It’s rare to see those who appropriate money for sports and especially football, taking their oversight function to the next level by monitoring the performance of the national teams, even in friendly games to know exactly what they are investing in.
That was the lot of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu Gumba, and a member of the Committee and Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, last Thursday in far away Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Before the game, the senators had addressed the players and told them to put in their best if they want the Federal Government to continue funding soccer in the country and at the end of the game, they were more than convinced that the team displayed grit and commitment that requires encouragement.
Declared Ningi: “This team I have seen here today has displayed amazing character and commitment of the average Nigerian and you played out your hearts despite obvious intimidation from the referees. In fact, this is the best Nigerian national team I have watched in the last four years.”
On his part, Gumba, said he needs no convincing again to ensure that the team gets maximum support by the attitude showed by the players in the game against Egypt.
“We have to take it to the next level by ensuring that we win our next games against any opposition from any part of the world,” he said.