Sports Betting in Africa: Edema Calls for a More Regulated Approach to the System

Edema Fuludu, former Chairman of Delta State Football Association (DSFA) has called for a stringently regulated betting system in Nigeria, and Africa at large, stressing the need for the league management systems and sports stakeholders to step up and try to curb the real actors of sports indulging in sports betting.

In an exclusive no-holds-barred interview with SportsBoom.com, the 1994 AFCON winner stressed the positives a systemized approach will bring, as well as the ills it breeds for the continent, and skewing markedly far beyond if the exercise is not clamped down on.

The impact of betting in sports

Fuludu believes betting, like a canker, has eaten deep into the sports system in Africa, and such misdemeanor has rubbed off, denying football and sports authenticity. If steps are then not taken to curb players, football managers, officials and the likes getting involved, then there is a problem, a big one at that.

So, when quizzed on the influences he thinks the springing up and establishment of a number of sports betting companies in Nigeria and Africa at large has had on sports, the former head coach of Warri Wolves said:

"I'm so worried that it has eaten so deep, so deep that sometimes we who are match commissioners will complain to the NPFL, the League organisers that look, we must be able to do something in regard to finding the players, coaches or even owners that bet on games", Fuludu told SportsBoom.com. 

Betting strictly only for sports fans

Essentially, sports betting should only be for the fans. By virtue of being fans and do not work in any aspect of the sport but merely love and enjoy what these sports actors do, they can enjoy that luxury.

"But those who are fans, who are enjoying themselves, it's giving them money as well as losing money — it's all part of winning and playing the game. When they go to the stadiums and cheer their favourite players and teams, they do so knowing well they have something to show for it.

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"They enjoy it, and I mean it brings more people to get into the system. And it generates funds for the organisers of the betting companies. However, we must find a way to curb players getting involved. We've had reports where players in a league game were compromised, to lose games, to cause penalties, to concede first corner kicks, to do stuffs within certain minutes of the game. Sometimes, even referees get involved. It's crazy, but these things have to stop."

"There is a need for an ethics committee that will involve the EFCC, the ICPC, the police, get these guys in it and let them do the job of investigating. Of course, if I'm a coach, and I get to hear that you as a player is into betting then you have no business in my team."