Akwa Utd, Pillars, 2 others to reopen MKO Abiola stadium Abuja
Plans have reached advanced stage for the newly rehabilitated MKO Abiola national stadium Abuja main bowl to have its first feel of competitive football in many years as four top Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides are billed to trade tackles in an invitational tournament this weekend. Daily Trust gathered yesterday that the Special Adviser […]
Handing over of MKO Abiola Main Bowl: Former international, Daniel Amokachi (R) test running the re-grassed pitch of the MKO Abiola national stadium while the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare (M), the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Alhaji Isma’il Abubakar and others watch with interest
Plans have reached advanced stage for the newly rehabilitated MKO Abiola national stadium Abuja main bowl to have its first feel of competitive football in many years as four top Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides are billed to trade tackles in an invitational tournament this weekend.
Daily Trust gathered yesterday that the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sports, Daniel Amokachi and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development are collaborating on the pre-season tournament.
The former Super Eagles striker has said the pre-season tournament will be tagged Presidential Cup in honour of President Muhammdu Buhari.
“Akwa United, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars are the teams lined up for this tournament. There will be appearance fees for the teams and their feeding plus accommodation will be taken care of,” Amokachi said.
According to those saddled with responsibility of organising the tournament, the four NPFL clubs are expected to arrive in Abuja on Thursday, December 9 while the opening match would be played on Friday, December 10.
“There will be two games daily, with the second games expected to be played under floodlights. The tournament is expected to end on Sunday while the teams will depart Abuja on Monday, December 13,” said a member of the organising committee.
It will be recalled that after several years of neglect, the Stadium was renovated by the Dangote Group with One million US Dollars under the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare’s Adopt-a-Pitch Initiative that is aimed at using private collaborations to enhance the development of sportsmen in Nigeria.
The renovation of the main bowl of the multi-billion naira edifice which commenced in 2020 was completed and handed over to the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development by the Dangote Group on Friday, December 3.