Amanze Uchegbu-lam’s address was factual, his delivery dramatically entertaining and the response from the hall was an ovation. The former Vice president of NFF was in Warri to deliver the message
of FIFA President, Sepp Blatter and CAF President Isa Hayatou to the
General Congress of the FA yesterday.
Amanze, a member of FIFA Statutes Committee and who is well respected
for his knowledge of the game, delivered goodwill messages from Hayatou
and Blatter to the packed-full congress. His gesticulation and manner
of delivery excited the delegates. Amanze said that Blatter recalled the drama at the VIP box in China
during the Olympics soccer semi final event between Nigeria and Belgium.
Hayatou, the CAF President and Michel Platini, the UEFA President, were
seated for the game and before Blatter boasted so much about the
outcome that they challenged each other with a betting on who will win.
Hayatou boasted about Africa’s representative Nigeria and Platini
gave the match to Belgium. Blatter was not only a witness but also the
arbiter in the betting. When Nigeria scored the first goal, Hayatou
moved over to Platini and said “I told you! Second goal came, he moved
over and said “I told you.”
When Nigeria scored the fourth goal, Hayatou yelled to Platini, “it
is finished.” Blatter, according to Uchegbulam recalled that drama and
said they should tell the delegates to ensure that Eagles do well in the
World Cup so that they can all recall the China drama.
Amanze recalled that the message to Nigeria in 2011 Congress was for
peace to reign in our football, following the many litigations that the
NFF was going through. In Port Harcourt in the last Congress, peace had
returned.
Then Amanze said that “this year the result of peace could be seen in
the achievement recorded in the Nation Cup victory, world Cup
qualification and the U-17 victory in UAE.
In his own remarks, NFF President, Aminu Maigari reeled out all the
achievements and said that the ultimate for his board was to go to
Brazil and put up a performance that no other Africa country has been
able to achieve in the World Cup. And that would mean going beyond the
quarter final.
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