*Also Says All Our Football League Clubs Must Do The Needful, Being Licensed And Regulations Are Being Abided
Minister of Youth and Sports Development in Nigeria, Sunday Dare has admitted that there is a need for us to develop all other sports in Nigeria, not only football.
The Minister said this during his inspection visit yesterday at the National Stadium in Surulere on the ongoing renovation of the main bowl, urging that other sports in the country ought to be highly developed aside from football.
According to him, there is a high need to develop other Sports in the country as this will help in our Sports Development.
“Even though our focus is on football, we still need to develop other Sports, like Badminton, Boxing, tennis, wrestling, canoeing and so on. The latest sport that is really exciting is cricket”, he said.
The Minister while still speaking also admitted that our domestic league has been struggling a lot, as well as saying that the NPFL will not resume until all clubs are fully licensed and fulfill the regulations.
“Our domestic league has been struggling. There are clear indications, which we have addressed with the NFF. With the Issue of Licensing and Financial regulations, we have insisted that the Professional League (NPFL) will not start, until the clubs are made to fulfill these regulations.
“Go and check FIFA status, it is there, clearly stated, check the NFF status, clearly stated, what have we found out in the past 2-3 years, it’s been flaunted completely, we don’t care, most of the football clubs are owned by the State Government, we don’t care, we have our rules.
“If you want your club to play in the NPFL, you abide by the football rules. Am sorry to say that’s why the League has not started. The guidelines are clear. If we have six (6) clubs that are ready to abide by the rules, we will start.
“We have written to the Governors, owners, and Management of club sides on that what we are doing is enforcement. We are now in the enforcement regime, which for us is very critical. We are ready to sustain that enforcement”, he added.
