Sports

Tinubu’s aide, Zulu promises support for FCT Area Council Cup Tourney

Published

2 months ago

January 15, 2025

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Adeboye, has assured the organisers of the FCT Area Council Football Tournament of support to discover talents for the various national teams.

Adeboye, also known as Zulu, gave the assurance when he received in person, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Council Services Secretariat, Bitrus Lawrence Garki, during a courtesy visit to the presidential aide’s on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adeboye, who commended the organisers for coming up with such laudable project, said the competition will go a long way in discovering talents at the grassroots and expose them to football scouts for more exposure to the world.

“The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is keen on grassroots sports development and we will leave no stone unturned to discover, nurture and expose our youths through sports to the outside world.

“I want to commend you for coming up with this laudable and noble project which we take our children away from social vices and expose their sporting skills and talents to the world. We are happy with this and we’ll give you our full support, the SSA said.

The Mandate Secretary, who is the organizer of the competition, in his remarks, thanked the presidential aide for the visit.

He said 12 teams, two from each of the six Area Councils in the FCT will take part in the three-day competition which will hold from Friday January 17 and Sunday January 19, 2025 at the Apo Football Pitch.

According to Lawrence Garki, the tournament is designed to promote unity among the participating teams and especially to foster friendship among the youths.

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Sports

Speaker House Reps, Abbas, Others Thumbs NFF President Over NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches

Published

6 hours ago

March 19, 2025

The Gleamer

…Says It Will Boost Nigeria’s Economy

By Joel Ajayi

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for initiating the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches, describing it as a transformational project that will boost Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Speaker Abbas praised the initiative and pledged the National Assembly’s full support.

“This is a noble project, and the National Assembly will give it full support. I congratulate the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, and I thank FIFA for agreeing to fund this project,” he stated while cutting the ceremonial tape.

He also assured the House of Representatives’ support for the visionary leadership of Engineer Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the NFF in other key areas where assistance is required.

Leading the FIFA delegation, Gelson Fernandes (Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer/Regional Director, Africa) reiterated FIFA’s commitment to funding the project, emphasizing that infrastructure development has been a priority since the tenure of President Gianni Infantino began.

Expressing his excitement, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated that the hostel and training pitches will serve all Nigerian national teams, leagues, and academies.

“Indeed, my joy knows no bounds. From the day my Executive Committee and I were sworn into office in Benin City on Friday, 30th September 2022, I was determined to push this project forward as a legacy for Nigerian football.
“For sustained success, we must provide a conducive environment, infrastructure, equipment, and support systems that enable players and officials to perform at their best.

“Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management but also reduce costs, allowing us to invest more in grassroots development programs.”
Several dignitaries present at the event applauded Gusau’s leadership, determination, and commitment to football development in Nigeria.

The event was well attended by local and international stakeholders, including sports enthusiasts, who witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches.

In addition to the hostel, the project includes:Two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass). Reconstruction of the existing synthetic pitch.

Also, Spectators’ sitting terraces with 1,838 seats.Two dressing rooms for players, each accommodating 27 players.Two dressing rooms for officials.

The construction is expected to last 24 months and is fully funded by FIFA under its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme.

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