Nigeria risks FIFA axe over PTF –Kurfi

As speculations over plans to set up a Presidential Task Force (PTF)to oversee Nigeria’s participation at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil gathers momentum, a football stakeholder and Proprietor of Future Africa Academy, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi has warned against the move, saying it would pitch the country against world football ruling body, FIFA.

Instead, he advised the Federal Government through the National Sports Commission to empower the Nigeria Football Federation financially to adequately prepare the team to o the nation proud in Brazil.

According to him, besides drawing the ire of FIFA who considers such as interference, such a committee would create problems for the country in Brazil.

He noted that the Nigeria Football Federation and the Super Eagles pre-World Cup build up is satisfactorily going on as planned and appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to disregard those scheming to be appointed into the PTF when set up.

“Mr. President should not be misled into setting up PTF. Those who are talking of a task force for World Cup are out of business and are looking for ways to raise money through government patronage and estacode.

“The NFF and the Super Eagles are doing well, all preWorld Cup programmes are going on as planned, so what do we need the PTF? We won the Nations Cup and the u-17 World Cup without PTF.

“It is the obligation of the NFF to operate on its own, in an autonomous way without outside interference, from the government or any other parties. Setting up a task force to oversee Super Eagles’ participation at the World Cup will amount to interference in NFF affair and FIFA is against it,” he said.