Babagana Kalli: Administering Football Amidst Bombs In Borno State

FRANCIS ACHI/Abuja

Administering football in Nigeria is very challenging. The issues of lack of funds, proper football amenities, structures , violence at match venues are some of the common problems associated with administering football in Nigeria.

The atmosphere is however different in Borno state , North East of Nigeria where football is administered in the midst of insurgent that has claimed thousands of lives, but as the saying goes in media production , “the shows must go on” and the man directing the affairs of football in Borno state is Babagana Kalli, the chairman of Borno State Football Association and a board member of Amaju Pinnick led board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Kalli, as a football administrator has ensured that the beautiful game is not technicality defeated in Borno state as a result of the Boko Haram insurgents in the region. Grassroot football tournaments are still being organised and played in the state, despite the uncertainty of lives and property. This point out to the fact that there is a dogged football administrator in the state.

” We thank Allah for everything he has helped us to achieve in Borno state. Peace is gradually returning to every area in the state. To organise football in the state is not easy at all, but as the chairman of Borno state Football Association when you see young football talents around you, you will definitely organise football tournaments to help these players express their God given talents”,   Kalli  said.

He did not just delve into football administration, but he has been passionate about the game since childhood. He captained the Borno state under 13 team to the then NNPC tournament in Lagos. He also played for the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria during the qualifying games for the Japan ’93 FIFA Under 17 tournament . Unfortunately, he could not make the final squad that conquered the world in Japan under the tutelage of Fanny Amun.

” I played football very well while growing up in Borno state. I was the captain of the under 13 of Borno state at the NNPC tournament in Lagos. I also captained the under 16 team of Borno state and played for my state academicals team that won a tournament in Brazil in 1990. I played in the Golden Eaglets team too. Mobi Oparaku, Kanu Nwankwo , Wilson Oruma ,Festus Okuoghua were all my teammates . I was dropped due to my age , it was above the age limit for the tournament itself in Japan”, he said.

” I was an utility player . I can play anywhere, even as a striker , so long that I am very fit physically, but I played as a defender while in the national team”, he added.

The no – nonsense defender worked his way to the Flying Eagles team tutored by Fanny Amun. Sadly , the arrays of football talents in the squad could not  fly according to their potentials and they are only remembered as the fumbling and wobbling Flying Eagles team of 1995 set.

“It was so sad that it is only fumbling and wobbling that Nigerians now use to remember the Flying Eagles set of 1995. We had good players in the team, but our dream to represent our country at the World Cup ended sadly”, he continued.

If most former Nigerian internationals are agitating that the terrain of administering football has not accommodated them at the board of NFF, they should know that Kaalii, is a former Nigeria international and a board member of the NFF.

As Nigerians looks forward to the NFF election next week Thursday in Katsina state, Kalli has indicated interest to continue as a board member representing the North East of Nigeria. The Chairman of Match Commissioners Appointment Committee has demonstrated strong sincerity of purpose in the discharge of his duties in the NFF and it is hoped that the NFF congress will endorse him for another term as a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation.

” Everything is in the hands of Allah and we will keep on praying for the will of Allah to be done that day and I pray Allah will help me to be re-elected again as board member of the Nigeria Football Federation in sha Allah”, he said.