Tony Ubani
8 January 2009
AS the zero hour to the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be staged in Nigeria approaches swiftly, Lagos State, one of the prominent states angling to be confirmed as hosts are beating their chests in ecstacy ahead of World Soccer governing body's final visit to pass judgement on the hosts' states.
FIFA is expected to conduct their last visit to select the final states on January 19 with Lagos as their first port of call.
Chairman of Lagos Sub-Seat for the U-17 World Cup, Chief Amanze Uchegbulam declared yesterday after his Committee's meeting at the Teslim Balogun Stadium that "there is no problem in Lagos".
Uchegbulam who is also second Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said that Lagos State was fully prepared to dazzle FIFA with first class facilities for the U-17 World Cup.
"Without being immodest, I think that Lagos State stands taller among other bidding states to get FIFA's nod. We are working tirelessly towards getting their nod with the full backing of soccer-crazy State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola". With the Teslim Balogun Stadium undergoing restructuring, Uchegbulam said that the State of Aquatic Splendour would scale FIFA's hurdle.
"We are working ahead of time not only to get FIFA's nod but also to come out as the best centre for the World Cup. All logistics are in place and we have the backing of a Governor who knows the intricacies of hosting a World Cup", the Imo State FA Chairman said.
Before now, fears of chaotic transport situation in Lagos and the menace of street urchins as well as mountainous heaps of refuse have been fingered as obstructions to the ambition of Lagos State in their bid to host the World.
But the magical transformation of Lagos State by the Fashola administration which has removed the cobwebs that gives Lagos a bad name has gladdened hearts that Lagos, no doubt, is the fore-runner to hosting a tournament which FIFA values so much in unearthing the Super Stars of World Football.
Some Stars who embraced headlines from the cadet championship with their sumptuous skills include Emmanuel Petit, Luis Figo, Alessando Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho and Fernando Torres among others.
And with this tournament coming ahead of the first World Cup to be hosted by an African country, South Africa in 2010, the World definitely would be using it as a yardstick to taste the menu of what Africa can offer.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
