Nig’09: Organisers make last-minute effort to save championship

There was a flurry of activities at the Abuja National Stadium on Wednesday ahead of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup which begins at the venue on Saturday.

Report said that officials and workmen are working overtime in an attempt to put the facilities in order ahead of the opening ceremony. It added that workmen were busy fixing banners, signposts and billboards in and outside of the stadium.

Danjuma Ahmadu, a workman, said he had to work extra hours and with more men in order to beat the deadline set for Friday evening.

“I have been told I am to finish this job before Friday evening, but it was not my fault as they only mobilised me some days ago. Now, I have hired more men and we are working late into the night,” he said as he and his men worked on the street lights leading to the stadium from the gate near the lower terraces.

Medical activities

The Medical Sub-committee at the Kaduna Centre of the Under-17 World Cup had a test-run of its ambulance service on Wednesday.

A member of the medical team, Mark Edubio, said in Kaduna that the test-run is to ensure that the facilities are ready for the competition. Edubio said the team underwent an extensive training conducted by experts from various parts of the world, including the United States.

He said the team would offer a 24-hour service on two shifts of 12 hours each daily.

Edubio regretted the delay in accrediting the members of the team, and urged prompt attention to enable them to carry out their duties unhindered.

He said full medical services at the centre will begin on October 26 with the opening matches.

Accreditation suffers hitches

Also at the Kaduna centre, accreditation of journalists and other officials was disrupted on Wednesday after the breakdown of the power generating system at the venue.

The generator, which was acquired for the purpose, reportedly developed problems. The intermittent power supply by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the stadium, the venue of the exercise, had made the accreditation team to rely on a generator. As a result, scores of participants, including journalists, who came for accreditation, were stranded following the breakdown of the plant.

A cross section of those awaiting accreditation, expressed disappointment at the development.

Ayo Adekeinde, a journalist who came from Damaturu, said he had been at the accreditation centre since the morning but without luck.

“I arrived in Kaduna for the exercise on Monday night but came here for the exercise this morning. I have been waiting for about seven hours now; there is no hope that the thing (accreditation) will continue today.”

Some members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hajiya Amina Dalhat, Esther Abah and Labari Tela expressed disappointment at the development.

“We came here straight from the Assembly to get accreditation only to be told to return in the evening for the exercise,” said Tela.

Others who were turned back were Sabo Babayaro, chairman, Kaduna United FC and Mrs. Esther Aya, a former member of the House of Representatives.

Training pitch in Lagos not ready

The training pitch for the Under-17 World Cup Championship at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, is not yet ready, as the rains have affected the work there. The situation also forced the Brazilian and Swiss teams to train at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

However, the contractors handling the pitch said they will work night and day to ensure that the pitch is ready for training.