NFF Election: David Doherty Joins Race For Presidency

Having met the requirements of the electoral committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by securing the endorsement of FA Chairmen across four geopolitical zones UK-based entrepreneur and football administrator, David Doherty has officially declared his intention to run for the office of president of the Federation in the September 30 election.

Doherty officially made his intention known in a media chat in Lagos Tuesday where he reeled out his plans to lift the sport out of the doldrums.

Speaking at Harolds Shodipo Crescent GRA, Ikeja before his media friends Doherty stated that Nigeria football needs to be rescued from poor administration which has bedevilled the sport over the years.

Doherty touched on the fundamental problems facing football and proffered solutions as he hopes to rally support from the private sector where he is coming from to change the narrative.

He speaks, “Our national pastime, football can provide education, empowerment, and enjoyment, promoting health and well-being, and the power of teamwork. Our aim is to move the NFF and Nigerian football forward with bold leadership and ambitious targets in the next five years.

“Our vision is to bring all parts of the game closer together and to inspire the nation. We have a unique opportunity to unite all parts of our country, but also to reap the enormous social and economic benefits that is associated with the industry. We are ready to remind the nation of how football has the power as a force for good.

“We must move forward in every area, modernise our organisation to serve the interests of all. We have a great platform to build on which is our population and our love of the game. Using our people and culture as the catalyst, we will achieve amazing outcomes from our mission to rebuild the NFF as a world class organisation.

“We must quadruple the number of people playing and watching the domestic game. To do this we must create a cohesive and visionary plan which includes building more facilities and driving record investment back into domestic football.

“To achieve the ambitions set out in a plan will require a continuously evolving organisation, the commitment of thousands of volunteers, the cooperation and support of our partners –sponsors, local authorities, national government, and the general sporting public along with clubs, leagues, referees and coaches.

“The failure of our senior national team in the international arena has been the focus of most people’s attention and, like all Associations with an international dimension, its significance is emphasized through our lack of qualification for a major tournament and reversing such failure is clearly a key focus for the next five years. Equally, we must, through strategic planning, ensure the structures, the investment and football operations under the remit of the NFF support, not just the success of our national teams in the international arena, but the construction of a platform for the development of every aspect of football in Nigeria.

“The platform from which we seek to deliver our ambitions is a healthy one. Despite the very challenging economic climate of the past few years, the goals and objectives that must be delivered as part of a strategic plan must include strong grassroots infrastructure and participation programmes, junior and senior international team progress, a new focus on High Performance and the growth of the women’s game.

“MY 7-POINT AGENDA