Chairman of the FCT Chapter of Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Godwin Bamigboye, who recently convened for an urgent meeting in a bid to find solutions for the challenges of the dearth of sports facilities in the territory as there was the need for urgent intervention by the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello.
He posited, “The minister has to step in to ensure there is good provision of sports facilities for inhabitants of the FCT, the Abuja Sports Centre, popularly known as the Old Parade Ground, and the Area 3 Football Field are the only public facilities that serve the teeming population of youths in FCT.”
“Also, there is the burning issue of abandoned stadium projects in the Area Councils which have been a source of concern to us, it’s our utmost desire and prayer that these projects are given attention and completed in good time,” he said.
Bamigboye however lamented that the global COVID-19 pandemic had affected the economies of nations, including Nigeria but the FCT Administration (FCTA) still needs to execute the construction of the stadiums in phases, in view of the economic realities.
The NFCA FCT chapter chairman also clamored that the land earmarked for sports should be reserved for sports as specified and not diverted for other purposes, “the FCT Master Plan must be protected from being distorted.”
Bamigboye disclosed that FCT-based football coaches would be resuming their campaign for a reversal of autonomy for sports and will pursue the cause relentlessly, until when sports administration is reverted to its former structure of Sports Council.’
