By: Gracious Akujobi Officials of world football-governing body, FIFA who are in Nigeria for deliberations with the top hierarchy of Nigeria Football Federation on Goal Project 2 and FIFA courses in coaching,
administration, management and refereeing, showed visible elation on being conducted round the Sunday Dankaro Football House, the new NFF headquarters, on Wednesday.
The two-man delegation of Francesco Bruscoli, Senior Development Manager (Africa) and Sampon Kablan, FIFA Development Officer (West Africa) expressed delight at the 26-room edifice, which was
commissioned on July 18, 2013 by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
“I must observe that this is an impressive facility. This is more like it for headquarters of Nigeria Football Federation, considering your country’s standing in world football,” said Bruscoli, as the duo were
shown round the elegant facility by NFF President, Aminu Maigari, NFF Vice President, Mike Umeh, Acting General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and other senior NFF officials.
The officials also heaped praises on the NFF for good maintenance of the National Technical Centre (Goal Project 1) and the FIFA Football Turf, otherwise known as artifical turf, which was donated by FIFA as part of the Win-In-Africa-With-Africa programme around the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The delegation then flew to Bauchi, where the FIFA officials inspected the landscape for the Goal Project 2 – construction of Regional Technical Centre, which will compose of a FIFA Football Turf and a
hostel. Similar projects are planned for Anambra and Lagos States. Both Bruscoli and Kablan expressed satisfaction with answers provided for all their questions concerning the site and the building plan.
The team then paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, and the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu. The NFF President used the opportunity to present the Nelson
Mandela Challenge trophy, won by the Super Eagles in Durban last week, to the two eminent citizens.
The entourage later proceeded to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, where they saw one of the semi final matches of this year’s Federation Cup competition abandoned due to heavy downpour. The match between Akwa United FC and Warri Wolves FC was 1-1 when it was called off, and
would be concluded on Thursday.
On their return to Abuja on Thursday, the FIFA team and NFF top hierarchy will pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi.
