Sports

Pension Fund Administrators (PFA) Games 2024 Set to Thrill Abuja

Published

11 months ago

November 16, 2024

The Pension Fund Administrators (PFA) Games 2024 are set to take center stage in Abuja from November 26 to November 30, bringing together ten PFAs in a battle for sporting glory.

This year’s competition will see defending champions Trust Fund Pension (2023) and FCMB Pension (2022 champions) competing alongside PENCOM, Norrenberger Pension, Premium Pension, Tangerine APT Pension, NUPEMCO, NPF Pensions, Access Arm Pension, and NNPC.

The ten teams will participate in seven sporting events: Football (7/9-a-side), Coed Volleyball (6×6), Table Tennis, Snooker, Scrabble, Chess, and Team Bonding games.

During a press briefing held on Saturday at the Turf Arena Sports Center (TASC) in Abuja, Oladapo Oluwatope, the Main Local Organizing Chairman, shared exciting details about the event. He noted that the games will host between 500 and 700 staff members from the participating PFAs.

“We are delighted to announce a record-breaking ten PFAs participating in the PFA Games 2024,” Oluwatope said. “This year’s event will be a celebration of teamwork, strategy, agility, and focus, with thrilling competitions in various sports.”

In addition to traditional sporting events, the games will feature precision-based activities like chess and scrabble, which demand concentration and strategic thinking. These events aim to foster unity and collaboration among participants, adding a unique intellectual aspect to the competition.

The organizers have prioritized participant safety and well-being, providing regular health check-ups and first aid facilities. Enhanced security measures will also be in place, with professional security personnel and paramilitary forces ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for all attendees.

Oluwatope expressed his excitement about hosting the fourth edition of the PFA Games, emphasizing the event’s role in promoting unity, healthy competition, and teamwork within the pension industry.

“This year’s competition promises to be an exciting and unforgettable experience,” he stated. “With more participants, higher stakes, and increased camaraderie, the PFA Games 2024 will raise the bar, creating broader networking opportunities and fostering enduring professional relationships.”

The PFA Games 2024 is set to deliver an extraordinary showcase of talent, strategy, and camaraderie, solidifying its reputation as a premier sporting event for the pension fund industry.

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Sports

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

Published

13 hours 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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