The National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, welcomed a coalition of Football Supporters Clubs to his office yesterday, emphasizing the importance of uniting these multi-faceted associations under a single umbrella.
“If you single out broomsticks, you can easily break them one by one. But when you gather them together as a bunch, you cannot break the broom,” he remarked.
The group had come to update the Chairman on their ongoing efforts to harmonize the various Supporters Clubs.
Speaking through member of the delegation, Vincent Okumagba, they pointed out that they had honoured a meeting summoned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the effect of having a unified group and came to brief the Chairman on their decision to sheathe their swords for the good of Nigerian football in particular and sports in general.
The NSC Chairman urged the groups to intensify efforts to be unified for the ultimate good of Nigerian football.
He said: “You must come together and work as a group so that we can achieve the desired goal. When we are all working together towards the same goal, success is guaranteed. When you see the army and police marching, they march at the same time, but once one person falters, everything comes to zero.
“I am happy that this meeting has been held and I can see all the key actors here. It shows commitment. We want everyone to be in one Supporters Club, but we won’t be the ones to force you to be in one group. You have to meet and agree to be one. You have to unite in the interest of the sport you all claim to love.”
Dikko reminded the delegation of the immediate task of ensuring that the Super Eagles secure the World Cup ticket.
“Our task now is to make sure that we get that World Cup ticket,” he said. “We have to be focused and put all energy to get that done.”
“What is home advantage when the supporters are not behind you as a group? We all need to come together and sing in one voice to give our players the home advantage that they need”, he added.
He pledged the Commission’s support to the Supporters Club in their quest to rally support for the national team.
“We in the Commission, myself, my DG, the staff are fully supporting and enforcing this move to have a unified group. We are here to render any support you need from us, ” he concluded.
In attendance were Vincent Okumagba (President Super Eagles Supporters Club), Hon. Sunday Gulong (President Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club), Amb. Abimbola Ariyo (National Secretary Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club), Amb. Kemi Ogunfuwa (President Football Fans Club of Nigeria), Umar Shehu (Northern Coordinator Super Eagles Supporters Club), Dele Onifade (Treasurer Football Fans Supporters Club), Yusuf Jabiu (Chairman Authentic Supporters Club, FCT chapter), Prince Abayomi (President Authentic Supporters Club) and Abdulkadir Salisu (Secretary-General Super Eagles Supporters Club).
