Since this statement was credited to Pinnick barely a week ago, very many football followers have expressed great concern about the ‘colonial mentality’ in the Glasshouse and how such retrogressive disposition would further impede the growth of our football.

One of them, Aloy Amamchukwu, had a particularly illuminating take on the subject: “At times like these when Nigeria is looking inwards the NFF is looking outwards. They always claim to be broke and can’t adequately finance the national team even with a low wage local coach, now they are talking about employing a foreign coach to…waste hard earned dollars that we all know is scarce these days. Maybe Nigerian government should get foreigners also to run the NFF since we don’t believe in ourselves.”

Some others even expressed disappointment with me for not weighing in on the matter with what they felt were my “usually compelling views.                                                                                     But, what really can I say that I have not said a thousand, no, ten thousand times before. No doubt, nothing about our football will be new for a long time to come. And that is so regrettable.

After Taraba State Government’s failure to address the plight of players and officials of relegated FC Taraba, the League Management Committee (LMC) has decided to pay one out of 11 months salary arrears owed the team.

The players had for several days protested the non payment of their salary, keeping vigil at the Government House in Jalingo. The players claimed they have not been paid salary for the past 11 months and could therefore not bear it any longer.

This prompted their protest march to the seat of power in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

When this effort could not yield positive response from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Gibeon T. Kataps and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Abdul Hadi H. Lau, the LMC was forced to step in few days ago, demanding that the players should forward their accounts details to it.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the LMC, Salisu Abubakar, confirmed that the players will receive a month out of the 11 months salary owed them by Taraba State.

According to Abubakar, this gesture will enable the players have something in their pockets to celebrate Christmas.

The one month salary, according to Abubakar, is being paid out of the sponsorship and performance dues FC Taraba from the 2015 NPFL season.

“We have received the accounts details of the players and by today (Wednesday), we will pay them one month and see what happens next,” said Abubakar.

Corroborating what Abubakar said, Welfare Officer of FC Taraba, Fada Dennis said that the LMC management was even worried about the plight of the players more than them, adding that they are equally waiting for the government to fulfil its promise.

According to him, the players and officials met with the SSG and the Commissioner who told them that they are waiting for the return of Governor Dairus Ishaku who has been in Abuja before the payment would be made.

“We are waiting for them to give us what is due to us now so that we can go,” Dennis said on Lagos sports radio early on Wednesday.

Protesting FC Taraba players have vowed to stay put at the gate of government house until the governor addresses their 11-month salaries plight.

The demoted side slept in the open cold weather on Monday night as they reconvened after government failed to honour their words to pay four-month of the 11-month salaries excluding match bonuses.

A key player of the Jalingo side who wished not to be named said they are determined to continue with the open tent nonviolent demonstration as long as it takes the governor to hear them out for once as well as proffer immediate solution to their sufferings.

“Of course, we passed the night (Monday) outside the gate of the government house in Jalingo and I tell you we are not ready to leave the spot or hear anybody’s appeal but the governor himself coming out to address and come up with instant remedy to our plight.

“Yesterday (Monday) the Commissioner for Sports came to address us but we told him plainly that we do not believe in him as his past promises have not yielded any respite for us.

“Later the Commissioner of Police came to inquire what the issues were and thereafter he reminded the Sports Commissioner on the need to do the needful as our presence constitutes a threat to security.

“However, unlike the previous protest in which some military men molested and manhandled us the Police men were sympathetic to our plight and actually provided security for us during the night.

“So we are continuing with the protest and will not vacate the gate even in ten-year time to see the governor.

“We are living dead so it does not matter anymore if the security men decide to come and shoot us.

“There is nothing human in us anymore so it’s better we die in the open and in the hands of our employers than to die in our quite respective homes,” said the distraught player to supersport.com.

FC Taraba lost their top flight status at the end of the 2014/15 NPFL season and may not be allowed to register in the Nigeria National League (NNL) except government moves fast to offset its indebtedness to the players.

Sharks, Bayelsa United, FC Taraba and Kwara United were all relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.

It was a battle between Sharks and city rival, Dolphins to stay in the top flight, with Sharks needing a straight win against Abia Warriors. Instead, they lost 1-0, while Dolphins drew 2-2 with Shooting Stars in Ibadan.

Akwa United survived on the last day of the league, after recording a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, with Abdulafeez scoring the all-important goal.

Rangers also beat Bayelsa United 3-1.

Meanwhile, Enyimba won their seventh league title last week, drawing 0-0 with Warri Wolves. They also recorded another goalless outing against Sunshine Stars on the last day.

Though the champion for the 2014/15 Nigeria Premier League season, Enyimba, has already emerged, the season nonetheless is set for a thrilling climax this Sunday as the battle to escape relegation will be headlining the final day of action.

Aside the fierce contest to stay up in the elite cadre, the fight for available continental tickets is also bound to add some glamour to the final day of action of the domestic League.

