FCT Football coaches want better sports infrastructure for talent discovery, development

Posted : 14 April 2023

A cross-section of football coaches in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say authorities in the territory now more than before need to provide more standard pitches and other sporting facilities.

The coaches in an interview with Africa Sport Network (ASN) said this was necessary for a better development of football talents in the FCT.

They pointed out that the state of facilities was hampering the discovery of abundant talents in the territory.

Cornelius Monday, coach of Tiki Taka Football Club of Abuja, said good pitches were a serious challenge for coaches and the players.

He said that most players have been unable to display their skills at the major football pitches in the territory, and particularly the Old Parade Ground, due to the poor condition.

“The pitches we have here in Abuja are a major challenge, and this is not particular to Nigeria. The problem cuts across so many countries in Africa though.

“We know that facilities have always been our issues and this may continue because of our African mentality of ‘let’s manage what we have that way’.

“For example, we are just managing the Old Parade Ground field and it doesn’t allow we the coaches to see good football by the players. But then, they have had to adapt to the situation.

“Maybe by the time they leave the shores of the country to other places, we will be able to see their best,” Monday said.

He appealed to authorities in the FCT to ensure that standard football fields and facilities were on ground to encourage upcoming talents in the country.

Monday added that some talented footballers could only reach their peak after leaving for other countries.

He also called on federal and state governments to live up to the expectations of citizens by providing quality football facilities nationwide.

Abdullahi Babangida, Head Coach of Turf Arena of Abuja, in his own contribution said the issue of quality facilities was a serious challenge to the job of coaches and their players.

Babangida said the football pitch at the popular Old Parade Ground in Abuja has become not good enough for competitions.

He said that it was always very difficult for players to display their talents because of the deteriorating state of the pitch.

“In spite of the fact that the Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) clubsides in Abuja play their matches there, it is still below standard for a country like Nigeria,” the coach said.

He appealed to football competition organisers in the FCT to as a matter of urgency make concerted efforts to get good pitches for use in subsequent competitions.

FCT Football coaches want better sports infrastructure for talent discovery, development

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