By Godwin Bamigboye.

Spectator was somewhere this afternoon to avoid the current heat wave as rightly predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Services Agency (NIMET) when I received good tidings from the Communications Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Spectator has been silent for a while watching the trend of events especially since the appointments of Mal. Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade as Chairman and Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) respectively. While watching with keen interest the laudable plans of the NSC, I received this latest from NFF with so much joy. I am talking about, *"NFF breaks ground for construction of player's hostel and training pitches".* 

What's more to this effort scheduled for Tuesday, March 17?. Spectator is taking a further step to dissect the statements from the Communications Department of NFF. Join Spectator and read what he is bringing out of it.
 

 *NFF:*  

The Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led NFF administration will add another milestone on Tuesday when the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Players’ Hostel and a number of new training pitches holds in Abuja. The groundbreaking will be done by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas GCON.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON is a top Federal Government Office holder. It is expected that this project being funded through the FIFA Forward 3.0 program will propel the NFF to start a similar programme that could be named NFF Forward programme to be replicated in the 36 States and FCT. The National Assembly should see it as a responsibility to appropriate funds for the programme like FIFA is doing.* 
 

 *NFF:* 
Named the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel, the 68-room facility is located at the heart of Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, almost directly opposite the NFF Secretariat. It is a two-wing edifice, with A and B sections, and has a total of 62 single rooms, four suites and two executive suites.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *This is a giant stride that will complement the accommodation facilities available at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan athletes High Performance Centre, the Hotel at Package B and the FIFA Goal Project lodging facility.* 

 *NFF:* 

Alongside the hostel is the construction of two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass), re-construction of the existing synthetic pitch, sitting terraces for spectators, two dressing rooms for players (each accommodating 27 players at a time) and two dressing rooms for officials. The spectators’ terraces will have 1,838 seats.  

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *These pitches will help to boost the availability of training pitches which has been a major problem in FCT.* 

 *NFF:* 

The construction, which is projected to last 24 months, is funded by world football-governing body, FIFA through its FIFA Forward 3.0 program.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *The fund is already* *available for the work. No* *wahala of lack of cash* *backing. You* *understand what I mean.* *24 months completion* *period is sacrosanct. I hope* *the contractors will deliver.* 

 *NFF:* 

The FIFA Forward is the largest and biggest sport development program in the world, and was created in 2016 when FIFA President Gianni Infantino was first elected to office. The core idea is three-fold: increase the investment into football worldwide; achieve more impact with specific and tailor-made projects and; make sure to have more oversight to ensure that the investment in football development is transparent, carefully-managed and effective.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *Let Ibrahim Gusau develop Ideas Driven NFF down to the State Football Associations and Local* *Football Council levels. You have started with this Legacy and the tempo* *should be sustained so as to achieve the desired development of Football in Nigeria.* 

 *NFF:* 

NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said: “The NFF is excited about the Players’ Hostel and new training pitches. It is a transformational project around our national teams and we are grateful to FIFA for providing the funds for these amazing facilities.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *It boils down to managing resources well with high level of accountability. Keep the tempo high and higher.* 

 *NFF:* 

“Right from the inception of the present NFF administration, we were very clear on what we wanted to do with our FIFA Forward 3.0 funds. Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management, it will substantially reduce expenditure in these areas and enable us to commit more funds to grassroots development programs.”

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *You are already packaging your legacies. Do not relent in doing more and doing well. You and your Team will be remembered for good.* 

 *NFF:* 

FIFA’s Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Regional Director (Africa), Gelson Fernandes, said: “The main objective of the Forward Programme is to ensure top-quality infrastructure that drives football development worldwide. The NFF’s transformation of its Technical Centre is a perfect example – upgrading training pitches, building modern accommodation and creating a true home for the national teams; this project is a brilliant one for Nigeria football.

 

“We’re proud to support and to work alongside the NFF, not only with funding but also by sharing expertise to make this project a reality. Nigeria lives and breathes football, and FIFA is committed to helping the game grow as much as we can.”

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *FIFA's, Deputy Chief, Member Associations Officer and Regional Director (Africa), Gelson Fernandes is talking about top quality infrastructure. No compromise about the quality of work, please.* 
 

 *NFF:* 

Among the special guests invited to Tuesday’s ceremony are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; the Ambassadors of the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco; former deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu; Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun; Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap and; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *An array of distinguished personalities especially the Ambassador of Morocco whose country is doing marvellously in the provision of sports infrastructure.* 

 *NFF:* 

Also invited are the Chairmen of sports committees in the Senate and House of Representatives; NOC President, Engineer Habu Gumel; former sports ministers Sunday Dare and John Enoh; Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade; former NFF President Sani Lulu Abdullahi; former NFF scribes Ambassador Fanny Amun and Barr. Musa Amadu and; 10 legends of Nigeria football, viz former senior team captains Olusegun Odegbami, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Nwankwo Kanu, Mutiu Adepoju, Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Ahmed Musa, Precious Dede and Stella Mbachu.

 *SPECTATOR:* 

 *Thank you for inviting other leaders, your predecessors and legends in the game of Football in Nigeria.* 

 *LAST LINES:* 

As you put together these Legacy Projects, endeavour to do the following:-

1.  Draw a maintenance structure for the project;

2.  Put together a maintenance plan for the Goal Project pitch and field.

3.  Approach the National Assembly and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for your NFF Forward Programme.

This ground breaking action stopped Spectator's silence. I wish us a successful Ground Breaking event.

I shall be time keeper for the 24 months completion period of the projects.
May the Almighty God keep us alive to witness the *Commissioning* of the projects. Amen.

 *I am Spectator.*