A two –day workshop to finally and fully connect the Nigeria Football Federation to the very key FIFA Connect system of registration of football players and officials began on Tuesday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
FIFA officials Hannes Thies and Elizabeth Eastman are joined at the Boardroom of the LMC in Maitama, Abuja by NFF’s Club Licensing Officer Nasiru Jibril and Assistant Director (Legal), Barrister Okey Obi, with a number of officials from the various Leagues and also from Clubs across the federation.
FIFA Connect is the centralized portal for the registration of football players and other stakeholders. Once fully integrated, it means that registration of all players and other stakeholders in Nigerian Football will be done by the NFF.
“Players from the age of 10, in schools, football academies, amateur and professional Clubs are all eligible for registration by the NFF. The platform will accommodate football referees and coaches as well. State Football Associations and Regional bodies will be fully involved in the exercise since all Clubs and other Football Stakeholders are domiciled in their areas of operation. This way, we can keep track of players’ history and progression,” Jibril told thenff.com.
Officials from the Leagues involved are Abubakar Abdulaziz, Emmanuel Martins, Lawrence Katken, Mike Onyilo, Shola Ogunnowo, Bright Nwanosike, Michael Oyinu, Ayo Abdulrahaman and Abdulkarim Zubair.
Club officials taking part are Sunday Ojieh, Muhammad Abba, Livingstone Ike, Bayo Olanlege, Umar Garba, Ada Gwegwe Nathan, James Aalu, Ugochukwu Nwagbara, Munir Ahmed, Oyeleye Oyekunle, Moses Etu, Victor Nwakanma, as well as representatives of Jigawa Golden Stars and Mighty Jets FC.