Cycling Boss Lists Target

The President of the Nigeria
Cycling Federation (NCF), Mohammed Sheriff, has said that the primary goal of the federation’s board was to ensure that the velodrome in Abuja became functional in 2014.
Sheriff told newsmen in Lagos that “we are expected to continue from where we stopped. We were able to do so many things in the past years.
“But, I can tell you, we need to do more because cycling is a unique sport and in Nigeria it has not got to the level we want it to get to.
“But with the new board in place, within the next four years we will be able to achieve something, particularly in terms of introducing track events at the velodrome,
“We have been trying to get the velodrome functional for some years and very soon the velodrome will be certified.
The elected board members were inaugurated on November 12 in Abuja by the minister of sports.
Sheriff expressed optimism that the velodrome would become functional in 2014 so that cyclists could begin to engage in track cycling.
The cycling president identified funding as the major challenge that is hindering the execution of the federation’s programmes.
“Funding has been a major challenge of the board and you know sports in Nigeria are not funded adequately.
“Government cannot fund it the way we want it to be funded and private companies are not forthcoming.
“The leadership is trying their best collectively and sometimes individually to ensure that programmes are executed.
“I am appealing to our private sector to assist the sport so that our youths will have the opportunity to win medals within Nigeria, the region and the world,” Sheriff said.
Nigeria is participating in the ongoing ECOWAS Cycling Tour, alongside 10 other ECOWAS member-states.

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