The deplorable state of the stadia facilities in the Federal Capital Territory have continued to anger sports stakeholders who vehemently lamented the rot, decay and outright lack of maintenance culture in the country.
Visibly irked Chairman of the FCT FA ,Alhaji Musa Talle have called on the Minister of the Nation’s capital, Musa Bello to beam his searchlight on the appalling state of stadia facilities scattered across the six area councils.
Talle who spoke to Blueprint Sport in Abuja expressed disgust that talented young players resident in Abuja now roam about the street in search of befitting playground with only Area 3 pitch with an astro turf available for both trainings and matches in the entire nation’s capital city.
Week in, week out, Area 3 playground built by the World football governing body, FIFA has been subjected to regular use, a situation many stakeholders have continued to raise alarm over non-availability any other constructed and completed by FCT administration (FCTA).
However, the only sporting complex popularly known as Old Parade Ground located in Area 10 and fully owned and managed by FCTA has been left to rot away with its unattractive surface and unable to host any competitive game at both local and national level.
Sometimes last year, the current administration in charge of the federal capital ordered its environmental department to use same sporting ground as a dumping ground for seized commodities including cows, goats among other animals.
It only took the intervention of FCT Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) before they were eventually evacuated.
Speaking on their observation after visiting Abaji, Kwali and Kuje area council areas at the weekend, a board member of FCT FA and chairman Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter, Godwin Bamgboye said; “What we saw in these area councils is an eye saw. Its discouraging. Government appears to be paying lip-service to youth development when they can’t provide even if it’s only good turf for players to express themselves on the pitch.”
On her part, chairperson FCT Women football Committee, Barr Victoria Nlemigbo hinted, “I feel disgusted and extremely sad with the situation of football pitches in the various area councils. If a project is abandoned, who is responsible in making sure it’s revived? She questioned.
2nd Vice Chairman of the FCT FA Board, Adam Mohammed described the stadia condition in Abuja as appalling and worrisome while advocating for immediate steps geared towards addressing the menace.
He added; “We have assessed the situation and we will not rest on our oars until the situation improves.”
Further assessment revealed that due long protracted abandoned nature of the stadia, Abaji has converted most section of its sporting facility to a vast farmland while thick bush has gradually covered remaining part.
In Kuje, a huge hip of refuse dump masked the entranced to their soccer pitch.
