in “African way,” instead of going to court.
Social media activists who have started to feast on Oliseh’s suggestions agree that sports sector needs cleansing and refocusing. In days to come, fans of the sports analyst will likely continue to bare their minds on the issues and other strategies the incoming administration should employ to improve performance.
What is clear as of press time is that Oliseh’s fans have not faulted him. A tweeter, one Oleameh, says Buhari must go tough with the national sports managers to achieve any meaningful success.
While the governorship and state legislature elections may have stolen the show on social media, agenda-setting is gradually gaining ground. Individuals and groups have started tabling lists of issues they expect the incoming administration to tackle.
Meanwhile, social media platforms are being inundated by speculations on individuals who will be part of the Buhari cabinet. On Facebook and blogs, different names are being linked with different ministerial positions, while users of the platforms have started profiling the individuals to ascertain their competence, integrity and suitability.
Source:punch
Ex-Super Eagles star, Sunday Oliseh, on Wednesday opened a Twitter conversation on how the incoming administration could refocus the country’s sports to make it deliver on its goals—national unity and youth development.
The ex-international lists some points he wants the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to address to strengthen the sector and raise its performance bar. He asks his fans to discuss the points listed on his blog, sundayoliseh.tv.
Unlike the current arrangement where states own the majority of the football clubs in the country, Oliseh calls for a broad privatisation programme that will change the status quo. He charges the incoming administration to, through an enabling law, privatise the clubs and ban state governments from funding them.
He says a law making it illegal for state government to own sports clubs and facilities is important, as it will make the sector more efficient.
“A law banning state governments from not only owning football clubs, but also sports infrastructure should be put in place. Privatising football clubs to motivate profit orientation and reduce state sponsorship that obviously is a catalyst to all kinds of irregularities will go a long way in growth stimulation,” he argues.
According to Oliseh, privatisation will make local and national leagues more efficient as platforms for upcoming stars, while also serving as social tools for youth development.
Calling on Buhari to wage war against corruption in the sector, he says those who stole sports funds in the past must not go unpunished. He says Nigeria’s sports, being a mirror of the country, should not be allowed to function without accountability.
He writes, “Corruption, which is crippling Nigeria’s general well-being, is also evident in sports. Currently, attention is focused on football where there is gross unaccountability while other sports are neglected. This should be tackled through improved accountability and stiff punishment for inappropriate behaviour.
“Those involved in scandalous cases such as missing millions from the football association’s coffer and those for football matches involving two Nigerian promotion playoff games should not go unpunished.”
The 1996 Olympics gold medalist urges the President-elect to show more interest in the development of local sports, which he says is at its lowest point in its history.
“Nigeria’s sport heroes are often left to rot after making their country proud. Buhari will motivate interest in national glory by ensuring better compensation for our sports stars when they represent Nigeria,” he urges.
Frowning at what he describes as historic neglect of the country’s sports stars, he recalls that the golden generation of 1994 is yet to receive the houses promised them by the Federal Government.
“Today, 21 years after, the fact is that some have, sadly, passed away without receiving any thanks for putting Nigeria on the world map of respectable sport nations.
“Do not be deceived, the western countries compensate their sports heroes to the tune of millions of dollars when they win in their national colour. So, why will Nigerian sports stars not be compensated?”
Oliseh decries excessive “politicisation of sports,” saying it is ridiculing the country. Internal disagreements, he suggests, should be tackled in “African way,” instead of going to court.
Social media activists who have started to feast on Oliseh’s suggestions agree that sports sector needs cleansing and refocusing. In days to come, fans of the sports analyst will likely continue to bare their minds on the issues and other strategies the incoming administration should employ to improve performance.
What is clear as of press time is that Oliseh’s fans have not faulted him. A tweeter, one Oleameh, says Buhari must go tough with the national sports managers to achieve any meaningful success.
While the governorship and state legislature elections may have stolen the show on social media, agenda-setting is gradually gaining ground. Individuals and groups have started tabling lists of issues they expect the incoming administration to tackle.
Meanwhile, social media platforms are being inundated by speculations on individuals who will be part of the Buhari cabinet. On Facebook and blogs, different names are being linked with different ministerial positions, while users of the platforms have started profiling the individuals to ascertain their competence, integrity and suitability.
Source:punch
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