Reacting to the current leadership vacuum at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the resignation of President Ibrahim Gusau and his board, the former Chairman of the Gombe State Sports Commission, Hon. Chief Larry Daniel, has called for a strategic and experience-driven approach to fill the void.
Daniel, also known as the Kan Giwan Doma emphasized that this vacuum presents a unique opportunity to correct long-standing leadership imbalances within the nation’s football governing body.
He firmly believes that the NFF must now be handed over to true custodians of the “round leather game.”
“To correct the leadership imbalance and effectively fill the vacuum created by the resignation of the Gusau-led board, we must ensure that experienced, capable hands are chosen to lead.
“We need administrators who practically understand the game and have a proven track record of sports development.
“This is the only way our national teams can thrive, reclaim their dominance, and make Nigerians proud on the global stage as we used to know in the past.”
As the football fraternity looks toward the next chapter, Chief Larry Daniel’s counsel serves as a timely reminder of the visionary, results-oriented leadership required to elevate Nigerian football back to its peak.
A veteran of the game, a proven administrator, and a respected philanthropist, Chief Larry Daniel’s voice carries significant weight as stakeholders deliberate on the future of Nigerian football.
A PEDIGREE OF SPORTING EXCELLENCE
Hon. Larry Daniel is no stranger to the intricacies of the beautiful game. As a veteran player of the defunct ABM Babes (which later evolved into Gombe United FC), he possesses a deep, firsthand understanding of football administration and player welfare.
His passion, commitment, and philanthropic gestures across the sports sector made him the standout choice when Governor Inuwa Yahaya appointed him to serve as the Chairman of the Gombe State Sports Commission.
Beyond the commission, Chief Daniel was entrusted with the heavy mantle of rescuing the state’s flagship football club, Gombe United FC, serving as its Board Chairman.
His tenure yielded instant, remarkable success. In his very first season, he reclaimed the team’s lost glory, successfully guiding them to secure promotion back to the elite tier of Nigerian football the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Outside of sports, his massive community empowerment initiatives and grassroots philanthropy have earned him widespread reverence, culminating in his coronation with the prestigious traditional title of the Kan Giwan of Doma Emirate in state Gombe.