BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Former Gombe United Football Club Chairman Hon Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has described Super Eagles player, Alex Iwobi’s cyber attackers as bunch of senseless people and no nothing about football.
At the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)Super Eagles midfielder suffered cyber attacks by fans which led the Fulham FC player to exit the social media.
Gombe however expressed his concern by stating his personal position on the issue.
“My position on the cyber-bullying of Super Eagles player, Alex Iwobi by fans is this.This singular development had generated reactions from different quarters including the Sports Minister.
I have also noticed some stakeholders, a few of them, respected stakeholders in their reactions to Alex Iwobi’s Cyber bulling experience.
“For me, those reactions are none issue, even Iwobi acted childishly.I demand to know if Iwobi is the first Super Eagles player to be cyber bullied by fans in Nigeria.In my opinion, Iwobi should have ignored it and move on,”he said.
Gombe noted that, those who attacked Iwobi are unfortunate, uncultured and useless people who lack sports background.
He reminded Iwobi that the cyber bullying he faced during the AFCON nothing to be compared to Yakubu Aiyegbeni or Sani Keita during their active days in the senior national team.
“Iwobi’s attack is not anywhere close to what Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Sani Keita received during their acrive days in the Eagles.Again, all the Mauruders insulting Iwobi are senseless, if they really love Nigeria, it’s not Iwobi they should vent their anger and frustrations against, it should be the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who hired a Coach who didn’t understand his players’ pattern of play, Not Iwobi, ” he said.
Gombe urged fans not to bully Iwobi instead they should challenge the Nigeria Football Federation NFF and Nigeria football league managers over gross mismanagement of FIFA finacial grants and other funds that cannot account for.
“They have to interrogate Nigeria Football managers for gross mismanagement of FIFA financial grants and others funds that came to the pause of NFF.Former president, Amaju Pinnick and Shehu Dikko misappropriated funds and they have all gone with our money.These are people that should be attacked, not Iwobi.
“Our current NFF president,Ibrahim Gusau is yet to unveil his programmes since he became the NFF President. He is clearly a carbon copy of Amaju Pinnick and as far as I am concerned, Nigerian football has no direction, our football is clearly on Autopilot.Football fans, should also interogate the NFF officials, than going for the heads of players.
Gombe however commended the Eagles for their impressive performance at the recent AFCON and noted that Nigeria won the silver medal as a result of player,s strong will and doggedness.
“Super Eagles won silver at the AFCON and no one dare ask if it was the Coach or NFF’s programme that took Nigeria that far.We all know that It is the never- say- die- strong will and dogedness of the Super Eagles players that produced such feat and we saw it.
“Honestly, angry football fans should have a rethink, the moment a player fails to play well they should not attack him because every sportsman and woman usually have a bad day like weather.
I remember, Jay-Jay Okocha with his beautiful football for Nigeria was also booed, insulted out of the stadium by these senseless fans.
“Players that never get insulted are perhaps, those who retired prematurely.
If we have a good system and programme that is accountable and transparent, who would be talking about Iwobi playing badly,”he asked.
The football administrator said lack of quality programmes put in place by NFF give some players to remain longer than necessary at the national team.
“By now, Iwobi’s replacement should have been known, but because NFF does not have any programme and therefore, are condemned to over-relying and depending on these players.The AFCON has come and gone, but how long will Nigeria continue to relying on Victor Osimhen.
“If NFF have solid programmes and vibrant local league that can produce these players, many more Osimhens and Nwabalis would be discovered.Goalkeeper, Nwabali became a revelation after he played at AFCON through the South African League. Why Coach Jose Pasiero did not pick him when he was playing in Nigerian league, “he concluded
