WHAT HAPPENED IN RUSSIA?

I requested for this debate few days ago on this platform but Sammy Adesoji didn’t understand my tone rather he took it personal, we need a moment like this to clear our mindset. There are two section of the media that went to Russia, those supported by the NFF and those sponsored by their organization/corporate sponsors. I also heard some journalists got support from the NFF even though when they are not on the official list.

For the records, I have been to four football tournaments without one kobo from the NFF since I started journalism. I don’t also work for LMC as match delegate weekly but I have done business with the LMC on few occasions. Provided content and I got paid for my services.

I have been to several CAF Champions League games in the Western countries with the support of my sponsors. In 2013, I travelled to Togo with support of my sponsor for Enyimba game, in 2014 I repeated the same in Benin Rep and that was the moment Felix Anyansi noticed me. He told me, I was the only journalist in recent years he met at Enyimba continental away games without being on the contingent list officially. In 2016, Enyimba invited me to join the team to Egypt and I served as their Press Officer for the game against Zamalek.

I missed 2013 AFCON and 2014 CHAN because I couldn’t secure sponsors and it was difficult for me to secured accreditation for 2016 CHAN, but I eventually made it after explaining my challenges to CAF. Like I stated earlier, I have been to four tournaments without one kobo from the NFF. I can boldly say it, if I had plans for 2018 FIFA World Cup, I would have travelled without NFF support.

Honestly, 2018 FIFA World Cup wasn’t in my plans for the year. My plans and targets for the year was 2018 CHAN in Morocco (Which I achieved without support from the NFF) and one Super Eagles AFCON qualifier (Away Game), I won’t reveal the game yet if I achieve it I would recall to this conversation.

I learnt this from Toyin Ibitoye when I joined Channels TV as guest analyst in 2012, add quality to what you are doing. I’m an advocate of NPFL and Nigeria football and I was taught to add quality to the product and business. Don’t live a blackmailing life and do your job properly, I have live all my journalism life based on this taught. Maybe, reason why I have few friends in the football circle but they know me, I am blunt. As much as I love 3SC, when it’s time to be objective on TV and Radio, I won’t hide it.

I was on my own doing my job when NFF Executive Member Ahmed Yusuf Fresh told me I would be in Russia, he’s here on this platform I didn’t lobby for it. I didn’t also lobby to be NFF Committee Member, everything came as a surprise to me. God is good, I appreciate those that came up with my name. At some point my name was removed on the list to Russia, Super Admin informed me about the gist and I told him Russia wasn’t in my plans for the year, so I won’t bother myself about it. If it comes, I will be happy but I won’t beg for it, I don’t beg for things I work to deserve it.

Few weeks to the World Cup, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah asked me why I’m not willing to be on his list to Russia, you all know I worked for Authority FM during 2018 CHAN and DPIU was willing to extend the deal for the 2018 World Cup. But I told him, NFF has promised me and I won’t take two things at a time, this was based on the fact that I wasn’t willing and eager to be at the World Cup. I didn’t plan it and it was late to start sourcing for sponsors.

Eventually, I made it on NFF list. I told my real friends about the support from the NFF, first of such to a tournament I’m getting support from the Federation. Those talking about WHAT HAPPENED IN RUSSIA on this platform have also benefited from the Sports Ministry or the NFF before and now. I have met journalists across the world, which their Federation supported them and maybe Sports Ministry. We all can’t have the same privilege in life and on this job. Some colleagues are lucky with international media and they have access to 100% support for any tournament. We all know the situation back home in terms of the challenges with some media houses, and to note that I have been to four tournaments before this one means I can pull support from my friends to be in Russia. I have the experience securing sponsors for my trips.

Reason why I disagree with Mowiz when he said those NFF took to Russia are not defending them. How? Did anyone sign contract with me to be their media officer or speak on their behalf? If the Federation had issues they should address it via their media department, I can only stand for my opinion.

This is my belief for years, football is beyond anyone, and we MUST not kill the game stability because we have to play politics. I was on the side of Lulu even though I was young in journalism then. I was on the side of Maigari in 2014, but because we have few friends in the Federation now doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stand for our opinion. I don’t have interest in politics but the game, any individual can rule the NFF my hard work would stand me out and gets deserve recognition. For years, I have been part of a small group paying salaries to online writers and more. We all have our ways of impacting and more, we can only hope for a bigger opportunity.

NFF flew their contingent on Emirate airline (One of the most expensive, I heard it cost N500K per ticket), they slept in Dubai hotel worth $200 on transit plus visa fees. On arrival in Russia, NFF lodge their contingent at three different hotels worth $200 per night. The hotel the media contingent was lodged, it was stated clearly we would vacate the hotel on June 27th. I have not been on NFF contingent to a tournament before but I heard different stories, the previous NFF would give estacode and told people to find their way in the country and many more. But this NFF preferred to treat their contingent on a 5-star level and that was their greatest mistakes, people want cash and more. I wasn’t bother about the cash, I appreciated the privilege and opportunity. I mentioned it here that I was disappointed, journalists should learn to travel well no matter the promises insight. I empty my account and I travelled with over $1,000, I was prepared for any challenges.

NFF flew their contingent on chartered flight to Kaliningrad and Volgograd, even those not on the official list benefited. To travel on your own, it would cost more about N200,000 but NFF treated us like Kings with a better comfort. We have official bus attached to us for our movement to the airport.

I stated clearly that NFF told us, we are vacating the hotel on July 27th, that is after 13 days we have been in the hotel of $200 per night, calculate all the expenses. Unfortunately, on June 26th we had issues with our rooms and the hotel management told us NFF are yet to pay them some backlog. We contacted the NFF and the explanation was clear and backed with facts. In Russia, most transaction are done in cash and rubles. They won’t transact any business with you in dollars. Russian resident don’t use the bank often and it was strange to the banks to have over $200,000 from the NFF in exchange for Rubles on several occasions, this was the challenges. I was surprised within few seconds the news was everywhere, ‘people are stranded’. The Federation that treated us like Kings for 13 days, how can anyone imagine that they would abandon us? Including their invited guests and congress members, they had issues with cash and bank, I was expecting us to endure till they sort the challenges.

Those that spread the news were colleagues who came to Saint Petersburg stranded which some of us on the NFF list assisted for free accommodation and breakfast. What is the news to report? This issue was sorted within hours and no ONE slept outside. To add to it, $210 match tickets for every member on the contingent list and few guys that were not part of the contingent list for the three games. We were supposed to vacate the hotel on June 27th which I did, some of us who were fully prepared moved into a flat and enjoy our life.

Yes, there is issue with estacode. I fault NFF for the numbers of their contingent, people were too much and NFF couldn’t pay estacode to the media. Lesson; ‘You can’t satisfy everyone’ why the crazy numbers? But come to think of it, have they not done enough for us? Can’t we also travel with enough cash? Even at this, NFF ensured every member got accommodation and few cash to sustain till departure date. Why some of my colleagues were angry about estacode I was fulfilled with the opportunity and I have enough cash to live in Russia till the date I left the country.

Due respect to Shina, we all face challenges at work and we don’t come out to nail our bosses and company. The challenges encountered about accommodation were just for few hours and it was based on cash policy in Russia. We all have right to our opinion and I respect everyone. Anyone that came to Russia on NFF list and was abandon should come out and say it now. Enough said!