Sports
DG NSC Bukola Olopade charges Sports Federations Secretaries on Innovative Approach for optimal output
The National Sports Commission, NSC, has charged the Secretary Generals of various Sports Federations to have an innovative approach towards the discharge of their duties for an effective Sports Development Goal.
The Director General of the NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade gave the charge when he held a strategic meeting with all the various Secretaries of the National Sports Federations on Tuesday in Abuja.
” I must first of all say to you all that contrary to what is being perceived out there before myself and the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko came on board, I am shocked, surprised and very impressed with the professional qualities of all of you. You all are some of the best Sports brains we have in this country and we are proud to have you”.
” But as we know there is always room for improvement and that is why I have called for this meeting to spur you for bigger challenges ahead”.
” An Innovative mind is very vital for Growth, therefore I am challenging your intelligent minds to look inwards and come up with concepts that will enhance your output and the qualities of the Federations”.
” I am a pathological optimist and I believe you can do more and be more creative and dynamic by thinking out of the box. You all might have known by now that I have an open door policy where every secretary can work into my office and discuss the way forward for his or her Federation”.
The DG also reemphasized the Commission’s Reset, Refocus and Relaunch mandate to the secretaries and the need for them to apply it in the organisation of their activities especially as it regards the image of the country’s Athletes at International Competitions.
” The welfarism of Nigerian athletes is of utmost importance to the Commission and that is why we established the Elite and Podium board which we have started seeing their work in the area of grading our top athletes for different categories of Training Grants”.
” And it is therefore important for the various Secretary Generals to know that the way we fly and dress our athletes for international competitions is also very important in high performance”.
All our top Athletes in Category A of the Podium Board rankings will no longer fly anything less than a business class for International Competitions.No more jamboree travelling but we must scientifically look at the way we run our Sports for High Performance results”, the DG 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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