Sports
DG NSC Pays Morale Boosting Visit To Team Nigeria Wrestlers In Yenegoa Ahead Of World Championship
Joel Ajayi
The Director General of the National Sports Commission,NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has paid a morale boosting visit to the camp of Team Nigeria Wrestlers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, who are preparing for the Senior World Wrestling Championship coming up in Zagreb, Croatia in September 2025.
The DG charged the Wrestlers to remain focused and assured them of the country’s unwavering support in ensuring they have an outstanding outing in Croatia.
The DG emphasized that Wrestling is a key sport that the country is banking on to win medals at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, citing the importance of making sure the wrestlers are in the best shape to give their best while representing the country.
” I want to first of all thank the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Daniel Agali for his personal commitment and sacrifice for the country’s wrestling. And as Commission, we know how critical wrestling is in our determination to finish on the podium in 2028″.
” This is why the Chairman of the Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko has urged me to tell you that the entire country is solidly behind you guys and we are confident that you will continue Nigeria’s recent impressive outings across several sports in Croatia”.
” In fact some of you who are listed in category A of our Elite programmes will start receiving your training grants any moment from now. And just be rest assured that if you guys do well at the World championship in Croatia, you have a country that rewards handsomely under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR”, he concluded.
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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