Naija Ratels, sports enthusiasts protest as Presidency plans to turn Area 10 Pitch Into Grains Storage Ground

Protests are growing across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against plans of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to turn the football pitch of the Area 10 Sports Complex (Old Parade Ground) into a maize and rice pyramids center. 

Already, some hired workers today breached the perimeter fence of the pitch in readiness for the arrival of hundreds of trucks alleged to be carrying biologically modified maize (BMO). 

The Area 10 Sports Complex, also known as the Old Parade Ground is where most Football teams in the FCT practise and play their competitive league Matches every week. 

Few months ago, Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) owners of NWFL Premiership side,  Naija Ratels spent millions of Naira in the re-grassing  of the pitch, renovation of the dressing rooms and the stands.

Top Sports enthusiast Peter Aduebe believes that the decision is too hasty and shouldn't have been made at all. The football pitch is where many youths in Abuja showcase their talents and play competitive games for their various clubs. It is a way of livelihood for both the male and female athletes as a whole. 

"I am so disappointed about this. I feel the Federal Government should encourage the youths more, not discourage them in exhibiting what they can do. 

"The Area 10 Sports Complex is has produced alot of great talents and is still producing. Instead of the FCTA to build more Sporting Facilities, they are thinking of destroying the ones already available.

In his thoughts, Abuja based Journalist, Tunde Adebayo noted that the Government inability to provide suitable sporting facilities for the youth is frustrating, not to talk of destroying one available for the youths in Abuja. 

"This is unfair to thousands of youths who look forward to promoting their God given talents through sports. Recently, someone spent millions of Naira to renovate the Arena and all the FCTA could do is to turn the pitch into an agricultural storage avenue.

The Area 10 Sports Complex is a stadium in the Garki District of Abuja, Nigeria. Built in the early 1980s, it is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of various teams in the Federal Capital Territory. The stadium has a capacity of about 5,000

Moukthar pledges FCT FA support for Unity Preseason Tournament

The Chairman of FCT Football Association Abba Mourtar Mohammed has given his approval to the hosting of the Unity Preseason Tournament holding in Abuja from 30th October to 5th November 2021.

Revealing this in Abuja, the Organizing Committee Chairman, Patrick Ngwaogu (Odogwu Ndi Abia) said the Chairman was so excited of the program, and has agreed to donate the main trophy and medals of the tournament. He further confirmed that the Chairman has promised to make the presentation of the trophy soon.

According to him "the Chairman welcomed the idea, and said that the tournament will not only give all the participating teams the opportunity to assess their new acquisitions, but it will also provide an opportunity to the teams within the zone to interact and exchange positive ideas that will help them in the new season. He commended the initiators of the tournament and promised to be there for them all through ".

The Unity Preseason Cup is expected to be played among all the NPFL clubs in the North Central zone and the NNL clubs.

Teams expected at the tournament are Kwara United, Plateau United, Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes, Nasarawa United, Oyah FC, NAF FC, FRSC FC, EFCC FC, ABS FC and Kogi United.

Mr Ngwaogu further said that the clubs have started confirming their interest to participate in the tournament which will be the first in the zone.

FCT FA partners Fosla Academy on Grassroots Football Development

Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA) chairman, Alhaji Abba Mouktar Mohammed has constituted a five man committee to work with Fosla Academy on the modalities for the development of grassroots football development in the Capital city. 

The FA boss made the pronouncement at the weekend when he received the Champions of the rejuvenated National Principals Cup, FOSLA Academy Karshi-Abuja in his office. 

Alhaji Mohammed who also announced a cash gift of 500,000 naira to the Academy, said the partnership will in the areas of infrastructural development, talent enhancements and exposure among others.

Alhaji Mohammed commended the academy for winning the tournament and placing the FCT in the world map adding that he would partner with the academy in discovering and nuturing future stars to stardom. 

“We at the FCT FA commended your efforts for winning the National Principal’s Cup and making the FCT proud, we would partner and support the academy in discovering,developing and promoting talents to stardom and also the coaches. 

“Our doors are always open to support the academy, we also appreciate the efforts of the former NFF President, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi for his role in developing grassroots talent in the nation’s capital”. 

Earlier, the founder of FOSLA Academy  Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, applauded the FCT FA Chairman, for his gesture and also reaffirmed the academy’s commitment in the development of football in FCT. 

Quoting his words, the former FCT Director of Sports said "On behalf of the management and students of FOSLA academy we appreciate the kind gestures of the leadership of the FCT FA, and we want to assure you  that we will support your giant strides in the discovery and development of Football in FCT and Nigeria in general. He said that the Academy is ever ready to partner with various organizations to empower the indigent students in football and other sports”. 

Fosla Academy is a foremost Academy in Nigeria where students combine education and football with many of them on scholarships to University level. Over 40 students from the Academy are studying various academic programs at the Nasarawa University, Keffi

FCT FA sets 2018 Football Agenda

The Board of the FCT Football Association has approved the creation of an elite Football League in the Territory to be known as the FCT SUPER LEAGUE, with only 12 teams participating in the inaugural edition. 

FCT FA Rejects NFF Appointments into League Boards

The Board of the FCT Football Association has disassociated itself from the recent appointments made by the NFF into the Boards of the various League bodies.