The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has revealed that the Federal Government, through the Sports Ministry and the Nigeria Football Federation are on the same page regarding the development of football in Nigeria.
Dare said this yesterday at the inauguration of the Ten Year Football Development Masterplan Committee at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The Minister said: “Those who are insinuating that the newly inaugurated Committee will work at cross purposes with the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) are so far from the truth.
“This committee is a Presidential assignment and the NFF are also working for the good of the game in Nigeria so we are on the same page.”
The Sports Minister stated that the Federal Government was more interested in the long development of the game and was ready to put in place structures that will ensure a better tomorrow for the players.
“The Federal Government is interested in the long term growth and development of football, the beautiful game, and is ready to begin to make the plans for a better tomorrow, today.
“Without any iota of doubt, football is our number one sport. Nigerians love football. It is our strongest unifying tool, our national asset.
“However, in spite of all that it can provide, and the best efforts of its past and present actors and stakeholders, the game we all love is gasping for breath.
“We may be recording some successes here and there in erratic, incongruous patterns but the stark reality of our domestic football stares us in the face.”
The Nation’s Ade Ojeikere is a member of committee which has former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima as Chairman and Dr. Bode Durotoye as Secretary.
The Committee is tasked with developing and submitting the Ten-year Master Plan within 8 weeks of its inauguration.
Leave a Reply