Sports
FCT Kung Fu Association Chairman, Mubdiyu Adebayo, Vows to Prioritize Sport’s Visibility
By Joel Ajayi
Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kung Fu Association, Mustapha Mubdiyu Adebayo, has reaffirmed his commitment to giving the sport more visibility across Abuja and beyond.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Adebayo, a professional town planner, said his administration’s top priority is to ensure Kung Fu gains recognition through grassroots development, schools, and community engagement.
“If you ask many people about Kung Fu, they will tell you they don’t know it or have never seen it practiced. My vision is to change that. Visibility means involving more people, which is why we are reaching out to schools and the private sector,” he said.
Despite challenges such as inadequate training equipment and limited facilities, Adebayo believes the sport has already shown great potential. He recalled that during the last National Sports Festival, only four athletes represented the FCT in Kung Fu — and all returned with medals.
“If four athletes could win medals, imagine what would happen if we had more participants. That is why our focus is on the youth. The earlier young people get involved, the faster the sport will grow,” he noted.
To actualize this vision, the association is working with the FCT School Sports Committee to integrate Kung Fu into school competitions. The first-ever inter-school championship is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
Adebayo also revealed that beyond institutional efforts, he has personally supported athletes, from catering for their welfare during the last festival to providing equipment ahead of the National Youth Games.
On concerns that martial arts may promote violence, he explained that Kung Fu does the opposite, emphasizing discipline, self-control, and confidence.
“The world is becoming more violent every day. Parents should see martial arts as giving children confidence and basic self-defence skills, not as a tool for violence,” he stressed.
He further called for private sector involvement in Kung Fu’s development, while urging strategic partnerships that will be mutually beneficial to both sponsors and the sport.
Looking ahead, Adebayo outlined short- and long-term targets for the association. While the immediate focus is grassroots participation and visibility, the ultimate goal is to see Nigeria compete strongly on the continental and global stage, including the Olympics.
“For now, the target is grassroots participation and visibility. The long-term dream is medals for Nigeria,” he concluded.
With the planned school championship set to kick off next year, the FCT Kung Fu Association is positioning itself to expand the sport’s reach and secure its place in Nigeria’s sporting landscape.
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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