SPORTS PERSONALITY: Kwara FA election race requires capacity  and competence, not money – Wopa 

WITH MIKE ADEYEMI

Owolabi Agbaji Wopa is one of the leading contestant into the stool of Kwara FA, in this interview with MIKE ADEYEMI he speaks on his 9-point agenda if elected as the next Kwara FA boss. Excerpt: 

What are your antecedents in football management? 

I came from a background that you have to struggle for yourself to make it.  I ventured into football right from my elementary school days at Pakata primary school.
While in the secondary School, I think the tempo continues. I played for kwara academia in the 80s. I was a member of YUSFAN state team that played the u-16 , it was called Kwara spars then. And that was after my secondary school.
That prompted me to play national youth game. My team qualified to play Ndaliman Championship in Bacita, and that was when Sa’aba Lafiagi was the MD of Nigerian Sugar Company. He was the one that sponsored the competition. I played at the competition with my team Marvelous Spares.
At that competition, I was selected as one of the players that will represent the state at the national YUSFAN U-16. Fortunately then, kwara happened to represent Nigeria at the competition. I was part of the team.
We were led to Aberdeen, won the competition and we were received back home by the then Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Sa’aba Lafiagi.
At that time, I intended going into active football, planning to choose it as a carrier. But, all along I was able to play at the youthful level with Kwara bombers then.
I was also a member of the youth team of Abdulsalam loves too. I have lots of merit certificate that I got from different competitions at U-13, U-16, U-17 and U-19 when I represent Kwara and Nigeria.
I was a former member of Nigerian Premier League, Abuja. In 2008 or there about, I was appointed by the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Vice Chairman, kwara United Football Club.
I think that year, the club went on relegation and we were given the task to ensure the club back to the premier league. It was an herculean for us, but with the effort of the current Chairman of Kwara United, Prince Oladimeji Thompson the club came back to the professional league.
Owing to this efforts, I was picked to represent North Central zone, kwara, Niger, Kogi and FCT at the National Board of Nigerian Premier League then. I was there for over 3 years hitherto our tenure went abrupt.
When I was a member of the NPL, I happened to be the chairman of players welfare and arbitration committee. I was also the Vice Chairman, marketing committee.
That gave me lots of exposure about the management of football.
Being the chairman of marketing committee affords me opportunity to know that football matters is business.
Then, part of our responsibility was to look for sponsors in the NPL of which prior to our tenure, there was a single sponsor which was Globacom. They sponsored the league for 3 years, then outs out. The company thought it didn’t get the milage in terms of promo and adverts.
But when I was saddled with the responsibility to be the chairman of that committee, I had the privilege to meet the guru in the business industry. I met the likes of Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga and others.
I traveled to South Africa to see the management of DSTV, and the management of MTN.  These mentioned were ready to sponsor NPL then.
So, I have lots of exposure, opportunities that can help the Nigerian Professional League.
I believe that the template the LMC are using today was a brain child of Rasak wopa as a chairman of players welfare and arbitration committee of the NPL
I think my handwriting is still there up till now.

What would you do differently if emerge the next Kwara FA chairman? 

Well, am not God. Man propose, God disposes. And I don’t want to be an agent of change by mouth, rather by policy and action.
If am privileged to win the Kwara FA chairman, I have lots of mission and vision.
As far as I am concern, the only adjective I can use to qualify the present kwara FA is that they are not vibrant.
Initially, when I was coming up as a young football lover,  I had thought that the position of FA chairman should be exclusively left to the hands of retirees and pensioners who have played their dues.
But, I later discovered that these retirees were just using it as a pleasure. No competition, no sponsorship.
As a young and vibrant man, if elected as Kwara FA chairman, I promise that football lovers in the state will see a positive change.
We are going to have national competitions stage in Kwara being propose by the Kwara FA.
By my connections with the business guru across the country, I think I have a leverage to lure them to come and sponsor competition in Kwara state.
I have good relationship with Cadbury Nigeria Limited, Total promotion and Glo.
With my connection and the love people of Kwara have for me, to God who made me, there would be positive change. We will be organizing a periodic competition.
All the local FA that are being inaugurated now will be busy. Talent abound in Kwara, but with no witherto to tap them.
FA suppose to be the father of football, but our own are not vibrant. For instance, Kwara United had accident last season with their bus, up till now the state government hasn’t given them another bus.
As of today, Kwara United did not have a permanent training ground. All these ought to be the duties of the FA to midwives on behalf of the club with the state government.
Aside this FA need to market itself. Anybody who want to become FA chairman should have capacity and capability, not solely relenting on government for finances.
I have 9-point agenda if elected which includes: grassroots developments, youth talent discovery, management and efficiency of local government football association.

If Kwara FA election holds tomorrow, how sure are you to win? 

I pray that God will go into the mind of delegates to see that I am the best they require for the job.
And I promise them that I will not disappoint.
I just want them to vote wisely. As far as I’m concern, I believe I have am the most credible and qualify

(Cuts-in) Qualify ahead of others? 

Yes. Base on my antecedent,  base on my experience, I think I’m the most qualify.
I don’t think this election requires spending money-it only requires capacity and competence.
Some of my colleagues in the race have been there for many years. In fact one is there for almost eighteen years now as the Vice Chairman.
The position of  the FA chairman is not an executive power. If you have been there for all this while, why can’t you advise the chairman on what you think can push the association forward.
Anyway, that is my personal opinion. I like issue based campaign. I am the most qualified.

What would you say are the chances of Super Eagle at the forthcoming Nation cup? 

As far as I’m concerned, am a veteran in football management, I don’t think super eagle performed well at the last world cup.
What I think was a problem with the National Team is that there was no consistency in the administrative direction.
Today, a particular gang take FA to court, tomorrow another group come up with different allegations.
I think the present crops of the super eagles will do well at the nations cup, if we allow them.
If you have young players with consistency, they will go places. Our problem in Nigeria is that we are inpatient. We always wish our team win every matches which often time not so.
Other countries don’t change their players frequently like ours.