|
Written by:
JACK WARNER, NIGERIA 2009 AND OGUN STATE Jack Warner may not be the President of the International Federation of Football Associations, FIFA, but the Trinidad and Tobago National has become one of the most influential officials of the round leather game. While Step Blater , the President and other egg heads look after the politics and economy of the a game that is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world, Warner crisscrosses the globe tending to its development especially at the youth level. Warner has thus become an authority in matters relating to age group competitions as he superintends the lead up activities to hosting of cadet competitions while also responsible for whipping the host countries into line. Prior to the cancellation of the World Youth Championship initially scheduled to host in Nigeria in 1995 Warner paid several visits to Nigeria in a bid to ensure that the host cities of Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos and Ibadan meet the required standard of FIFA. However the political logjam occasioned by the iron fist rule of General Sanni Abacha got in the way and the competition was taken away from Nigeria. In 1999 when Nigeria hosted the next generation of stars of the round leather game during the World Youth Championship, WYC, Warner was there to guide his adopted country to a generally successful championship. And as preparations continue in cities across the country which are bidding to host the young ones who will play in the 2009 edition of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup scheduled for Nigeria in October, Warner is on hand once again to ensure that the young ones get the appropriate stage to display their talents and show the world what to expect from those who are the future of the game. In all the countries that the service of football had taken Warner to, the FIFA executive member has never spoken tongue in cheek. He has built a reputation of saying it as it is. The same bluntness came into play when Warner led FIFA delegation to Nigeria recently to ascertain the State of readiness of the country for the hosting of the Under 17 World Cup. After making the round of Gateway International Stadium Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos ,Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu, Sanni Abacha Stadium , Kano , Ahmadu Bello Stadium ,Stadium, Kaduna, Warri Township Stadium, ,Delta State, U. J Esuene Stadium ,Cross River State and Abuja International Stadium which are bidding to host the competition, Warner returned a not too pleasant verdict. “I cannot go back to FIFA and say yes, Nigeria is ready, because plenty still has to be done before we get to that stage.” Warner declared. Apparently disappointed about the preparations of some cities the FIFA top shot appealed to Nigerian officials to put their acts together in order to show the world that the country can do it again after successfully hosting the world in 1999. To be sure Warner was not in Nigeria to condemn. The judgment was based on what he met on the ground. Said the veteran sports administrator at the unveiling of Nigeria 2009 inside the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa ,Aso Rock, “It was not a night of condemnation, not a night of remembering the sadness that hit me in Enugu and Kano or the joy that I got in Ijebu Ode with their facilities.” Thereafter Warner hit the nail on the head about what gave him joy in Ijebu ode saying apart from Abuja only the stadium in Ijebu Ode is ready and encouraging. He went on to say that the Gateway Stadium ,Ijebu Ode built by the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration met all our specifications and adhered strictly to all the adjustments prescribed by FIFA officials in their previous visit to the country. The speech was followed by a presentation of the host cities . And when ijebu ode came on the screen the audience responded with thunderous ovation. That night it was clear that the Gateway International Stadium Ijebu Ode saved Nigeria from what would have been a monumental embarrassment. And it can be said that it kept the hope of Nigeria hosting the Under 17 World Cup alive. What is about Gateway International Stadium Ijebu Ode that everybody from within and outside the country are celebrating. The artificial turf which the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA insists as the maximum standard its competition has already been laid and is awaiting the young lads of the world. Apart from the world-class artificial turf other facilities that would lead to a hitch free hosting of the competition are also in place. These include the media tribune, well-equipped dressing rooms and the modern changing rooms. There is also the Games village, which is an additional facility that gives the stadium its unique hue and Ijebu Ode the edge over all other competing cities. Of course the supporting infrastructures that are necessary for the hosting of a competition of such magnitude are not in short supply. The Conference and Gateway hotels both in Ijebu Ode, will delight visitors to the kingdom of Awujale of Ijebuland , Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. There is also a well-equipped General Hospital in the town to take care of emergencies when crunchy tackles put young footballers out of action when the competition gets underway. And because of the regular renewal of infrastructure which has become the hallmark of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration foreign delegations and fans will find commuting in Ijebu Ode a pleasant experience. In the last four years roads in the town have been regularly rehabilitated while new ones have been constructed. The main entry into the town, Ejirin Road, is now a four lane macadamized road courtesy of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration. These are not the only reason why Warner is rooting for Ogun State. The enthusiasm of the people and the commitment at the highest level of government are unparalleled. Governor Gbenga Daniel is leading the Ogun bid and he has ensured that everything is put in place to ensure a hitch free competition. The Governor has also undertaken to make his country home in Ijebu Ode available for FIFA officials during the championship. Ogun State has not only shown that it is ready to host the World Cup but also the level of enthusiasm of the state or so infections. It was therefore not surprising that Warner followed the example of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in his closing remarks on the bid of the Gateway International Stadium Ijebu Ode. The Vice President after visiting Ijebu Ode said the Ogun had unbelievable facilities which meet FIFA standard and are ready to host the world. For Warner too, Ijebu Ode is ready for the Under 17 world cup.
Adebanjo , a journalist, resides in Abeokuta |