Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT chapter has urged the Minister of FCT to consider as a matter of importance the establishment of FCT Sports Development Fund.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter, and Godwin Bamigboye explained that the Fund will accelerate sports development in the Federal Capital Territory and quick realization of projects, like the Abuja Sports Academy and Sports Village.
Coach Bamigboye stated that the establishment of FCT Sports Development Fund will serve as a catalyst for genuine and sustained sports development in the F CT in particular and also serve as a model or reference point to the 36 States of Nigeria in general. It shall be a form of Public Private Partnership, PPP.
According to him, “FCT Sports Development Fund shall augment Government’s huge expenditure in sports since Government alone cannot fund and manage sports, this carefully premeditated initiative is a veritable solution’’.
He further explained that the scheme shall raise fund in different ways such as fund raising dinner, Charity Match, Lottery, Jogging/ walking for charity, partnership and collaboration with Local and International Organizations, Construction Companies, Mortgage Institutions, Banks, Government Agencies – NOA, NTDC, NAFDAC, NACA etc, Telecommunication Companies, among others.
He also said that it help in the training and retraining of athletes as well as sponsorship for trials for local and international recruitment, and training tours.
Coach Bamigboye insisted that it will serve as pension scheme for coaches and athletes who are not employed in any public or private organization. Encourage and actualize investment and entrepreneurial consciousness.
“This will assist in the realization of the Abuja Sports Village and Abuja Sports Academy and augment government effort in the provision of sports infrastructure and equipment such as training pitches, aerobic equipment, schools sports development,” he said.