Chairman of the Nigeria National League, NNL, George Aluo, has disclosed why the League’s body opted for the Lafia City Stadium to host the opening ceremony of the 2023/24 campaign.

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During an exclusive session with the Public Relations Officer of Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, shortly after meeting with the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, at the Lafia City Stadium, on Thursday, Aluo said, “The level of attention sports is getting in Nasarawa State is the reason why we chose to play the league’s opener here.

“The State has never had it so good. The Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule has shown passion, not just for football, but also for sports generally.

“I can see the massive renovation work that is taking place at the stadium. I want to, on behalf of my Board, commend the Governor for paying attention to sports because if you pay adequate attention to sports, you are paying attention to the youth.

“So, we are really impressed with what the Governor is doing, and we wish that Nasarawa United and other sporting bodies in the State reciprocate these gestures by doing well.

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“Additionally, the Governor has done well by appointing people with vast knowledge of sports and youth to head the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in Hon. Jafaru Ango and Permanent Secretary, Barr. Isaac Danladi. I must say sports in the State are safe under their watch because they both possess the capacity to deliver.

“Generally, we are happy with what is happening in Nasarawa State, sports and security-wise, and to that extent, we are expecting a full house, come Saturday, this weekend, when Nasarawa United takes on Zamfara United.

“The passion the Nasarawa State Government has for sports may warrant Nasarawa United not to stay longer than a season in the lower division.”

The veteran journalist while wishing Nasarawa United FC the best of luck in the NNL, noted that the 2023/24 NNL Season will be competitive and promised a positive turnaround for the country’s ‘Most Important League’, going forward.

“We have put everything on the ground to ensure that the NNL is a league where if you win, you must sweat to do so.

“That Nasarawa United is playing Zamfara United wouldn’t be a stroll in the park. They must possess a good team, which was why the Board of the NNL was charged by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation to run a league that is different, and we are determined to do that.

“And the first thing we did as a Board was to take the forty registered football clubs’ Coaches to the classroom in a capacity-building seminar which took place in Ogun State, some time ago.

“We organized the course to upscale the skills of the Coaches, and I know that it will reflect on the kind of league we want to play.

“We want to see a league where Nigerians will come out to support their teams; I also want to see a full house here at the Lafia City Stadium on Saturday.

Already the ambiance in Lafia is amazing, and we want to see the kind of features we see in Europe replicated here, where families can go to the stadium, enjoy themselves, support their teams, and at the end of the day, we see the better side winning without any fear of molestation or attack.

“In all honesty, we have chosen a very good venue where we can begin to reap our efforts because Nasarawa State has a great passion for football, which is even more the reason we decided to make the Nasarawa United-Zamfara game the star match of the league’s kick-off.”

The NNL Chairman thanked Governor Abdullahi Sule and the Nasarawa State Government for accepting to host the curtain raiser despite the short notice.

He said the opener would give an insight into what Nigerians should be expecting throughout the season, promising a spectacular and colorful opener come Saturday to herald the new football league season.

Recall that the opening match for the new league season was initially scheduled to be held at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa-Ibom State, before a last-minute turnaround by the Board of the NNL to stage it in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital.

The Nasarawa United versus Zamfara United match will kick-off by 3 pm with high-profile dignitaries anticipated, including the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau, among others.