Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has promised that the remaining part of his administration will be dedicated to sports development after ordering the immediate renovation of the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna to host Niger Tornadoes’ Nigeria Professional Football League fixtures.
Governor Bello said this when he received the newly elected Chairman of Chairmen (Leader of Congress) of the Nigeria Football Federation, Yusuf Fresh, at the Government House, Minna yesterday.
Fresh won the position at the NFF elections held in Benin City last Friday.
The governor directed the Commissioner for Sports, Alhaji Mamman Musa, to see to it that necessary repairs are carried out in the stadium to ensure that Niger Tornadoes can return to play their NPFL home games in Minna after playing on neutral grounds last season due to the poor state of the stadium.
“I am glad that Niger Tornadoes are doing well and they can do better,” Bello said. “The most important thing to us is we have to bring our games back to Minna.
“Definitely, we need to support our team and the best way we can do it is to provide them with facilities.”
The governor added that funding will be made available for the sports sector to upgrade facilities and the completion of the sports complex at Ahmadu Bahago Stadium, Minna.
Bello expressed delight with Fresh and congratulated him on his achievements over the years with the NFF.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Musa, who had earlier introduced the NFF Leader of Congress and other members of the Niger State Football Association, observed that the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium needed a little refurbishment to meet the requirements to host Niger Tornadoes’ NPFL matches.
Fresh gave assurances that the new NFF board will right the wrongs that might have been done to take football to the next level.
He appreciated the governor for the warm reception and support given him.
Fresh, who is also the Chairman of Niger State Football Association, said equal opportunities would be given to all age-grade footballers for selection into the national teams.
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