The Sports activities Writers Affiliation of Nigeria, SWAN, has introduced a nationwide boycott of all actions associated to the Nigeria Soccer Federation, NFF, together with the Federation’s upcoming Annual Basic Meeting, AGA, scheduled to carry in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The directive, issued on Wednesday by the management of the affiliation, follows what SWAN described because the NFF’s “deliberate and protracted exclusion” of the Affiliation from the Congress, the Federation’s highest decision-making physique.
In a press release collectively signed by the SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, and the Secretary-Basic, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, the Affiliation condemned the NFF’s actions as “unacceptable, retrogressive, and an affront to the sporting media’s position in nationwide soccer improvement.”
“The media is a essential tripod within the progress of sports activities globally. SWAN, because the skilled physique coordinating sports activities journalism in Nigeria, has persistently engaged with the NFF on the necessity to restore our rightful place in its Congress. But, whereas the Federation claims to be increasing its Congress, it continues to sideline us—a transfer that’s each short-sighted and detrimental to Nigerian soccer,” the assertion learn.
SWAN accused the NFF management of adopting a divisive method to soccer administration, warning that the continued decline within the nation’s soccer fortunes is a mirrored image of ongoing maladministration.
“Regardless of huge monetary and institutional assist from the Federal Authorities, state governments, and personal sponsors, Nigeria’s soccer continues to nosedive.
“It’s time to put a decisive finish to this harmful development. Nigeria can not afford to observe its most cherished sport deteriorate below avoidable circumstances,” the assertion learn.
Efficient instantly, all SWAN members throughout the nation are instructed to stop protection and promotion of any NFF-related exercise.
“A process pressure shall be arrange to make sure strict enforcement of this directive. Concurrently, the Affiliation will start a radical investigation and public publicity of the maladministration and backward practices now synonymous with the Federation’s operations practices which have contributed to Nigeria’s repeated World Cup qualification failures,” the assertion added.
SWAN reaffirmed its place as a essential stakeholder in Nigerian soccer and vowed to withstand any try and marginalize the sporting media.
“The exclusion of SWAN from the NFF Congress is now not acceptable and won’t be tolerated. We stand resolute in defending the integrity and rightful position of the sporting media within the Nigerian soccer ecosystem,” the assertion concluded.
