Tuesday, November 03, 2009              

Please don't destroy our team, NFF tells critics

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday expressed utter shock at derogatory comments made by former player, Adokiye Amiesimaka, about the Eaglets currently campaigning in the U-17 World Cup.

"It is a shame that people can take personal hatred and vendetta to the level that Amiesimaka has taken his own," Acting General Secretary, Barr Musa Amadu, said. "We are shocked by his statements, particularly coming from a former international player, but we remain resolute and committed to lifting the image of Nigeria through football and refuse to be ruffled by such unpatriotic and silly comments."

Amadu was referring to Amiesimaka's column in a national newspaper on Sunday in which the Green Eagles' former winger made sarcastic comments about the current Nigerian U-17 team. Amadu added: "At a time all Nigerians are happy at the team that we have put forward despite the odds, and the team's performance is making many people to talk about the strength and savvy of Nigerian football once again, the 'destroy-them-by-all-means' attitude of the likes of Amiesimaka is very strange.

"We are not claiming to be perfect, as that is a virtue that belongs to only the Almighty God. But Nigerians are aware of the efforts we made to ensure that we put forward a genuine team. The team underwent MRI scans at the National Hospital in Abuja and at the world famous Aspire Academy in Qatar, and is still being subjected to the scans at the ongoing competition.

"But simply because he wants to destroy, Amiesimaka has gone out to invent. We are not bothered. It is left for Nigerians to judge these kinds of statements coming in the middle of a World Cup. We are only stunned that there are Nigerians who so passionately hate their own country simply because they are not at the helm.

"We should learn to celebrate excellence some of the time, not trying to bring down other people all the time. Has Amiesimaka been obsessed with so much hatred for our successful players because he never played in the World Cup? It is possible."