NFF clueless on FA Cup draw
by Sammy Wejinya 01 July 2012, 17:32
The Round of 16 line-up is now complete in the 2012 Federation Cup but it is still unclear when the draws would be held.
Investigations by SuperSport.com reveals that no date has yet been selected ahead of the Round of 16 stage of the competition organized by the apex football governing body, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Spokesman of the NFF, Ademola Olajire confessed that he had yet to receive any information about the date for the Round of 16 draws.
“I don’t have that information yet. I don’t know when the draws will be held,” Olajire told SuperSport.com.
Meanwhile, technical adviser of the reigning Cup champions, Heartland, Lodewijk de Kruif said he was disappointed but not surprised at the development.
“To be honest, It’s no surprise that the federation does not have this information at this moment. It is not right at all as this should have been known even before the last round of matches were played,” de Kruif said.
The Heartland gaffer also expressed hope that the ‘right centres’ would be chosen ahead of the last 16 of the competition.
"I spoke to the coach of Dolphins (Stanley Eguma) after the last round of matches and he told me that they had to play (against Plateau United) on a very bad pitch (at the Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala) somewhere in the North.
“We don’t need these sorts of things. I recall last year, my team played in a very good pitch in Kaduna at this stage. There are some very good pitches in the country. I like the pitch in Ilorin,” he revealed.
The Dutch tactician also took the time to voice his opinion on his side’s chances as regards retaining their title.
“The competition is hard as it gives teams a chance to get a continental ticket. It will be hard (to retain our title) but I hope that we can do it,” he stated.
The 16 teams left in the competition will be divided into four groups of four teams each in four zones across the country.
Qualified teams
Prime Fc
Sharks Fc
Lobi Stars
Gombe Utd
Kwara Utd
Crown Fc
Heartland Fc
Rangers Fc
Nasarawa Utd
Dynamite
El-Kanemi
Samba Fc
Warri Wolves
Plateau Utd
Enyimba
Kano Pillars
