Salient Times Newspaper gathered that the board of Lagos State Football Association under the leadership of Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed has responded to a memo it received from the Lagos State Football Coaches Association (LSFCA) questioning its rights to collaborate with the National Institute For Sports to organise a coaching programme for coaches in Lagos State.
In the LSFCA dated January 3, 2025 and signed by its Chairman Tairu Hassan and the Secretary-General Rasheed Suleiman, it described the LSFA/ NIS coaching course programme as divisive, confusing and an attempt to undermine the rights of the LSFCA.
In a strongly worded letter of response from the LSFA, which was signed by its Secretary, Akeem Rabiu-Okikiopusu and copied to the General Secretary of the NFF; the Secretary of Nigeria Football Coaches Association and the Director-General of Lagos State Sports Commission, it deemed the memo from the LSFCA, questioning its authority to organise the coaching programme as disrespectful and blatant disregard for the several sections of the 2023 amended Statues of LSFA, which makes it the sole regulatory authority for football in Lagos State, under the aegis of the NFF and FIFA.
LSFA, in the response stated, “Firstly, a purported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between LSFCA and NIS, never existed. Even if it existed, or such documents were signed, it would have been unequivocally non-binding and unenforceable.
“The LSFA is not obliged to seek the LSFCA’s for any initiative it undertakes, including coaching programmes. As it is mandatory for all LSFA subordinates to align with its vision for football development in Lagos State.
“We see the actions of the LSFCA as an attempt to obstruct LSFA programmes and a violation of the 2023 LSFA Statutes. The LSFCA under your leadership (Mr. Tairu Hassan, Chairman and Rasheed Suleiman, as Secretary), have violated Article 3, subsection 2, which frowns at disloyalty shown overtime to the LSFA.
“The LSFCA also violated Article II subsection C, by not paying your annual affiliation fees over the years as specified in the statutes; LSFCA also violated Article 20, by questioning the LSFA Statutory rights and duties, specified herein.
“In furtherance of the above breaches of the LSFA 2023 Statutes as amended, the LSFCA under your leadership are hereby dismissed provisionally, as congress member and as a body, with immediate effect in line with Article 14: 2.
The LSFA added that further decisions and ratifications will be taken by the Congress Merbers at the Extraordinary General Assembly, as specified in the Statutes.
