Ugochukwu Obieze, a national amputee footballer said he has accepted the nomination to stand as the athletes’ representative in the incoming board of the Nigeria Amputee Football federation.
Obieze told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos that his nomination was arrived at through a collective decision by his peers, national coach and assistant coach after their regular training.
He added that the task would enable him to contribute meaningfully to the development of the sport, and most significantly the welfare of his fellow players that believed in his competence.
He said: “The amputee footballers have gone through detestable experiences and the reason is because we don’t have athletes’ representative on the board for the past seven years to speak for us.
“The nomination did not come as a surprise because of my outspoken nature during our meetings, they are confident that I am capable of relaying our challenges to the board.
“This decision and necessary requirement have been forwarded to the authorities for verification, as the election will hold sometime next week in Abuja, which will validate my position.’’
The footballer, who joined amputee football in 2007, said he was sad at the poor state of the development of the sport and the absence of the country from international tournaments.
Obieze said: “This sport would have been number one in Para sports in Nigeria, because we started well and have represented Nigeria in continental fiesta, which has become a thing of the past today.
“This is the era of our own positive change in amputee football and an opportunity for me to communicate whatever grievances the players have to the board.’’
According to him, the current state of the sport has deterred some amputees who desire to build their career in the sport from doing so.
He said: “It is needful to restore the glory of this sport and create an enabling environment for more people living with amputated legs, limb or hands to identify with the sport.”
NAN reports that NAFF got affiliated to the Nigeria Paralympic Committee which started 2000 and now has a strong presence in seven states across the country.
Amputee football is a disabled sport played with seven players on each team, outfield players have lower amputation and goalkeeper has upper amputation, using loft strand and crutches.
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