The Nigeria Football Federation, led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will on Tuesday carry out the ground breaking exercise for the construction of the new Players’ Hostel and a number of new training pitches in Abuja, www.aclsports.com reports.
The new facility, named the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel, is a 68-room facility located in the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. 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.
According to the release from NFF’s media department, two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass) will also be done alongside the new hostel. In addition, the 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 will also be done.
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.
“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.”
The groundbreaking will be done by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas GCON. Other guests expected at the event include Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, 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 and others.
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.”
The construction, which is projected to last 24 months, is funded by world football-governing body, FIFA through its FIFA Forward 3.0 program.
