Plaudits for Governor Yuguda

During the NFF administration headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, FIFA started the Goal Project 1, which is what is today known as the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja. That edifice is situated somewhere within the Package B of the National Stadium Complex in the Federal Capital. The project was actually completed during the immediate past administration […]

During the NFF administration headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, FIFA started the Goal Project 1, which is what is today known as the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja. That edifice is situated somewhere within the Package B of the National Stadium Complex in the Federal Capital.

The project was actually completed during the immediate past administration headed by Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and of which I was a Member of Board.

The FIFA Technical Centre is a donation from the world football administering body, for several of its Member Associations. So many countries have benefitted. As it is, the Goal Project programmes are usually in phases, and countries reserve the right to decide which they would want as Goal Project 1, or 2, or 3.

With the benefit of hindsight, the NFF made an inspired choice of Technical Centre as Goal Project 1. The FIFA Technical Centre has served ALL the National Teams VERY WELL over the years. I cannot remember any team that has not used the place, from the Super Eagles

to the Futsal Eagles. While the Super Eagles may not have camped there, they have made use of the facilities, especially the Football Turf, otherwise known as artificial turf, for training.

With the Goal Project 1 completed, the NFF started thinking of Goal Project 2. And as a Member of Board in the immediate past dispensation, I am aware of the efforts made in this direction.

What was in the mind of the Board then was to make the construction of a befitting Headquarters for the Federation the Goal Project 2. For this purpose, the Financial Assistance Programme fund was considered.

For the four (4) years that it was in office, the Sani Lulu Abdullahi administration did not access the annual FAP. And the FAP being $250,000 every year, it meant that at the end, that came to

$1,000,000, but less holding charges usually deducted.

Also, when the NFF made its intention known to make construction of a befitting Secretariat the Goal Project 2, world football-governing body, FIFA announced that it would support the effort with the sum of $400,000.

However, with the laudable decision of the Presidential Task Force on Super Eagles’ Qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to utilize the remaining sum in its account for the building of a Football House, the NFF was overjoyed and had to think of a new thing.

That was how we came by National Technical Centre in three (3) states of the Federation.

We all know the power and passion of football in our country, and indeed the entire world. Football is joy; football is life. For the youth, there is nothing like it. And with so much talk about lack of adequate infrastructure stunting development of the game, the construction of three National Technical Centres across different geo-political zones will go a long way to help development once again.

For now, we have picked Bauchi, Anambra and Lagos States. A lot of progress has been made with Bauchi because Governor Isa Yuguda has already allocated 13 hectares of land for the project. The NFF actually asked for four hectares for the project, but in his magnanimity, Governor Isa Yuguda gave 13, meaning NFF can utilize the remaining space for other noble project.

We have already written to Lagos and Anambra States for land space and we believe that being football-loving, the Executive Governors will accede to our request as this is sure to hasten development at the grassroots in both States.

Of course, the NFF used the opportunity of the visit of the FIFA Development Centre for West Africa, Mr. Sampon Kablan, during the week, to present him with the documents from Bauchi State, which included a Certificate of Occupancy made in favour of the Nigeria Football Federation, as demanded by FIFA.

Kablan, expectedly, was excited and immediately promised to contact FIFA headquarters immediately for approval of what we have been able to achieve with Bauchi State.

Certainly, the National Technical Centres will not stop in the three (3) States mentioned. The States mentioned are being used as pilot projects. Other States will also eventually benefit from the construction of NTC, for the good of the Nigeria game.

 

All Over The Continent…

This weekend will see fireworks in different centres in Africa as the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions reach the third round. The good thing is that three Nigerian clubs will also be involved.

In the CAF Champions League, Sunshine Stars FC will trade tackles with Djoliba FC of Mali in a first leg match. The game is billed for Bamako. Sunshine Stars FC, which showed guts and ability to reach the semi finals of the CAF Confederation Cup last year, should be commended for acquitting itself well at the level of the ‘bigger boys’.

Sunshine Stars’ brilliant come-back from the dead against Recreativo Libolo of Angola (after a 4-1 loss in the first leg) remains one of the star performances of this year’s competition so far. The advice here is for the team to tighten its rear better than it did in Angola in order to make the second leg less tense for Nigerian ball fans.

Warri Wolves host Black Leopards of South Africa in the first leg, third round of the CAF Confederation Cup in Warri while Heartland FC are also at home to AFC Leopards of Congo at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

Wolves devoured FC Kallon of Sierra Leone in the second round while Heartland edged out US Nkam of Cameroon. Both teams must show great stuff by winning well this first leg matches before traveling out in two weeks.

The NFF wishes all three teams the best in the continent this weekend.

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