FIFA team hails NFF, inspects land in Bauchi

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, were visibley elated when
they were 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 the President of the NFF, Alhaji
Aminu Maigari; Vice President, Chief 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 artificial 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, the 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
to all their questions concerning the site and the building plan.
The team then paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Bauchi State,
Mallam Isa Yuguda, and the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.
Maigari 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.
It would be concluded on Thursday.
On their return to Abuja on Thursday, the FIFA team and NFF top
hierarchy will paid a courtesy call on the Minister of
Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.