CONTINENTAL TICKETS

As champions, Enyimba have secured one of the tickets for next year’s CAF Champions League and Warri Wolves are in good stead to snatch the other ticket once they get the needed victory over already relegated Taraba United.

Having narrowly missed out on winning the League, Wolves are expected to grab the chance of Champions League football next season by nailing Taraba United on Sunday in Warri.

In that regard, the battle is now to know who will finish in third spot to snatch the CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

Mathematically, the quartets of Giwa FC, Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United and Wikki in that order all have the chance to claim the last spot – a place in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Of the lot however, giant killers Giwa FC seem to have the best chance as they have their destiny in their hands.

The ambitious privately owned Jos-based club need a point in their away game to Nasarawa United to be sure of rubbing shoulders with other African teams in the second-tier CAF Confederations Cup next season.

The needed point sure won’t come easy as Nasarawa United on their part need an outright win over Giwa FC. If that happens, Giwa will hope that the champions, Enyimba, do them a favour by defeating Sunshine Stars at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

On the other hand, Sunshine Stars like Nasarawa United also need an outright win and will hope that Nasarawa United do them the favour of defeating Giwa FC since they have one of the three best goal difference among the top-six sides going into the final match day.

For the last team in contention for the third spot, Wikki, the permutation is different and somewhat harder.

The Bauchi club can only qualify for Africa’s second tier club competition on the back of losses by Giwa FC and Sunshine Stars provided Nasarawa United’s victory over Giwa FC is not beyond a goal margin. Aside seeing their rivals lose, Wikki will still need to beat outgoing champions Kano Pillars by at least a four-goal margin to gate crash into the continent next season.

RELEGATION BATTLE

Away from the battle for continental tickets, next stop is the fierce contest for survival. Already, three teams, Kwara United, Taraba United and Bayelsa United, are heading to down to the Nigeria National League next season but one more team will be joining the trio after Sunday’s games are concluded.

Lobi Stars, Enugu Rangers, Sharks, Dolphins and Akwa United are all in danger of dropping to the second tier on the final day depending on how results pan out.

The Port Harcourt clubs, Dolphins and Sharks, both have their work well cut as only away wins against Shooting Stars and Abia Warriors respectively is their best bet to avoid the drop.

For Rangers, keeping their enviable record of never relegated from the top-flight before looks within reach as the Flying Antelopes only require a home win over Bayelsa to be sure they stay up.

After going six matches without a win, Rangers will sure want to end the season on a high.

The last relegation dogfight pitches Federation Cup finalists, Akwa United, against Lobi Stars.

It is quite tricky for Akwa United as victory for the Promise Keepers could still count for nothing should Dolphins, Rangers and Sharks all win. The only scenario which guarantees Akwa United staying up is if they go on a goal scoring spree; winning with a four-goal margin and that will mean Lobi drop to the second tier. Lobi just need a point to be safe.

In all, fans are expected to be at the edge of their seats at different match venues on Sunday as the curtain drops on the 2014/15 League season in Nigeria.

FINAL DAY FIXTURES

Heartland v El-Kanemi

Shooting Stars v Dolphins

Kwara Utd v FC Ifeanyiubah

Abia Warriors v Sharks

Wolves v FC Taraba

Sunshine Stars v Enyimba

Rangers v Bayelsa Utd

Akwa Utd v Lobi Stars

Wikki. v Kano Pillars

Nasarawa Utd v Giwa FC

The League Management Company (LMC) on Monday imposed a six points deduction on three clubs, Dolphins, Warri Wolves and FC Taraba which will automatically count if they fail to liquidate all financial indebtedness to players and Managers.

Players of Warri Wolves were also admonished to follow laid down procedures in seeking to enforce their industrial rights with a promise by the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko that the rights of every football player in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will be protected at all times.

Dikko in a warning to the players said, Wolves players, let the system work or face ban. We will fight for you and every other player in the NPFL but we must also follow the rules in seeking our rights under any circumstance".

The decision to deduct six points from Warri Wolves and FC Taraba was sequel to the failure of the two clubs to pay backlog of salaries owed the players 60 days after they were served notices of Exercise of Surmary Jurisdiction by the LMC.

In separate letters to the three clubs, Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of LMC, wrote, "you are in breach of Article B9.45 of the Framework and Rules, that is the failure to pay financial entitlements owed to players for a period of more than 60 days".

The LMC consequently ordered a suspended six points deduction on both teams which will be activated by November 14 should they still fail to remedy the breach.

"... The six points deduction referred to is suspended for a period of 14 clear working days and the points deduction shall immediately come into effect from the date of this decision provided that if the club fails to remedy the breach within the period".

Warri Wolves was on August 25, issued the notice of summary jurisdiction to offset financial indebtedness to the players and were handed a 60 days notice to pay off the debts. FC Taraba was also on October 2 issued an ultimatum of 10 working days to commence payment of debts owed players. Three clubs now have up to November 14, 2015 to avoid points deduction.