By: Sunday Agunbiade
As the days for the forthcoming, NFF elections are getting closer, and the race to clinch the top seat of the nation’s football post is getting hotter, the stakeholders are beginning to express their feelings about routing for the 1st Vice President of the Football body, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.
According to the opinions gathered across major online football platforms, the overwhelming support expressed by some FA Chairmen, Referees, journalists, football intermediaries, and club administrators across league cadres to have the soft-spoken philanthropist as the number one Football Boss may not be unconnected with his strides at the Chairman Lagos State Football Association.
Many even described him thus: “BSA is a detribalised Nigerian with global standards mentality. Some said he’s a man of many parts with unquantifiable influence to change the economic, commercial and technological ambience of Nigerian football. A legal luminary and a women’s football proponent with an aggressive drive for grassroots football will bring succour to our women’s football. His capacity to drive the nation’s football beyond rhetorics has never been in doubt, while his relentless helping hands across our dear nation supporting indigent kids to realise their potential is second to well known.
A cursory check of the activities of the Barrister Akinwunmi-led Lagos State FA reveals that the number of privately owned clubs participating in both male and female FA Cup in the state has astronomically increased by over 300 per cent. Gone are the days when 10 -20 teams would register for the competition but now, the male and female clubs registering in the last few years are steadily on an increase. This is a result of the level playing ground provided by the legal luminary which has attracted sponsors.
Apart from the State FA cup, Eko Football League is another innovation of BSA led Administration. Youths across different areas in the state have been boosted by this platform to showcase their talents beyond boundaries. The growth of the competition is evident as it was played this year over several months. The winner of this year’s edition is the football club set up by an Ex International Footballer, Dosu Joseph
Apart from his humility, brilliance and his desire to support the youth which many people consider great traits for a good leader needed to turn things around, his efforts towards raising indigent kids to achieve their potential through his charity foundation are duly applauded. Stakeholders have hailed the four-point agenda of Barrister Akinwunmi, which according to him will be based on Equity, Inclusiveness and Democratisation of football activities if given the mandate. He bases his strategy on football development, football business, football infrastructure and football technology which he says is in alignment with the recently submitted 10-year football masterplan.
According to him, he said;
“As a member of the Masterplan committee, my agenda is aligned with the 10-year Master Plan and if I get elected as the next President of the NFF, my four-point Agenda which talks about football development, football business, football infrastructure and football technology will include the ideas contained Master Plan which has a short, medium and long term target that covers the four areas of my vision for Nigerian Football”, he submitted
The 2022 NFF Election is expected to hold on the 30th of September in Benin and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is seen as not only one of the leading candidates but someone who can unify the entire Nigerian football family owing to his accessibility, simplicity, genuineness and detribalised personality.
