Sports

All set for Archery symposium as SWAN FCT week kicks off

Published

5 years ago

November 23, 2020

Respected members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter will on Tuesday, November 24, refresh their knowledge on Archery, being one of the recently introduced sports in Nigeria.

In a press statement issued by the Secretary, SWAN FCT Ikenna Okonkwo on Monday in Abuja.

The workshop which kicks off 11.30 am, will take place inside the female hockey pitch (adjacent NIS arena), package B of Moshood Abiola National stadium Abuja.

Already, sports Journalists within the nation’s capital have expressed their willingness to fully participate.

A veteran sports journalist and one of the oldest SWAN members, Mr Asueliemen Osasuyi of the Nigerian Pilot, who was first to put a phone call across to the secretariat early Monday morning was optimistic that the training is worth the wait.

“Archery is not one of the popular sports like football, basketball, athletics, handball in Nigeria, but it has a lot of prospects in the country, being an Olympic sport.

In their separate remarks, a veteran broadcaster Kelechi Onwudiwe of Beat/Classic FM and renowned sports writer Foluso Alade of Gongnews.com were of the view that Archery if well-publicized would spur many hidden potentials to emerge across Nigeria.

President of Nigeria Archery Federation Alhaji Mohammed Baba Abdullahi assured that the federation is set to deploy their equipment for the all-important training sessions.

Alhaji Abdullahi who is also the chairman of FCT Archery Association said, “We are delighted to partner with sport writers at this time. We are aware of the crucial role they play in grassroots and elite sports development.

Archery is a skill or sporting game that involves the practice or skill of using a bow to shoot/propel arrows. It is becoming one of the interesting competitive games and recreational activities in the country and is gradually accelerating to a higher level just as when football started in Nigeria.

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Sports

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

Published

2 mins 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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