Sports
Paralympic Committee of Nigeria opens camp for Para Athletes ahead of major International Championships
…Salutes NSC for continuous support and visionary leadership
Joel Ajayi
With the full support of the National Sports Commission, NSC, the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria,PCN, has opened camping ahead of the upcoming major International Para-Championships.
President of the PCN, Sunday Odebode revealed that the camp has opened in Lagos as they step up preparations for a series of international competitions lined up for the country’s special athletes.
He said this camping is in preparation for the World Para championship in Santiago, Chile, the para athletics grand Prix in India, the qualifications for regional Para table tennis for World Championship and the qualifications for wheelchair basketball and Para- swimming.
” We are very pleased that the camping has opened for our Para athletes but this would have not been possible if not for the National Sports commission and the intentional leadership of both the Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade”.
” We have not had it this good in the Para family and we cannot over stress our gratitude to the President of the country, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for putting our sports in the hands of true technocrats”.
Odebode emphasized that the effect of this kind of prompt and early preparations is outstanding results at international competitions which the country’s para athletes are more determined to achieve.
” The motivation and determination of our Para athletics have gone a nudge higher because of the kind of attention we are getting from the NSC and the main goal is to smash an outstanding performance at the 2026 commonwealth games and the Los Angeles Olympics games in 2028″.
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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