Adamu: Okocha, Ikpeba Are Area Boys

The crises rocking Nigerian football took a different dimension today when Dr. Amos Adamu lambasted two former Super Eagles players, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Victor Ikpeba, labelling them as ignoramuses who do not know anything about football administration.

A visibly angry Adamu, a FIFA Executive Member, who came down hard on the ex-internationals, said Okocha and Ikpeba are embarking on a fruitless mission with their colleagues who ‘called themselves stakeholders of football’ in the country.

Adamu’s outburst came after the activities of some ex-footballers earned Nigeria a ban by  the world football governing body, FIFA which suspended the country from international tournaments.

Although, the suspension, which has been temporarily lifted till 26 October, was slammed on  Nigeria because of what FIFA described as government interference in the administration of the game, but Adamu puts the overall blame on the doorstep of the ex-internationals, whom he castigated for causing more harm than good to the game in Nigeria.

Speaking on brilaf.m early today, Adamu said: “The so called stakeholders of football are the problems of Nigerian football and not I, Adamu. They keep indicting me for Nigerian football woes, saying I don’t talk to them about football. But they are the problems.”

Fielding more questions on the role played by Okocha, Ikpeba and other ex-Eagles who recently protested against the recent elections into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Adamu said: “It’s disappointing to see Okocha and Ikpeba conducting themselves as Area Boys (social miscreants).”

“How can I be talking about football with those who did not even go to school or bar men, whose duties are to sell beer? Can David Beckham carry placard to protest the administration of football in his country?” Adamu categorically said of Okocha, who owns a nightclub, Club 10 on Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.

When called for his reaction, Ikpeba said: “I am in Benin now but will listen to his comment and react later”.

—Tunde Oyedele