Sports
Julius Berger Plans Modern Football Field In Abuja
The Lugbe community in the FCT Abuja is expected to get a modern football field courtesy of a multi-national construction company, Julius Berger Construction Plc.
Lugbe is a suburb situated along the Abuja airport road.
The Project Manager, Airport Expressway, Mr Brilla Peter, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) had dislodged an illegal market operating at a buffer zone in Lugbe, and converted the premises to a football field.
The AEPB also concluded modalities to engage former Super Eagle’s Coach Samson Siasia to handle the new football team raised by the board in Lugbe.
Peter said that the project was part of the corporate social responsibility of the company on the airport road.
The German construction company was awarded the expansion of the airport road in 2007.
The project is to expand the expressway to four lanes.
Peter, who declined to mention the financial implication of the project, said the facility, when completed would be of an international standard.
He said that the gesture was also part of efforts to support the AEPB in the area of waste management in the FCT.
“This project is part of our corporate social responsibility and we have found it very necessary to support the AEPB in its efforts in keeping the capital city clean.
“We have established a good relationship with AEPB and we will continue to demonstrate and support them to achieve the task of waste evacuation and general city cleaning.’’
Responding, Alhaji Isa Shuaibu, the Director of the board, commended Julius Berger for accepting to develop a recreational facility for the people.
Shuaibu called on other construction companies to emulate what Berger had done, adding that the project was also an aspect of green economy in Nigeria.
According to him, this project is part of our environmental sustainable management strategy.
“I am happy that Julius Berger has chosen to develop this recreational facility for this community.
“I am calling on other construction companies to emulate Julius Berger in this drive to develop green areas in the FCT and to provide recreational facilities in the FCT.
“We are also very happy because the community is excited about this project and they have expressed much enthusiasm in this our sustainable management strategy.’’
Players of the new team mobilised to meet with the Julius Berger team, are between 12 and 15 years old.
Master Abdulsemiu Ibrahim, the Captain of the team, expressed happiness with the provision of a football field.
Ibrahim said that the community was witnessing such a people-oriented project for the first time.
He assured that the team would make good use of the facility and make the residents to be proud of it.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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