I have searched high and low and talked to as many people as I could, to find out about the man, behind almost all tumultuous crises in Nigerian football today. Harrison Jalla.
I was given his number, but every time I placed a call to his numbers, they were either busy or non available.
Who is this proverbial "boy who cries Wolf at any and ever corner" of the ever evolving and never ending Nigeria football crises???
The earliest I can remember hearing of Jalla, was during the tussle between NANF and the Austin Popo led-APFON showdown, on the rights to represent Nigerian footballers... I vehemently made my views known then, and they have still not changed.... These people have no basis or locus standi to represent any Nigerian footballer, both amateur or professional... The Nigerian footballer, has not ascribed to participating in any of their organisations and these are get rich/undue recognition-quick schemes by individuals with very little to offer football in this country (maybe except Segun Odegbami, who was mercurial in his playing days).
Since mid 2010, Harrison Jalla, has gone on a vengeance hunt, for anyone and everyone,he believes or perceives is standing in the way of his relevance in football. He has numerously contradicted himself, shown that his morality is as flexible and easily twisted as the camouflaging colour schemes on a chameleon.
I remember him dragging Nigerian football to the verge of an international ban by FIFA, and in some miraculous act, he was seen the next morning hugging Amos Adamu, at the man's house.... This same "boy (not dismissive, but an expression)" again, cried ""wolf", and we were off again, scattered, in chaos. Only, this time, it was to champion the cause of Jerret Tenebe, in the epic NFF vs NFA saga (we are still reeling from that one, at least he got a dispute committee seat), and at that same time, he was fighting on two fronts, because he was also involved in the Baribote vs Owumi case...
Now, he's baaaackkk!!! He crying "wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf" and running all the way to the judge, to press on for a fraud case against the same people he is in dispute resolution with???? Did I hear you say "orishe mo be/abasi", yup. He is at it again!!! That tireless "Mr. do gooder and rid Nigeria of fraud", etc. etc. etc. etc. is at it again..... I paused, shook my head and almost couldn't stop laughing...
Who's the puppet master????The man paying this wayward piper??? it would be nice to eventually see the hand that rocks this volatile cradle...
Ok Folks, seriously. As the president of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, one would believe that his area of focus and his immediate responsibility and scope, would be daunting enough! The plight of the Nigerian footballer, whether amateur or professional needs immediate focus and instant remedy. Our lads have just undergone the longest football season in recent memory, and they are being asked to come back to restart the new season....
Personally, the past footballing year was not one of the brightest for the Nigerian footballer. We suffered four on-field deaths, several fatal accidents, multiple life threatening and career stopping injuries, players going on strike, and others threatening their management to go on strike, many players are still owed sign-on and many other forms of bonuses, and some players have not been paid at all, but yet they perform their jobs in the face of very adverse prevailing circumstances.
Who champions their cause, who is the voice for these disenfranchised Nigerians.. Who stands up for these guys/gals, and raises the roof, or runs to a judge to seek injunctions against irresponsible and incapacitated club owners, state governments and boards of management of erring football teams nationwide.
Has Mr. Jalla recognised, that since his "self induced righteous war" with anyone and everyone (yours truly, being the latest), the Nigerian footballer has experienced and ENDURED the worse 2 seasons of our footballing existence.
And it is amazing that a former great player like Segun Odegbami, would watch as his name becomes associated with this kind of individual, who has consistently brought the game to disrepute. it is clearly apparent that Mr. Harrison Jalla is very incompetent and visibly lacking in the skills required to organise, strategically position the issue of the improvement in the lot of the Nigerian footballer, as a very critical factor that can adversely affect the continued expected performance within the professional league, national teams, and Nigerian sporting life in general....
If Harrison Jalla, today, doesn't get it, that he is seriously failing in his portfolio, as NANF president, then he should be shown the door..... oops, I forgot, no Nigerian professional or amateur footballer (s)elected him, their spokesperson and president..... so, who would fire him????????
In the interest of the Nigerian footballer, he should stop parading him as president of Nigerian footballers, resign gracefully, and go back to wherever he was before he came on the scene.... Nigerian Football has had enough. People in the corridors of power, in the NSC, NASS, NGF, LASG and NFF/NFA should stop accommodating him, and utilizing him to bring our precious game into disrepute.
Let me ask Mr. Harrison Jalla, one pertinent question: What kind of legacy do you want Nigerians to associate you with?? is this really how you want to world to see and remember you... as an alarmist and someone who is consistently associated with controversial situations.....
Please give this a thought. You caved a niche for yourself, that is, the welfare of Nigerian footballers, please focus on that.... fix and improve the lot of the Nigerian footballer and help him/her become a better player, more prepared to deal with the rigours of his/her profession or passion.... Let it not be said that Harrison Jalla was not advised, whether he takes it on, is up to him. But enough is enough...
The Nigerian footballers need a voice right now, someone who is really focused about their welfare, and will help organise and position them to get the maximum benefit of their trade and exploits......Harrison, take a lift off the pages of players organisations, in Spain, England, Italy, Portugal, and the NBA players (not a great outcome for fans, but it shows how players have organised themselves to request for fairer treatment by the owners, and the regulators of their profession).
A word is enough for the wise...... If not, Papilo is back in town and looking for the next opportunity to industriously serve us.... Nigerian players need his kind of leadership......As their president (pssst.... you didn't hear it here)
The 2010-2011 NPL Season finally comes to an end
Cue Boys Brigade Band,
Cue Funfair
Cue Tired Footballers and officials
Cue Baribote (only smiling face in the crowd)
Cue Tired and disinterested Nigerian soccer fans
Cue a lazy dog, lying and falling asleep on a dirt road.......
The longest football season has finally come to an end, ...... Hooorrrrr..........wait, we cannot cheer, or clap at the outcome, as this was an unnecessarily long process that could easily have been avoided. Now, I hear they want these same tired legs to return and begin to prepare for the next season.... Barry wonder!
Here's my honest take. Lets stay off Nigerian Pro football for a while. Lets go to the drawing board and rehash this fragile and almost broken plot. Lets fix the issue of sponsorship and organise with state governments on club ownership. Lets take the break for at least 6 months to get our house cleaned up and in shape.
Lets use this opportunity to align our calender with almost all parts of the world. Which runs religiously from September through to April-May. Lets get the FA cup situation repaired and organised....
Lets, lets, lets, wait... stop. Call time out. Chill, standstill for a minute. Reorganise, reassess, refine, repair, and rebuild the NPL. To re-emerge as one of the best leagues in Africa. Lets take care of our players and give them the rest they need. Lets allow them 3-5 months to prepare, to increase the profile of the league. Lets fix our stadiums, with the little cash we can find.. ..Lets see that teams in the lower divisions are given the right focus and attention. Lets build a roadmap towards success and profitability... Lets try to use this window to position, advertise, rebrand the NPL, that it becomes a true self sustaining and self funding entity.
Baribote, this is your chance to become a great chairperson... Do the right thing now, or forever be like the people you claim to hate. This is a great window for the NPL to achieve a revival of sorts.
Lets get it right, once and for all.....
Adieu Bob Sam.... May your soul rest in perfect peace....
Till next time.....
