Sports
Re-grassing of Moshood Abiola Training pitch: work is in progress-Afrikings
…says 8 weeks delivery date is sacrosanct
Joel Ajayi
The Chairman of a private company that adopted Moshood Abiola Stadium practice pitch 1, Afrikings Homes, Ltd, Kingsley Awodi, has expressed that the work is progress and the delivery date of 6 to 8 weeks is achievable.
It will be recalled that the private company took charge of re-grassing of the training pitch a few weeks ago as part of its love and passion toward the growth and development of the sports in Nigeria.
Afrikings Homes adoption involves re-grassing of the pitch by planting nursery seeds and maintenance of the pitch for two years is indeed in progress as the pitch is close to its first trimming.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja Mr Awodi said the work is progress and the company will not fail to deliver at the given period.
According to him, the pitch is in progress and as we said in 6 to 8 weeks we are going to achieve our aim and we are close to the first trimming this weekend, the work is in the progress.
When asked why he is investing so much on sports? He replied: “This thing we are doing is just to instigate other corporate bodies to come in also to look at the good work Minister of Sports Sunday Dare is doing and key into it that is what we are after.
“I am doing this because I have love for sports and I am not doing it for any gain or any benefit attached to it, it’s just the passion and I believe by doing so others will also be motivated to come and join us to make Nigeria a better place for Nigerian youth to train.”
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
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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