By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Football-starved residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the neighbouring towns will soon heave a sigh of relief as the Super Eagles are set to return to Abuja following the readiness of the MKO Abiola Stadium main pitch to host international matches again.
This cheering news was disclosed in Abuja on Thursday by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare while speaking to State House Correspondents during the Weekly Special Briefings coordinated by the Presidential Communications Team at Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Dare who was answering questions on when the national football teams of Nigeria will return to Abuja or Lagos as permanent venue for Nigerian teams, the rehabilitation work at the mainbowl of the multi-event stadium including the regrassing of the football pitch and installation of two new brand Digital Electronic Scoreboards have been completed.
The Minister revealed that the contractors handling the rehabilitation work including the sub-contractors doing the regrassing job
have finished their work waiting to return it to the ministry.
Dare however revealed that the contractors will formally handover the stadium back to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development which gave it out for rehabilitation to an indigenous company Dangote Group under the Minister’s pet initiative Adopt-A-stadium.
Said he: “It is my wish that the Super Eagles and indeed the national teams of Nigeria, like elsewhere, have a permanent venue to play their matches than playing from one place to another”.
“There are great benefits for countries’ national teams to have a particular venue where the players understand very well. I believe very soon the Super Eagles will be playing their matches in Abuja or Lagos if the national stadium is fully ready too”.
“The good news is that by next month the contractors handling the MKO Abiola Stadium will hand it over to the ministry “.
On the imbroglio in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) especially the $2.76 million Puma kits deal brokered by the former AFN Executive Board and which was not used by Nigerian athletes in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Dare said he will not comment much on the deal because the matter is currently in court.
Also, commenting on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Minister said that the federation has attained 85% self- sponsorship, adding that the ministry has always been intervening financially to ensure that the federation meets its obligations to the national teams programmes.
