Sports

Minister Re-assures Olympics Bound Anyanacho, Oshonaike Others

Published

4 years ago

June 24, 2021

Joel Ajayi

With 29 days to the commencement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has reassured Olympics Bound- Athletes Elizabeth Anyanacho and Funke Oshonaike that the country was looking forward to celebrating their podium success after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The Minister gave this assurance when he hosted Anyanacho and Oshonaike in his office in Abuja on Thursday. “The next 29 days we will be racing non stop. I recall when I visited Elizabeth’s camp in Maitama, Abuja, I saw her and two others who are also African champions training. I saw the commitment, dedication and we made commitment to support her which we did almost immediately. We got her adopted on the spot after we made a pitch for her , the adopter proceeded and paid the cash that same day.”

The Minister stated further “Elizabeth is a young, exceptional and extremely promising lady who is almost at the zenith of her career , even if it is just at the African continent level. She earned the ticket to the Olympics as a result of hardwork”.

Speaking on Funke Oshonaike who is making a record 7th appearance at the Olympics, he said “This lady has been terrific and through a lot, any other young person would have given up in this country. she struggled through school and she’s remained committed and has continued to excel accordingly. We are very proud of you and look forward to a good performance at the Olympics. In an event dominated by Asians, you have proven that you are a special breed.”

On plans to motivate the athletes further, the Minister affirmed “We are going to have a program once team Nigeria list is ready, It’s a 20 minutes documentary on TV stations profiling each of our athletes and their exploits because Nigerians don’t really know what we have . It’s something we also hope to put on the international media circuit. We need to put the statistics out there about each of our athletes so that the world will know that Nigeria got talents. Like the Americans also say” if you got it you flaunt it.

It will be interesting to flaunt an18 year old who has beaten the African champion and won the African Taekwondo Championships. I think this will inspire other athletes because this country must not wait until they attain podium performance before we celebrate and validate them. I am glad you’re here to present the gold medal you won at the African Championship. I have faith that after the Olympics there will be a similar medal to celebrate and that you’ll inspire so many other young people from 15,16,17,18 year olds to partake in any sports for our country.I Congratulate your coach Chika Chukwumerije and encourage him to do more”.

Funke Oshonaike expressed appreciation to the Minister for his efforts at developing sports and taking care of athletes welfare. “I’m so happy to be here and to say a huge thank you to the Honourable Minister for all that you are doing for our sports.This is the first time we are having athletes adopted and I know you will do more. Thank you so much and God bless you”

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

18 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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