As the clock ticks towards the commencement of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League NNL Super 8 Play-off competition in Enugu, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, on Wednesday, visited the State-owned male football club, Nasarawa United, and bade them farewell.
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The Deputy Governor’s visit took place in the morning at the Lafia City Stadium when the team was having its last training session before departing for the Coal City State later in the day.
In his address, Dr. Akabe said:
“I am deliberately here to visit you because I thought I should meet you physically before you leave for Enugu and to wish you well ahead of the Super Eight Play-offs competition.
“You are going as ambassadors of Nasarawa State as you are carrying the weight of millions of sports enthusiasts, admirers and followers, not only in the State but across the globe.
“Everybody is looking up to you to deliver on the task ahead and I am sure you are equal to the task.”
He reiterated the support and encouragement of the Government to the club to return to elite domestic football league next season.
“We are here as a Government to give you all the necessary supports, encouragement, appreciation, sense of State pride and motivational boost as required to make your adventure in Enugu a success.
“On behalf of my principal, the Executive Governor, I congratulate you once again on qualifying for the Super Eight Play-offs because many teams began the process but by divine intervention coupled with your hard work, you have been able to get to this last hurdle of the league.
“Nothing will stop you from going beyond the Super Eight because the team that ended the normal League Season ahead of you only had but a slim marginal point more than you.
“The Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, continues to demonstrate his commitment to sports development, and would have loved to have a session with you before you leave for Enugu, unfortunately, he is out of the country.
“However, be informed that he is following everything that has to do with the team, especially via the Club’s official WhatsApp Group. He gets minute-by-minute updates from the platform, and makes far-reaching comments after every game, which is an indication that he loves you and cares for you and wants the success of the team.
“Our prayers are with you as you journey to Enugu, we wish you victory in all your matches and return home with the coveted trophy.
“I wish to re-emphasize that Nasarawa United doesn’t belong to any other category of the league except the Premier League.
“We might have made some mistakes in the past, we have learnt our lesson and would climb back to where we were before, and once we are there, we will remain there.
“Whatsoever is needed to support the actualization of this goal, rest assured that the Governor would not deny you such support.
“That’s why when your memo reached my table recently, I approved some substantial amount of money for the activities surrounding the competition, and be assured that more support will come your way should you reach the final, and by then, either the Governor would come himself or I will represent him at the finale.”
Shortly after, the Deputy Governor made a personal donation of Five Hundred Thousand Naira(N500,000.00) to support the team’s trip to the South-Eastern State.
Earlier, Chairman of Nasarawa United FC, Dr. Othman Ahmed Ibrahim, had welcomed the Deputy Governor to the team’s training ground, briefing him about the level of preparations for the forthcoming Super Eight competition in Enugu.
“On behalf of the entire members of the Club, we welcome Your Excellency to our training ground as we prepare to journey to Enugu for the Super Eight Play-offs tournament.
“Before the 2023/24 League Season commenced, you were on ground to give your blessings, and when we were going for the last match of the season, you still were on ground to lift the morale of the team in sundry ways.
“Today, we are here preparing for the Super Eight in Enugu, and we cannot leave this tournament without needing your constant blessings that have a way of guiding the boys to deliver on the mandate.
“We can’t thank both His Excellency and you enough for all you do for us, and this also transcends to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
“Your Excellency, already, we have told the players and coaches that this is s war, without any bullets, that we must go and win. We are condemned to win the Super Eight title and pick one of the tickets for the Premier League next Season.
“We thank you for all your support and solidarity always to the team and Its Members, and we hope we would not disappoint you people because it isn’t a strange terrain for us.”
Team Captain, King Osanga, who spoke on behalf of the players, appreciated the Deputy Governor for the visit and assured him of the team’s readiness to make a swift return to the elite domestic football league.
He stated that the team will be disciplined and well coordinated throughout the competition to meet the expectations of the Governor and good people of Nasarawa State.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango, alongside Permanent Secretary, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, were on ground to receive the Acting Governor.
On the entourage of Dr. Akabe were the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Hon. Muazu Gosho, and the Covering Permanent Secretary, as well as SSA, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs. Victoria Apawa.
Nasarawa United will perform the Super Eight Play-off curtain raiser when they trade tackles with Northern Regional heavyweights, El-Kanemi Warriors FC, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium also nicknamed ‘The Cathedral’ on Saturday, 8th June, 2024, by 8 o’clock in the morning before filing out versus Sokoto United, two days later, at same venue by 1.30pm.
The Solid Miners’ last Northern Conference game will see them square up against Sporting Supreme of Abuja on Wednesday, 12th June, 2024, by 10am.
The top two finishers of the Conference will be joined by the top two finishers of the Southern Conference to advance to the Premier League, next season.
Each Region’s Winners will face each other to determine the eventual champions of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League Season on Thursday, 13th June, 2024, by 4pm, with the new winners going home with Five Million Naira as Cash Prize.
