NFF should emulate FIFA’s magnanimity now
The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, must be on cloud nine because the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches at the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, which was held on Tuesday, March 18, was a huge success. It […]
The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, must be on cloud nine because the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches at the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, which was held on Tuesday, March 18, was a huge success. It was indeed a well-attended event as prominent personalities in the political, business, diplomatic community and football sectors thronged the site to identify with the NFF and the project.
In fact, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, was the one who cut the tape on the epitaph to flag off the construction of what is potentially a breathtaking edifice. One thing no one can dispute is that the NFF maximised the opportunity to advertise the efforts by the Gusau-led board to transform Nigerian football. The NFF indeed showcased its popularity on that day.
The Players’ Hostel, funded by the world football-governing body, FIFA through its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme, is a 68-room facility, with A and B sections, and has a total of 62 single rooms, four suites and two executive suites.
Alongside the hostel is the construction of two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass), re-construction of the existing synthetic pitch, sitting terraces for spectators, two dressing rooms for players (each accommodating 27 players at a time) and two dressing rooms for officials. The spectators’ terraces will have 1,838 seats. What this means is that the nearly dilapidated FIFA Goal project pitch inside Package B of the MKO Abiola Stadium is going to receive a major turnaround.
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So, the multi-billion naira NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel, described as a transformational project, is a welcome development that should excite all well-meaning Nigerians. The country is presently faced with a sports infrastructure deficit, which makes it extremely difficult for the talents that abound in the country to be fully harnessed. This explains why the NFF is super-excited, with FIFA Forward said to be the largest and biggest sport development programme in the world. It was created in 2016 when FIFA President Gianni Infantino was first elected to office.
However, as we celebrate the recent milestone by the NFF, powered by FIFA, we must also reflect on similar initiatives that were implemented in the past but failed to justify the huge sums of money that was sunk into them. In essence, I am saying we should pray that the well-advertised Players’ Hostel, which is under construction in Abuja, does not go the way of others before it.
It will be recalled that on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, during the time of Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi as NFF president, a new National Technical Centre built as part of FIFA’s Goal programme, was officially inaugurated in Abuja. The project was a collaboration between FIFA, NFF and the National Sports Commission (NSC), which began in 2003.
At the time of its inauguration, the FIFA Goal Project boasted of a beautifully laid artificial pitch; medical facilities, an auditorium, a restaurant and a well-furnished hostel. Unfortunately, the popular FIFA Goal Project pitch and all the other facilities that made up the National Technical Centre have been starved of maintenance. Although the structure is standing, it no longer offers decent accommodation. So, the purpose for which the centre was built is defeated. In any case, the completely worn-out artificial turf still plays host to training sessions and even competitive matches.
Apart from the National Technical Centre located a few meters from the NFF secretariat, Nigeria was gifted two mini-stadia by FIFA under the Forward 1.0 and 2.0 Programme. The mini-stadiums were to be sited in Birnin Kebbi, where the present general secretary of the NFF, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, hails from, while the other one was taken to Delta State, precisely Ugborodo, the home state of the former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, who until recently was a member of the FIFA Executive Council.
FIFA expended billions of naira on the two projects. However, even as the mini-stadium at Birnin Kebbi is commissioned and hosting matches, the one that the former NFF president took to his state is nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, even FIFA, which prides itself in accountability, didn’t ask Pinnick to explain the whereabouts of the Ugborodo mini-stadium.
This is something to ponder on. So, apart from poor maintenance of available facilities like the national technical centres in Abuja and Bauchi, there is also the problem of judicious utilisation of funds released by FIFA for the construction of facilities. It is for this same reason that I suggested earlier that everyone should pray that the construction of the NFF-FIFA Players Hostels and training pitches that have started with aplomb is completed within the projected 24 months.
Moreover, to avoid a repeat of previous mistakes, when completed, the NFF should consider concessioning the facility to a competent firm that will in turn see to its routine maintenance. Apart from serving its original purpose, the facility will be an avenue for the NFF to generate additional revenue. Had the authorities concessioned the National Technical Centre in Abuja, it wouldn’t have become desolate the way it is presently.
Anyway, most of us are grateful that the FIFA Forward 3.0 opportunity didn’t come to Nigeria when the man who allegedly diverted funds meant for the Ugborodo mini-stadium was in power. Maybe we would have ended up with an ‘audio world-class stadium’ somewhere in Nigeria. Although not saints, the present board of the NFF led by Gusau is trying to do things in a more transparent and sincere manner. Therefore, there is more assurance that by 2027, the national teams of Nigeria would have decent camping facilities. Consequently, I am hoping fervently that the artistic impression of the hostel and training pitches that swept me off my feet would become a reality.