Expdonaloaded News; As group urges Odegbami to step down for Kalu

FOLLOWING the con­ditions set by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the would- be Nigeria candidates for the number one position of the world football body (FIFA), a group, South West Football Fans (SWFF) has appealed to ex-international foot­baller, Chief Segun Odeg­bami to drop his ambition in support of African Pillar of Sports and former gover­nor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu.

The group in a statement signed by Bashorun Ade Magbagbeola and Kehinde Sikiru, National Chairman and Publicity Secretary re­spectively after a meeting in Ibadan on Saturday noted that Nigeria has to present a consensus and formidable candidate with the financial muscle and network of con­tacts to win the race.
According to the duo, over the years, no African had assumed the position of FIFA president and now is the time to present a Ni­gerian that has intimidat­ing credentials beyond the world of football.
The statement read: “In the spirit of patriotism, we are by this communiqué calling on well meaning sports stakeholders to per­suade Chief Odegbami to drop his ambition. We rec­ognize the fact that Odeg­bami has played a promi­nent role in soccer and as such has the right to vie for the position. This is a pas­sionate appeal to him (Ode­gbami) to support a candi­date that has global reach and capacity to favorably compete with candidates from the rest of the world.
“FIFA presidency goes beyond sports, the of­fice requires a personality with cognate experience in the business and political spheres of life. Kalu’s ante­cedents in sports, business and politics are commend­able and make him the best candidate for the job.